Decluttering your home can be a daunting task, but in our consumer society, it’s got to be done, otherwise you’ll run out of space. One wonderful way to declutter your home or storage unit while making a bit of cash is to sell your unwanted items at a boot fair.

If you’re thinking about taking a stall at a boot fair, here are a few tips to help you get started:

Finding stock for a boot fair

Start by decluttering your home and your storage unit. This is the most important step. You need to go through all of your belongings and decide what you want to keep and what you can get rid of. A storage inventory is really helpful for this. Take a hard look at anything that has been in storage for longer than six months – do you really want it if you haven’t used it in all that time?

We have a blogpost about items that do well at boot fairs and sales to help you decide what to put on your stall.

How to price items for a boot fair

Once you’ve decluttered ahead of your boot fair, it’s time to start pricing your items. Be realistic about how much you can sell your boot fair stock for. You don’t want to price things too high or you won’t sell anything, which will make your decluttering mission that much harder.

If you’re not sure how much to sell things for, take a trip to a boot fair and make some notes about prices of things like books, music and bric-a-brac. You can also check auction sites and local for sale sites to get a general idea of what people are willing to pay.

Some boot fair experts feel more comfortable pricing items individually. But you may be happier letting punters make you an offer. Be prepared to haggle at the boot fair. People will often try to negotiate with you on the price of your items. You can play along, but don’t be afraid to walk away from a sale if you’re not happy with the price.

Think about offering discounts and deals at your boot fair. This is a fantastic way to attract customers and move your merchandise. For example, you might sell individual books for £1, but to really shift your stock, offer ten books for £8.

Do I need insurance for a boot fair?

Goods on sale at your boot fair will not generally be covered by your home contents insurance – but check your policy. Specialist insurance for car boot sale stall holders is available, and car boot sale organisers will have insurance themselves. If you are concerned about insurance for your boot fair, ask the organiser for advice.

Arriving at the boot fair

Set up your stall early. The earlier you set up, the better spot you’ll get. It will also give you a chance to have a wander round and see what the competition is up to! You may be approached by other stall holders or dealers looking to pick up a bargain, or an item that they can sell on for a higher price. This can be a quick way of shifting stock – but don’t undersell your goods, either.

Be friendly and approachable at your boot fair stall. You’re more likely to convert boot fair browsers into buyers if you’re positive and upbeat. And chatting to boot fair shoppers will also make the experience more enjoyable, and give you a bit of insight about what is working and not working on your stall.

Some of our tips for yard sales will also apply to a boot fair – so take a look for more ideas.

Clearing up after the boot fair

The final step in holding a boot fair is to get rid of the unsold items. Have a plan for your unsold stock. Some items like books and clean clothing will be readily taken by charities. Other items may need to go to the tip if there is no market for them – Oxfam has a handy list that will give you an idea of what you can and can’t donate to charity shops. What you definitely don’t want is to take unsold boot fair stock home with you!

Of course, if you’ve been bitten hard by the boot fair bug and you know you’re going to be back with your stall next Saturday, then you’ll need somewhere clean, dry and secure to keep the domestic goods so that they stay in appealing, saleable condition. Your storage unit is ideal for this. Don’t forget to adjust your inventory and self-storage insurance when you drop off your boot fair stock.

Boot fairs can help you to declutter your home, make some extra cash, and have some fun. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your boot fair today!