You don’t need to wait until spring cleaning days to start a stoop sale. However, if you’re getting ready to move into a new place, this option can help you eliminate some unwanted items while earning cash.
It’s not unusual for a moving sale in NYC to generate enough money to pay for professional moving services.
You can get rid of the clutter, offer your neighbors fantastic deals, and take inventory of what you cannot live without when moving. It doesn’t take much prep to have a successful event, but you will want to take these steps to maximize your opportunities.
1. Know What You Can Legally Do
Some areas in New York require you to secure a permit to host a moving sale. You’ll be asked to charge sales tax on the items, and the earnings may need to be reported on your taxes. Although many people don’t take this step because the risk of getting caught is minimal, the fines could be substantial if someone does report your sales activity.
If you live in NYC, you don’t need a permit for a pop-up moving sale. However, when you have an ongoing event, it helps to ask about permitting to ensure you don’t get into any trouble.
2. Pick the Right Day
Most moving sales in NYC take place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The weekend is convenient for many people, but life here can create unpredictable schedules. About 30% of residents are working non-traditional hours.
If you choose a weekend sale, you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of starting early or waiting until the afternoon. Do you want people stopping by before you’ve rolled out of bed, or are you willing to manage environmental challenges in exchange for more foot traffic?
3. Advertise the Moving Sale
Unless your goal is to sell everything to your neighbors or strangers walking by, the average person won’t know about your yard sale.
The first step is advertising around the neighborhood by placing signs strategically. Ask local businesses if you can place a temporary notification in a window.
It helps to place an advertisement with at least three online sources. Some top options are Garage Sale Hunter, Craigslist, and Yard Sale Search.
You can create an event on social media to invite family and friends to your moving sale. There’s also the old-fashioned word-of-mouth method, which works well for neighbors and co-workers you see daily.
4. Have Payment Options Available
Most moving sales take a cash-only approach to the transactions. That might have worked a decade ago, but only one in four New Yorkers predominantly uses paper money today. So, take those sales, but have something available for card payments.
You can use PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle without hassle. For those that want to pay with cash, try to have a change drawer with smaller bills and coins to facilitate the more prominent denominations that people carry.
Consider accepting crypto at your moving sale if you have a digital wallet.
5. Set Realistic Prices for Items
People come to moving sales because they’re looking for great deals. You’re looking for fast money. If someone can flip a few things, let them. That work takes extra effort and energy!
What is a realistic price? It depends on what you’re doing. A professional appraisal is necessary filling. Suppose you have antiques or collect necessary. For an entire library of books, $1 or less is reasonable.
You’ll need to prepare yourself for people who want to haggle over prices. It’s up to you if you want to bargain with them. Is your goal to get rid of the stuff, so it doesn’t need to be moved, or are you trying to maximize cash value with it?
Final Steps to Consider
Once you’ve held a stoop sale in NYC, there could be several leftover items you don’t want to keep or move. If they’re gently used, consider donating them to a local charity. Some nonprofits will pick up the items from you.
You can also consider storage solutions for your upcoming move if there are items that have enough value to keep. At Expo Movers, we provide a broad range of services and support to ensure you can successfully move from one address to another.
When combined with the benefits of a moving sale, you can have a successful experience raising some money while getting everything organized for your upcoming transition.
