Last time I said that “The most common way to get people’s attention and to invite them to your yard sale is simply by putting up yard sale signs.” Today I’ll be giving more tips on what to do when making a ward sale sign.
2. Use arrows - Always make sure that your signs have arrows that point people to the RIGHT DIRECTION. Last time the yard sale sign illustration was a perfect example of a very clear sign using huge easy to read fonts and contrasting colors. However, if you notice, it didn’t have any arrows. Aside from merely using arrows make sure that the direction the arrow points to is clear, especially if the road splits in several directions.
3. Place signs in strategic locations - A clearly written sign with clear arrows are useless if they are not strategically located. Place the yard sale signs on corners/bends. This is not so important in dead ends but very important in intersections and forks.
4. Keep it clutter-free - You can offer additional info such as your address in smaller letters but DO NOT list down all the great items you have on sale. However, if you are putting up a yard sale sign near an antique shop you might want to places antiques for sale. Just showcase one item/item class for each sign WHEN APPROPRIATE.
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If you want to have a successful yard sale the first thing you should make sure is that your “junk” is still worth buying. They may not be in the best condition but things need to still be serviceable or those that do not work any longer should be salvageable. Assuming that the stuff put out for sale can still be sold the next thing you should make sure you do to have a successful yard sale is to find a way to attract your costumers.
The most common way to get people’s attention and to invite them to your yard sale is simply by putting up yard sale signs. When making a yard sale sign make sure that:
1. It can be seen clearly - What this means is that you should make the signs and the lettering on the signs large enough. This also means that you should write in a clear handwriting. It is best to use block letters. You should also choose colors that easily gets attention. Large clear white letters on a black or red backdrop should work. There is no best color but just make sure that the letters contrast against the background.
Another aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked would be the placement of the signage, If you want it to be seen clearly then post it somewhere prominent enough. Place it eye level or slightly above eye level. You should also place it in posts/walls where there aren’t too many other signs posted, otherwise your sign will “get lost” behind all that clutter.
to be continued…
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With the waning economy you can bet that more and more people are thinking about and actually holding yard sales. This is the best time to get rid of your junk and also give those who need them the opportunity to get something they need at a cheap price.
Those who have experienced not so successful yard sales might, however, feel a little skeptical about being able to actually sell most of the items they put out. If you are one of those who feel a bit skeptical about holding your own yard sale remember that there are great benefits to having one including:
Making some money - This provides enough motivation for most people!
Cleaning up your house - IF you do clean up after the yard sale. At the least it will lessen the number of junk lying around.
Getting a jumpstart at beating consumerism - I’ve posted several times on consumerism. Holding a yard sale should make you realise how much unused (which means they’re not needed) stuff you have. If you’ve got that much stuff then why go one acquiring more stuff you don’t really need?
Helping the environment - Selling off all your extras means that they wouldn’t go to waste. They’ll be re-used, which is what more people need to do.
Family time - If you have a family the yard sale can be a family project. This will allow younger kids to learn more about responsibility, could be a time for you to instill goo values, and of course will be good quality time spent with everybody.
On my next post I will be giving some tips on how to get people to come to your yard sale.
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Less time and effort on your part - Two of your most precious resources - time and energy - will be conserved by using a mortgage broker. Since you do not need to research the background of each and every lender, compare each and every package they offer, and negotiate with each one face-to-face, you can focus on your work and the other more important profitable things that you can do. Granted that you will need to spend time researching various mortgage brokers and choosing the best one you’ll find that choosing a mortgage broker that can deliver the service excellently will still entail less time and effort on your part.
Faster refinancing process - In truth the process of refinancing your home starts the very moment you do your research to find the best lender. By using a mortgage broker the whole process will be sped up significantly since they already have an extensive network of mortgage lenders that they can tap. They not only have contact with these lenders but also know the rates, policies, and packages each offers so that finding the deal that will suit your needs best will be easier for them to do. Remember the faster you get your home refinanced (assuming you get a really good deal) the faster you’ll start saving money.
Note though that you will only reap the benefits of these advantages if you get a good mortgage broker. So if you do decide that you want to go with a mortgage broker then invest time in finding a really good one that offers not only professional service but that shows care for their client. Remember, just like I said above the time you invest in finding a good mortgage broker will still be insignificant compared with the time you need to invest in order to find a comparable excellent deal with various lenders,
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If you plan on refinancing your home you might want to consider using a mortgage broker this time instead of shopping around and directly approaching lenders. There are several advantages to using a mortgage broker including:
Getting the best rates - The reason why you can get the lowest rates possible by using mortgage brokers is because lenders give them the lowest possible deals because they know that brokers have lots of lenders courting them. Aside from this mortgage brokers are also given wholesale packages that drive down the costs so that mortgage brokers can offer their customers competitive rates. If you get a good mortgage broker you’ll find that the fear of having to pay more will be unfounded. It does not cost more to use the services of a mortgage broker. In fact, you’ll even be offered the best deals the lenders can offer.
Less frustration and stress - Dealing with lenders face-to-face can be really stressful. Because you are the one who needs the loan you’ll find that you need to “court” the lenders, which makes negotiating even a harder task than it already is. If you deal with mortgage brokers it is the other way around, though they are doing your service they are the ones that is courting you and not the other way around. What this leads to is a less stressful time for the borrower and a feeling of greater confidence in negotiating a deal with the broker.
To be continued…
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The best way to get the best deal is not researching the firm/broker that will give you the best deal but by learning how to negotiate. Most homeowners actually feel intimidated by brokers so that in the end even if they get a good enough deal they don’t really get the BEST deal. When negotiating to refinance your home you should remember to haggle about the following:
1. closing fees
2. interest rate
3. application fees
What this means is that you need to negotiate not only with prospective lenders but with your current lender as well. Ask your current lender for the lowest possible closing fees. You can even negotiate to refinance your home with your current lender if they agree to give you lower interest rates and waive application fees.
Note that while lenders might seem firm about the lending policies almost all agree to adjust their rates if they realize that you know what you are talking about. In many cases appraisal fees and other fees included in the application fees can be waived or at least lowered so ask around and do not settle for the first discounted price they give you. Remember they want to close the deal as much as you do (if they deem you a safe investment) so use this knowledge to boost your confidence in your negotiation skills.
Note too that there are lots of good deals you can find online since online mortgage brokers usually have multiple offer for homeowners.
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The very first thing you need to remember is to refinance at a lower cost, however not just because you can find a deal that offers lower interest rates means you’ll end up saving money.
A very good example of a lower interest rate deal that could go sour are adjustable rate mortgages (ARM). Like I mentioned in the previous post you cannot protect yourself from rising interest rates with this deal. In fact with ARMs interest rates usually change just within 6 months. Because of this, if you will still be paying for your mortgage for several years once you might end up paying for a higher interest than you are doing at the moment.
Another way you can end up having a bad deal even with lower interest rates is if you do not compute for the actual refinancing cost. When considering refinancing your loan you should consider the fees you need to pay and add them up. Compare this amount with the total amount you’ll be saving due to the lower interest. You might be surprised that the amount you will end up saving might be too little to be worth the bother or even negative, meaning you’ll end up spending more money!
When computing for the actual cost consider the following fees:
1. closing fees - paid to your current lender
2. appraisal fees - to new lender
3. loan fees
4. origination fees
5. title insurance
Ask your prospective lender for their complete list of fees just to make sure!
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With economic downturn seeing foreclosure signs has made lots of homeowners think of putting up their own homes for sale before its too late. However, before you do put up the FOR SALE sign you might want to explore the possibility of refinancing your home. This option is the wisest course for many who have been delinquent with the mortgage payments lately and especially for those who mortgaged their homes before but didn’t do their homework and so ended up with mortgage terms that isn’t that manageable. If you are going to refinance your home though make sure that you:
Refinance at a lower interest - Having lower monthly payments is not enough you should look at the actual interest rates. If you intend to keep your home in the long rung then you should make long run decisions. You should find a solution that would benefit your family’s overall financial health and not go for refinancing just to get out of your current bind.
See if you can stay with your current lender - Having you home refinanced doesn’t always mean having to go to a different lender. If you have a good credit record and are only now having trouble chances are that they would be appreciative of your good record and be willing to help you out by letting you refinance with them and even give you lower interest rates.
Never opt for adjustable rate mortgages (ARM) - Even if you seem to be given a sweeter deal it is still wiser to stick with a fixed rate mortgage. The problem with an ARM is that you never know what will happen in the future and you definitely can not protect yourself from soaring interest rates. Choose a fixed rate mortgage if you don’t want to add to your worries.
to be continued…
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Leaving your credit card(s) at home - If you are on a tight budget and have a clear amount of money you want to spend when you go out to shop or dine leave your credit card at home intentionally. Bring a little extra cash but make sure you do not have too much in your wallet. This way even if you encounter a product on sale that you don’t really need you won’t be able to buy it since you only have enough in your wallet. Even if you do end up buying that product you’ll end up not buying something you don’t need in order to make ends meet.
Invest - If your money is tied on (profitable) investments you will have less money to spend whenever you want to. In addition to this by making wise investments you will be ensuring that your money will grow hopefully at least enough to offset inflation. Remember to stay away from risky investments though because even though promised interest rates may be high if the investment falls flat you’ll lose your money.
Make it a family effort - Educate your kids about consumerism and its negative effects. Help them find new ways to enjoy themselves without having to rely on things, whether newly bought or not. This way you’ll be reaping several benefits such as more family time, decreased expenses, and an educated next generation.
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Here are more habits you should cultivate so as not to be a victim of consumerism. Note that most of them will not only help you save lots of money some can even potentially make you some money. And lets not forget the positive effects to the environment as well!
Reuse - Instead of buying new stuff reuse some of the old stuff at home. This is important for non-biodegradable products. If you really have no use for something any more but it is still serviceable give it away to someone who can use it. You can find reuse centers in your area to give away your things to.
Keeping things neat - Doing this will help you keep track of what you already have and what you don’t. As a practical example, how many times have food stuck at the back of your refrigerator gone to waste? By keeping things in order you can inventory your stuff at a glance so you can plan your meals more easily, know when you have to buy stuff, know when you need to use or give away something before it is wasted, etc.
Give to charity - If you already have too much stuff than you actually need you might want to give some (or even a lot) of them to charity. If you haven’t used something for a couple of years what are the chances you’ll ever be using them again? You can also sell old stuff on eBay and then give a percentage of the proceeds to charity. This way you get to clean house, make some money, and help those in need.
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