How Self-Storage Can Help You Have a Successful Garage Sale
“Garage sale season” is in full effect. In fact, according to Geralin Thomas (a renowned home organization expert):
- “The best months for sales are: April, May, June, and September.”
So if you’re planning on having a late spring/early summer garage sale, the next 2 months are the perfect time for it.
And a self-storage unit from Ten Mini Storage can help your garage sale be successful and profitable.
Here’s how.
Keep your driveway free of large items
Most people hold garage sales in their driveway.
You know the drill: People park their cars in front of the house, walk up the driveway, and check whatever wares are for sale.
Garage sales are great for small items, such as:
- Clothing
- Books
- Games
- Electronics
But what if you have large things to sell, like a riding lawnmower or full-sized stereo equipment?
You don’t want to:
- Lug those items to the driveway (only to put them back if they don’t get sold)
- Have people going to other areas (or even inside) of your home
- Risk those items getting damaged by weather
With a storage unit, you can keep those items out-of-the-way, but still available for purchase.
Just take high-quality pictures and provide as much information as you can about them.
Identify serious buyers
Anyone willing to travel to your storage space to purchase and pick-up a large item is definitely a serious buyer (as opposed to simply a “tire-kicker”).
That means you can spend more time:
- Talking with them
- Answering their questions
- Negotiating a price
It’s also convenient. They can make arrangements to use a large vehicle (or even a rental truck) to safely secure and transport anything they purchase.
There’s no need to worry about fitting something big into a small car; nor is there the possibility of them not purchasing because “they can’t get it home” right then and there.
Get organized in advance
Some people like to plan a garage sale well in advance. Others decide to have one just a few days before.
Whatever you choose to do, a secure storage unit can help you get organized.
Depending on the size of your unit, you can organize your belongings in three categories:
- Sell: Pretty self-explanatory. These are items you’ll put out at your garage sale.
- Keep: Stuff you don’t want to sell.
- Toss: Things which aren’t useful to you…or anyone else for that matter.
Once you have everything organized properly, you can spend more time thinking about pricing and how it should be displayed.
Then, the night before your garage sale, bring your stuff home and keep it in your garage.
That way, your garage is only unavailable for one day (as opposed to many days as you go through all your things).
Should you have a garage sale at your self-storage unit?
If everything you want to sell is already inside your self-storage unit, isn’t it easier to bring people there, as opposed to bringing your goods home?
It might be. But it’s also not a wise idea to host a garage sale at your storage rental. In fact, your storage provider may prohibit it outright.
Here’s why:
- You’re allowing people access to your storage unit who normally wouldn’t be there.
- There may not be the right storage insurance policy to protect the facility in case someone gets injured.
- Although there are cameras and other security protocols in place, it’s still challenging to watch for theft with dozens of people rummaging through a storage unit.
- Other renters prefer privacy and may not like the idea of letting people inside the gated premises.
Your best bet is to use your self-storage unit to prepare for your garage sale; not to actually host it.
Need a storage rental for your garage sale (or beyond)? Contact Ten Mini Storage today
No matter what you need your storage space for – or how long you need it – Ten Mini Storage has the right sized unit for you.
You can also rest assured knowing it’s protected by tough security measures too.
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