Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Phase 1 of the Moving Process: To Lighten the Load, "Signage is KEY"

The two pieces of wisdom I gained from Phase 1 of the Moving Process were:
1) Lighten the Load
2) "Signage is KEY"

Our two-day "moving sale" was hugely successful despite weather conditions that included rain, rain, and more rain. However, people came in their rain-gear prepared to buy anything and everything that was not nailed down, including Dave's motorcycle and the plants in our front garden area. Far exceeding our wildest dreams, we sold at least 80% of what we put out and made a whopping $720!! Adding to the monetary profit was the solace we took in letting go of some major boat anchors including our snow related gear (shovels, snowblower, snowtires), a once used breadmaker, and a papasan chair. We also got rid of at least one hundred books (people even took the ancient engineering books from the free bin), some pieces of furniture, bags and purses, clothing, shoes, kitchen stuff, and the list goes on and on. People will buy anything!

The other, more practical lesson from the moving sale experience was that Signage is Key. On the internet, I found the advise: "Make sure the signs you make are large, clear and, if possible, waterproof. Use well made, creative signs because they will attract more buyers." Following this advice, I created weather-proof bright green poster board signage with clear information about the dates and address. Living near a busy intersection also definitely helped to draw more people.

Overall, the sense of relief and accomplishment that we took away really bolstered our spirits! Letting go of the old really frees you up!

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