From the mouths of babes:
I am taking a little break from the 'small house made bigger' project. Just to share some chuckles.
Bible memory verse:
Proudly recited by my then, 6 year old daughter,
It comes from Romans 5.
"Through Christ we have our asses,
by faith into this grace in which we stand".
So, we are getting our asses handed to us by Christ???
I guess that is theologically correct!
(By the way, in case you are wondering, that should read, " through Christ we have access")
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Flea Market
Okay, so if you have a lot to sell, but you don't want to deal with people coming to your house,
or putting up signs....a local flea market is a good way to go.
Scope out your local flea market when it is in operation and find out the rules of that particular one. Ask the owners when is the earliest that you can claim a table. Many folks say you have to spend the night or come at the ungodly hour of 3 or 4 am. I, personally, have never gone before 6 am. Some Flea Markets will let you bring your own tables to set up.
It really is a good idea to bring an extra table anyway. You can use it to make an L by placing it against the flea market table. This makes for better layout and presentation of more items. -The easier it is to see your items, the more likely are people to buy them! And if you put it against the flea market table in the shape of an L, you will not be charged with an extra space!
People like to see clean, neat, prepared items. Bring a nice looking table cloth or sheet to put on the table before you start putting your items out.
Craigslist is better for larger furniture or heavy items. Don't go carting large heavy items to the flea market unless you realize that you may have to also cart them back home! Do price all your items! Price them with a price that is double what you really want for them. So as soon as someone touches it you can exclaim....You can have that for half price! People are always amazed at that! ; ) Also, as with the yard sale, do not sit down and use this time for visiting...you must speak to everyone that comes to your table. You will get alot more sales.
It is better to come with someone because that way it is easier to get away if you have to use the restroom. If you can't find someone to go with you, try to position yourself near a bathroom and do make a friend with someone around you. They can watch your table for 2 minutes if you need to go! ; )
Also, bring something to eat and something to drink. Otherwise you will end up spending the money you are making on food at the flea market because you are hungry! It all adds up!
Find out ahead of time how much you will need to pay for your table at the flea market. This is usually pretty low. . . in our town the fee is $10 for an outside table. Some folks pay a higher fee to keep their items year round on the inside. Talk to the individual who collects your money if you are interested in being a regular.
Make sure you go prepared with some change. You can lose a sale if an early buyer can't get change back for his $50!
Save your grocery bags. Recycle them as bags for your customers to carry their new treasures away! ; )
If it is an outdoor Flea Market, know what the weather will be. Come prepared with layers! So as the day gets warmer you can take off some of the layers! You may need to bring a tarp if there is a chance of rain, or a large umbrella if it is too sunny. Watch your weather reports. If it is too cold, people don't like to stop, they are trying to keep warm. If it is too hot, they are too miserable to stop and look at your items. So just keep that in mind.
Keep in mind paydays! A great deal of people get paid on the first and fifteenth of the month. So these
are good days to get out and sell!
Remember to smile! Again, engage the buyers in conversation! You will increase your sales, and maybe make a few friends! Do not get offended by buyers trying to get a deal. Remember, they don't care how long you have saved it or how much you paid for it. Decide ahead of time not to get offended when dealers walk off with a treasure from you and gleefully say, "I am going to sell this for three times what you sold it to me for!" Did you make some money from it? Did you get rid of it? Did you need it? Did it make more room in your house? Did it make your living space bigger because it is gone? Then, BE HAPPY!
Lastly, if you want to really get crazy, keep your eyes out for someone who is having a bad day at sales. (There are plenty out there.) After you pack up to leave, walk up to them and give them 10% of your earnings for the day! No strings attached. Just say have a great day! That little kindness ripple will go on for a long time! ; ) You never know who you will impact! People never expect it! ; )
or putting up signs....a local flea market is a good way to go.
Scope out your local flea market when it is in operation and find out the rules of that particular one. Ask the owners when is the earliest that you can claim a table. Many folks say you have to spend the night or come at the ungodly hour of 3 or 4 am. I, personally, have never gone before 6 am. Some Flea Markets will let you bring your own tables to set up.
It really is a good idea to bring an extra table anyway. You can use it to make an L by placing it against the flea market table. This makes for better layout and presentation of more items. -The easier it is to see your items, the more likely are people to buy them! And if you put it against the flea market table in the shape of an L, you will not be charged with an extra space!
People like to see clean, neat, prepared items. Bring a nice looking table cloth or sheet to put on the table before you start putting your items out.
Craigslist is better for larger furniture or heavy items. Don't go carting large heavy items to the flea market unless you realize that you may have to also cart them back home! Do price all your items! Price them with a price that is double what you really want for them. So as soon as someone touches it you can exclaim....You can have that for half price! People are always amazed at that! ; ) Also, as with the yard sale, do not sit down and use this time for visiting...you must speak to everyone that comes to your table. You will get alot more sales.
It is better to come with someone because that way it is easier to get away if you have to use the restroom. If you can't find someone to go with you, try to position yourself near a bathroom and do make a friend with someone around you. They can watch your table for 2 minutes if you need to go! ; )
Also, bring something to eat and something to drink. Otherwise you will end up spending the money you are making on food at the flea market because you are hungry! It all adds up!
Find out ahead of time how much you will need to pay for your table at the flea market. This is usually pretty low. . . in our town the fee is $10 for an outside table. Some folks pay a higher fee to keep their items year round on the inside. Talk to the individual who collects your money if you are interested in being a regular.
Make sure you go prepared with some change. You can lose a sale if an early buyer can't get change back for his $50!
Save your grocery bags. Recycle them as bags for your customers to carry their new treasures away! ; )
If it is an outdoor Flea Market, know what the weather will be. Come prepared with layers! So as the day gets warmer you can take off some of the layers! You may need to bring a tarp if there is a chance of rain, or a large umbrella if it is too sunny. Watch your weather reports. If it is too cold, people don't like to stop, they are trying to keep warm. If it is too hot, they are too miserable to stop and look at your items. So just keep that in mind.
Keep in mind paydays! A great deal of people get paid on the first and fifteenth of the month. So these
are good days to get out and sell!
Remember to smile! Again, engage the buyers in conversation! You will increase your sales, and maybe make a few friends! Do not get offended by buyers trying to get a deal. Remember, they don't care how long you have saved it or how much you paid for it. Decide ahead of time not to get offended when dealers walk off with a treasure from you and gleefully say, "I am going to sell this for three times what you sold it to me for!" Did you make some money from it? Did you get rid of it? Did you need it? Did it make more room in your house? Did it make your living space bigger because it is gone? Then, BE HAPPY!
Lastly, if you want to really get crazy, keep your eyes out for someone who is having a bad day at sales. (There are plenty out there.) After you pack up to leave, walk up to them and give them 10% of your earnings for the day! No strings attached. Just say have a great day! That little kindness ripple will go on for a long time! ; ) You never know who you will impact! People never expect it! ; )
Yard Sale Signs - a pain, but EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!
DO NOT BUY YARD SALE SIGNS! Remember, you are trying to get rid of stuff, but you
are also trying to MAKE MONEY! Don't spend money!
First, back to the closets.....do you have old posters or pictures that you are getting rid of?
You can use the backs of these to put your yard sale information on. Look in the garage,
do you have any old drywall or boards that you are getting rid of? Use these as yard sale
signs. Lastly- have you ever driven around and noticed yard sale signs that are still up
from a month ago? Do your community a favor. TAKE THEM DOWN! Reuse the
signs and post your yard sale with them. Make as many yard sale signs as you can stand to!
Put them up the night before. If you would like to gamble and put them up a few days in advance,
that is fine...just remember they must be able to stand up to weather! Also keep in mind that
some pranksters will then have more time to change them around! Also! If you must put them
up days before, know that you might get visitors to your home unless you make sure to only put your street name and not your exact house address. This saves on alot of problem visitors. Remember the
WHO WHAT WHERE WHY from grade school! Put the times, date, street, yardsale. USE BIG
LETTERS and keep it simple. Most people don't have time to read alot from a sign as they are driving!
And CHECK YOUR WEATHER!
are also trying to MAKE MONEY! Don't spend money!
First, back to the closets.....do you have old posters or pictures that you are getting rid of?
You can use the backs of these to put your yard sale information on. Look in the garage,
do you have any old drywall or boards that you are getting rid of? Use these as yard sale
signs. Lastly- have you ever driven around and noticed yard sale signs that are still up
from a month ago? Do your community a favor. TAKE THEM DOWN! Reuse the
signs and post your yard sale with them. Make as many yard sale signs as you can stand to!
Put them up the night before. If you would like to gamble and put them up a few days in advance,
that is fine...just remember they must be able to stand up to weather! Also keep in mind that
some pranksters will then have more time to change them around! Also! If you must put them
up days before, know that you might get visitors to your home unless you make sure to only put your street name and not your exact house address. This saves on alot of problem visitors. Remember the
WHO WHAT WHERE WHY from grade school! Put the times, date, street, yardsale. USE BIG
LETTERS and keep it simple. Most people don't have time to read alot from a sign as they are driving!
And CHECK YOUR WEATHER!
Yard sales are a quick way to get rid of your old items. Just realize that you will have
hagglers. If you are not comfortable with that, than have someone with you who can deal with the haggler. Don't get angry, they are just trying to get a deal. Don't get offended! They don't really care that your item is from Great Aunt Sally back in 1811! They also don't care how much you paid for it! I have found that if you put prices on all your items it makes it easier....especially for those who don't like to haggle. Always put double the amount of what you want for the item on the price tag. This way as soon as someone touches an item, you can say "If you like that you can have it for half price!" The response is usually, "WOW, okay!" Stay alert, do not sit down on the job and or visit with your helper. You have to talk to each person that comes to your sale. This is important! So drink your coffee and eat a good breakfast! To make alot of sales this is a MUST!
Also, don't post your exact address in your yard sale ad, or you will have
folks showing up at 4 am or days before your actual sale. . .Same goes for a phone
number. Craigslist is a good place to post a yard sale. Dealers constantly look
at those ads to plan where they are going to spend their money. (and did I mention that
it is free?)
You will need at least one other person to help you with a yard sale, especially
for bathroom breaks and signs. Signs are a hassle, but EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!
hagglers. If you are not comfortable with that, than have someone with you who can deal with the haggler. Don't get angry, they are just trying to get a deal. Don't get offended! They don't really care that your item is from Great Aunt Sally back in 1811! They also don't care how much you paid for it! I have found that if you put prices on all your items it makes it easier....especially for those who don't like to haggle. Always put double the amount of what you want for the item on the price tag. This way as soon as someone touches an item, you can say "If you like that you can have it for half price!" The response is usually, "WOW, okay!" Stay alert, do not sit down on the job and or visit with your helper. You have to talk to each person that comes to your sale. This is important! So drink your coffee and eat a good breakfast! To make alot of sales this is a MUST!
Also, don't post your exact address in your yard sale ad, or you will have
folks showing up at 4 am or days before your actual sale. . .Same goes for a phone
number. Craigslist is a good place to post a yard sale. Dealers constantly look
at those ads to plan where they are going to spend their money. (and did I mention that
it is free?)
You will need at least one other person to help you with a yard sale, especially
for bathroom breaks and signs. Signs are a hassle, but EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!
The closets: Make some money!
Cleaning out your closets!
You can have a yard sale or go to the Flea Market, post on Craigslist or Ebay.
Use your junk to get you some money to make your home more enjoyable!
Craigslist is super easy...and it is free! Just get a cheap camera to post some pictures on your
listings. Most folks want to see what you have before they will even inquire about it.
It is easy to start a craigslist account. Just sign up with your email account.
You will get some spam from your ad, so just be aware. Some folks use your craigslist ads to try to contact you for their own sales gimmicks! It is not a big deal, just answer the replies that you choose. Don't let it become a hassle. Just don't answer the ones that are not about buying your item! Most of the people that want to buy your item want a quick response, and convenient time to get the item. They must haul off the junk, Don't you do it! Too much work! ; ) We want this to be EASY AS POSSIBLE!
You can have a yard sale or go to the Flea Market, post on Craigslist or Ebay.
Use your junk to get you some money to make your home more enjoyable!
Craigslist is super easy...and it is free! Just get a cheap camera to post some pictures on your
listings. Most folks want to see what you have before they will even inquire about it.
It is easy to start a craigslist account. Just sign up with your email account.
You will get some spam from your ad, so just be aware. Some folks use your craigslist ads to try to contact you for their own sales gimmicks! It is not a big deal, just answer the replies that you choose. Don't let it become a hassle. Just don't answer the ones that are not about buying your item! Most of the people that want to buy your item want a quick response, and convenient time to get the item. They must haul off the junk, Don't you do it! Too much work! ; ) We want this to be EASY AS POSSIBLE!
You can make your house BIGGER.....on a budget!
Step 3 to making your house bigger:
Attack the closets! Go through your closets. Use one room as a place to put items that you are not sure
what to do with. Bring a large garbage can into the room with you as you are cleaning. Sell items that
you do not want on Ebay or craigslist. This will help you to finance your new home that you are making.
Get rid of what you know for sure that you do not want. And I repeat: You do not have to decide
yet on the items you are not sure of...put those in another storage room. We will attack those later!
Keep items that you cherish. We may be using those later!
Attack the closets! Go through your closets. Use one room as a place to put items that you are not sure
what to do with. Bring a large garbage can into the room with you as you are cleaning. Sell items that
you do not want on Ebay or craigslist. This will help you to finance your new home that you are making.
Get rid of what you know for sure that you do not want. And I repeat: You do not have to decide
yet on the items you are not sure of...put those in another storage room. We will attack those later!
Keep items that you cherish. We may be using those later!
Make your small house BIGGER!
If you don't want to look at any construction type work, skip to number 3.
So, this is what we started:
1) To open spaces we put a window in the wall adjoining the living room and the kitchen. This opened up the visiting space and made it so that if you are working in the kitchen you can still be involved in the living room conversations and fun.
2)Again, to open spaces we knocked down a wall which adjoined a bedroom and the kitchen. It is now a spare bedroom or a visiting/computer room. We installed pocketdoors to the kitchen which made closing off the room for company a breeze.
So, this is what we started:
1) To open spaces we put a window in the wall adjoining the living room and the kitchen. This opened up the visiting space and made it so that if you are working in the kitchen you can still be involved in the living room conversations and fun.
2)Again, to open spaces we knocked down a wall which adjoined a bedroom and the kitchen. It is now a spare bedroom or a visiting/computer room. We installed pocketdoors to the kitchen which made closing off the room for company a breeze.
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