How to Have a Successful Neighborhood Yard Sale

 

Organizing a neighborhood or community yard sales in St. Charles County doesn’t have to be hard. With a few tips to help, a successful community sale is much more likely. In turn, you and your neighbors can have some camaraderie while getting rid of unwanted items and making some extra money. Here’s what to do when organizing this type of event.

 

1. Talk to Your Neighbors & Pick a Date

A neighborhood garage sale will include your neighbors. Reach out to your neighbors about the community sale. You’ll want to find out if they would like to be involved and check if there are any dates that definitely won’t work for them.

 

2. Check City & Neighborhood Rules

Does your city or neighborhood HOA have rules setup for yard sales? Visit your city website or swing by town hall to look for yard sale regulations, find any permits you need to obtain, or learn if any special signage is required to have the sale.

3. Advertise With Signage

Create signage for the upcoming community yard sale is important. Add a number to call if any neighbors would like to participate in the sale. This way if you missed talking to a neighbor they will be alerted and still able to participate. Also, anyone who sees the signage knows to save the date to shop the sale.

Signage can be hand made or printed. Put large signage at the entrance to your neighborhood or in front of your or your neighbors’ homes or in other high traffic areas of your community. Smaller signage like flyers can be handed out, mailed or put up on bulletin boards at your local grocery store, post office, etc.

Some great places online to create yard sale flyers cheap or free include: Canva.com, Adobe Express, PosterMyWall.com and VistaCreate.

 

4. Advertise Online

Some places to advertise a neighborhood yard sale online include: your neighborhood website or Facebook page, community Facebook group, your city website or Facebook page, a Facebook Event, Craigslist.org, your local area newspapers, or via email. Apps like Nextdoor, Garage Sales Everywhere, LetGo and OfferUp are also great for posting your sale.

5. Setup - Make it Easy to Browse

How your yard sale looks can effect how well your items sell. Be sure to have plenty of display space like tables or shelves to showcase your items. Folding tables are a great option but you can also create tables with boards and saw horses or similar items and cover the whole “table” with a tablecloth to hide its makeshift nature and make it look more appealing.

 

6. Price it Right

When pricing, an old rule of thumb is to price an item for a third of what it would cost new. However, condition is a huge factor in pricing as well. A new or hardly used item may get a third of its original cost, but any age, wear or tear will effect how appealing an item will be to a customer. Worn items will bring a lot less. Be ready to haggle too as this is something yard sale buyers love to do.

 

7. Have Cash Ready

Since yard sales are generally a cash sale, you’ll want to be sure you have plenty of cash ready for change. For security, it’s recommended to keep that cash on you at all times for security. An apron with deep pockets, a money belt or fanny pack will help.

 

8. Have Bags Available

Keep bags on hand for buyers that buy a lot of items.  This is a great use for grocery bags that you may have built up over time. Your buyers will appreciate your preparedness!

 

9. Donate Unsold Items

When the sale is over you can donate any unsold items. We recently wrote about Donating Household Items in St. Charles County. Check out the article for a list of area charities, resale and consignment stores that take donations of unwanted household items.

 

PRO TIP: FIND A SPONSOR

Get a sponsor to absorb many of the costs.  A good and organized sponsor will handle signage, marketing, maps, participating yard markers and maybe even provide some breakfast goodies! Realtors that live in the neighborhood are usually happy to sponsor. 

 

The Boehmer Team is currently preparing for a community yard sale at The Villages at Sandfort Farm in St. Charles on Sept. 17 and St. Andrews in St. Charles on October 8. We hope you save the dates and come out and browse the sales and say “Hi”. Also, we’re always available to talk about St. Louis and St. Charles County area real estate. Reach out and contact us anytime. We have years of experience in new construction and residential sales.

 

 

We often find people needing a place to donate used furniture and household items while working in real estate in St. Charles County. The Boehmer Team members always give our clients some options for what to do with these items. What we’ve realized is that to keep our St. Charles County communities and households clean, EVERYONE needs to know of these great options for donating and disposing of household items in the area. Here’s a list of places to donate, sell or recycle your things in St. Charles County, Missouri.

 

DONATE HOUSEHOLD ITEMS IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY

Goodwill Retail Stores

There are six Goodwill locations where you can donate furniture and household items in the St. Charles County area. For more information about Goodwill check out their website at: https://mersgoodwill.org/stores/.  Here’s a list of St. Charles County, Missouri Goodwill locations:

• Goodwill Retail Store of St. Charles
  2420 West Clay Street
  636-724-0804

• Goodwill Retail Store of St. Peters – Harvester Rd.
  3551 Harvester Rd.
  636-685-0712

• Goodwill Retail Store of St. Peters, MO – Mid Rivers Mall Dr.
  620 Midrivers Mall Drive
  636-278-2916

• Goodwill Donation X-Press
  635 Salt Lick Rd.

• Goodwill Retail Store of O’Fallon
  1210 Highway K
  636-294-9526

• Goodwill Retail Store of Lake St. Louis
  913 Robert Raymond Drive
  636-625-4256

 

OASIS Thrift Store

The O.A.S.I.S Food Pantry organization has been serving hungry families in the St. Charles County area for years. But did you know that have a thrift store? They even take donations. Learn more about OASIS, what they do and about items you can donate at: https://oasisfoodpantry.com/thrift-store-2/

1812 Boone’s Lick Rd.
636-233-8924
oasisthriftstorestcharles@gmail.com

 

The Sharing Shed

The Sharing Shed was started in 2001 by Vicki Unser, who first ran The Shed out of her garage. She was inspired to help provide items to families in need. Now they have a great location in O’Fallon to donate and purchase items.  Learn more abut The Sharing Shed and the donation items they accept and don’t accept on their website: https://www.thesharingshed.org/

923 East Terra Lane. O'Fallon, MO 63366
636-439-6889
info@thesharingshed.org

The Salvation Army

After a Christian mission was described as a “volunteer army” in their annual report in 1878, they decide to take the name Salvation Army. Since then the organization has been a force to serve in over 100 countries.  At the Salvation Army one can donate many types of items from clothing to furniture to vehicles.  You can even schedule a free pickup.  Visit https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/ for more information. Here are the two St. Charles County Salvation Army locations.

• Salvation Army O'Fallon Corps (MO) Donation Drop Box
  William Booth Dr, O'Fallon, MO, 63366
  636-240-4969
  satruck_stlouis@usc.salvationarmy.org
  
  
• Saint Peters (MO) Family Store & Donation Drop Off
  30 Harvester Square, Saint Peters, MO, 63303
  1-800-SA-TRUCK
  satruck_stlouis@usc.salvationarmy.org

 

Renewed Treasures

In the city of St. Charles you can find Renewed Treasures. They accept all types of household item donations (no mattresses, TV’s or computers). They also accepted items for recycling, repurposing, or revenue including: used printer ink cartridges, broken jewelry, aluminum can tabs and old keys (partner with Ronald McDonald House), damaged books, shoes, purses, and clothing.  Visit their website at http://www.renewedtreasures.org/ to learn more about them.

2215 Droste Road, St. Charles, MO, United States
314-378-2865

 

FISH of St Charles Food Pantry and Thrift Store

F.I.S.H. or Friends In Serving Him was founded in 1969 and is a volunteer organization to the less fortunate in St Charles County providing food, clothing, linens, housewares and care. Donations are accepted on Saturday only. Be sure to reach out to them to see if they have room for your type of donation. Learn more about FISH at https://fishofstcharles.com/

1150 Cave Springs Estates Drive
St Peters MO 63376
636-447-5482​

 

Mary Martha Thrift Shop

Brought to you by St. Patrick Catholic Church is Mary Martha Thrift Shop.  Here you are allowed to bring your donations freely and place them in either of the drop-off sheds as space allows.  If a shed is full it will be locked. Donations left on the ground will be discarded, so please either place them in one of the drop sheds or bring them back when space allows. Note: they tend to accept smaller household items and clothes. For more information on what can and can’t be donated visit: https://www.stpatrickwentzville.org/marymartha

9 W Koenig St, Wentzville, MO 63385
636-327-7848

 

USA Resale

With three locations in the St. Charles County area, USA Resale is a great option if you want to sell your items via consignment. The furniture or household items to be dropped off must be pre-approved by sending a photo to the individual store you wish to consign with.  The money you make at USA Resale can be in the form of store credit or via a check (if your balance is $25.00 or more). Learn more about USA Resale at their website: https://www.usaresale.com/

• 10 Town & Country Market Place, Warrenton, MO 63383
  Phone: (636) 456-8188
  Email: usaresale01@gmail.com
  
  
• 1251 Wentzville Pkwy, Wentzville, MO 63385
  Phone: (636) 327-7666
  Email: usaresale@outlook.com
  
  
• 4109 Old Highway 94 South, St. Charles, MO 63304
  Phone: (636) 366-6100
  Email: usaresale3@gmail.com

Recycle Works Central

If you need to dispose of something that a thrift or resale store won’t take, check out Recycle Works Central. They accept things like old computers, nonworking appliances, car batteries, cooking oil, scrap metal and more. They are currently only open Monday through Friday. For a full list of things that can be recycled at their location in St. Charles County, visit https://www.sccmo.org/892/Recycle-Works---Central

60 Triad South Drive, St. Charles, MO 63304
Ph: 636-949-7900, ext. 4273

 

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We hope this list helps you clear your home of items that no longer have a good place in it. Please do not dump unwanted furniture and household items in our lovely community.  Contact The Boehmer Team If you’re looking for a bigger home with more space for your items or a smaller home to worry about less stuff in. We strive to help area buyers and sellers get the best deal and have the best real estate experience in our area.

 

Dog Parks In St. Charles County

 

Did you know that almost all of The Boehmer Team members are dog owners? That’s right, we love our four-legged canine family members. Also, all of The Boehmer Team members live in St. Charles County, Missouri. Often, we’re looking for a nearby dog park when we go out with our pooches. No need to look anymore. We’ve put together a list of public St. Charles County area dog parks to reference the next time we’re out with our dogs. Bookmark this article so you can easily reference it too.

Veterans Tribute Dog Park - St. Charles, Mo

101 Kisker Rd., St. Charles, MO 63304
website  | map
Veterans Tribute Park offers, picnic areas, fishing, hiking trails and a dog park. The dog park covers 3-acres and is divided into two separate areas for small and large dogs. Water is even available outside of the main fence.

 

DuSable Dog Park - St. Charles, Mo 2598 

N Main Street, St. Charles, MO 63301
website | map

There’s ample parking available at DuSable Dog Park. The park contains three sections divided over 2. 5 acres of land. Be sure to pay attention to the signs as sections are occasionally rotated to help preserve the park’s turf. Enjoy the pavilion providing shade on the northern side of the park.

 

Quail Ridge Park - Wentzville, Mo

560 Interstate Dr., Wentzville, MO 63385

website | map
If you’re in the Wentzville area check out Quail Ridge Park. In addition to disc golf, fishing, a playground and picnic shelters there is a 2.5-acre area dog park. The dog park at Quail Ridge Park features two separate areas for small and large dogs and has a covered shelter. Water is available near the parking lot.

 

Broemmelsiek Park - Defiance, Mo

1795 Highway DD, Defiance, MO 63341

website | map

Broemmelsiek Park covers a huge 495 acres and includes several large lakes for fishing and almost 10 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and equestrian use. Inside Broemmelsiek is a 4.7 acre off-leash dog area with a large pond for dogs to play and splash around. This dog park was even voted "Best Dog Park" in the region. It also has a covered shelter and some trees for shade.

 

Don Yarber Bark Park in Legacy Park - Cottleville, Mo

5490 Fifth Street, Cottleville, Mo 63304

website | map

Located inside Legacy Park is a dog park named after former Mayor Donald Yarber. Yarber  wanted this dog park to serve as a legacy to his love for public parks and dogs. There is a section for small dogs or puppies and another large, one-acre section for large dogs. Check conditions before going as Bark Park is closed when conditions are muddy. Rules and regulations for the park are posted at the site.

 

 

NOTE: Before visiting one of these parks be sure to review the rules and regulations. Most of these parks have them listed on their website.

 

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Love dogs? We’re currently celebrating the Dog Days of Summer with dog-related facts, pictures and fun with dogs on our social media. If you’re considering buying or selling St. Charles County real estate with your dog(s), contact The Boehmer Team. Our experienced team understands how to help with real estate and the moving process while keeping your pet’s best interests in mind.

 

 

Home Buying with Increasing Mortgage Rates

It’s true – like the rest of the U.S., St. Louis and St. Charles county real estate is facing increasing mortgage rates. However, mortgage rates have been up and down throughout the decades and regardless of the rates, people still bought and sold homes. Let’s discuss what homeowners really focus on each month, monthly mortgage payments.

 

The chart below shows the difference between a principal and interest payment on a $350,000 loan at 5.50%. When the rate increases to 6.00% it is only $111.00 a month difference. While we understand this is an increase, it may be manageable. For example: a borrower that makes a gross monthly salary of about $10,000 will fall within typical guidelines for getting a mortgage of this size loan at the higher rate. 

 

Trusted mortgage loan specialist and Executive Vice President of Paramount Bank, Jeff Griege offered us a great comparison of rates and sales historically with today’s rates and sales:

 

“In June 2008 the average rate for a 30-year fixed rate loan was 6.45% while home sales for June 2008 were 4.83 Million. In April 2022 home sales were at 5.61 Million. What I mean by this is people are still going to buy homes with a higher rate of interest, especially if the demand for homes decreases as some buyers move out of the market.“

 

According to Freddie Mac data, the highest mortgage interest rates ever reached in modern history were in 1981. At that time the annual average was 16.63% - and people STILL bought and sold homes. But let’s keep our fingers crossed we don’t see that again.

 

If you have questions about the process of buying real estate or getting a mortgage loan, contact The Boehmer Team. We can answer your questions, help you with the process and get you in touch with experienced mortgage loan officers that will help you get the best rate. Don’t be discouraged, where there is a will, there’s a way! Contact us today.

 

 

The fine print: 

 

Proper U.S. Flag Etiquette

The American flag is a symbol of the United States that holds much history and represents our country’s ideals. Coined  “Old Glory” by ship captain William Driver in the 1820’s, the flag’s official colors are now called “Old Glory Red” and “Old Glory Blue”. According to the U.S. State Department, red represents valor and bravery, white symbolizes purity and innocence, and blue stands for vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

Since our flag was introduced in 1777, the design has undergone changes to reflect the admission of new states. Our citizens love the design and symbolism so much that U.S. flags can be found everywhere in our country: in front of houses, on cars, on clothes, in home decor, painted on fences, and more. However, a symbol so dear to our country deserves respect and American flags should be displayed and disposed of with proper etiquette.

 

Etiquette for Displaying the United States Flag

Did you know that there is a proper etiquette for displaying the United States flag? You can see the full U.S. Flag Code here. The American flag is a symbol of our great nation and the many lives that care for and protect it. Here’s how to display the U.S. flag properly.

• Raised briskly and lowered ceremoniously, the flag should be displayed from sunrise to sunset - but not in inclement weather.
• The U.S. flag should always fly in light. If flown outside at night, install a solar flagpole light or have other light directed towards it.
• If there is more than one flag on a pole, the U.S. flag should always fly above other flags and should be the same size or larger than the others, and no international flags should be flown on the same pole.
• The field of stars should be uppermost and to the left of the observer when the flag is displayed against a wall, window, or in a vertical orientation.
• Do not allow the flag to ever touch anything beneath it or dip the flag toward any person or object.
• When the flag is used in ceremonies everyone, except those in uniform, should place their right hand over their heart while facing the flag.
• Public institutions should display the flag daily and on all holidays, weather permitting, near the main administration building.
• Schools should display the flag during school days.
• The flag should be displayed at polling places.
• When put away, the flag should be folded and stored in a triangular fold with the stars showing. See how to fold the flag here.
  
  

Etiquette for Retiring a United States Flag

When a flag has become wind-battered, worn beyond repair, and reached the end of it’s lifespan, how should you properly retire it? According to U.S. Flag Code, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

Check your local fire ordinances and the flag’s materials before conducting a flag burning ceremony at home or other private location. These ceremonies are most often conducted on Flag Day. The ceremony should begin by holding the flag in its customary manner then properly fold and place respectfully onto a fire large enough to burn the flag completely. Do not allow the flag to touch the ground in this process. As it burns, salute the flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance then pause for a moment of silence. When only ashes are left, bury the ashes.

For the best safety and utmost respect when retiring your American flag, visit a community flag collection box. There’s a flag collection box in front of the St. Charles County Administration Building and another at Veterans Tribute Park. By putting your flag in one of these boxes, you can be sure that it will be destroyed ceremoniously.

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The Boehmer Team has deep respect and appreciation for the U.S. flag. We see it in the communities and homes we sell and in the hearts of the veterans, police, teachers and ordinary citizens we help every day. If you want to buy or sell American property or land to fly your very own American flag on, Contact The Boehmer Team.

 

 

References:
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title4/chapter1&edition=prelim
https://www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth/history/old-glory/
https://www.gettysburgflag.com/american-flag-display
https://usflags.design/usa/
https://nationalflagfoundation.org/etiquette/when-to-dispose-of-the-flag/
https://www.sccmo.org/1732/Veterans-Best-Practices-Working-Group/VBPWG

Lighting Your Home Right

Have you ever gone into a room that just felt good but you couldn’t put your finger on why? It could be the lighting. In a well-lit room, everyone feels relaxed and looks their best. This is why it is important to be considerate of the bulbs and fixtures in your home and how they can create a more inviting environment that encourages people to linger.

LIGHTING MISSTEPS AND CORRECTIONS

• Lighting Misstep: Avoid overly bright overhead lights that can tire the eyes.
• Correction: Install dimmers.
  
  
• Lighting Misstep: Not matching the function of the room.
• Correction: Localize and layer your light sources to focus lighting on the main functions of a room.
  
  
• Lighting Misstep: Using different types and colors of bulbs in the same room.
• Correction: Learn about light bulbs and choose a similar type of bulb throughout a room to avoid different colors and frequencies of light that could make a room feel disjointed.
  
  
• Lighting Misstep: Using lighting at all the same height.
• Correction: Implement lighting at different heights to fill a room with soft light and create better ambiance.

 

LIGHT IT RIGHT – ROOM BY ROOM

Entryway Lighting: The entryway is where your lighting story for your home begins.  Fun and functional lighting like an entry table lamp and overhead light make a great start and set the stage for the rest of the home.

Great Room Lighting: This is a place to put our feet up or have great conversations with friends and family. Add light to your seating areas with table and floor lamps. To draw the eye up to a high or vaulted ceiling, use overhead lights. If the room has standout architectural features highlight them with a spotlight or sconces.

Kitchen Lighting: When lighting a kitchen, it’s about merging style with function. Good overhead lighting and lighting for cutting surfaces is important. One of the most visible forms of kitchen lighting are pendants that hang over islands or peninsulas. You can choose to have them blend in or stand out. A good tip is to match your pendants to the materials on your cabinet hardware.

Dining Room Lighting: In a dining room, the lighting is one of the main focal points. This is the place to splurge on lighting and put up your favorite chandelier, as it will hang at or a little above eye level. Don’t forget to install a dimmer switch in this room to set the mood. Want to tie in the dining room lighting in to your kitchen space? The tip here is to use a material or shape that is cohesive with the kitchen design.

 

Bedroom Lighting: Bedroom lighting starts with overhead light. This could be a pendant, flush, lighted fan or chandelier. Then coordinate your secondary lighting choices like table lamps or sconces by choosing a similar material, color or shape that appears in your overhead lighting.

 

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While touring and selling St. Louis and St. Charles County real estate, The Boehmer Team have seen all kinds of ways that people light their homes. Our favorite tip is to be sure to use the same color and type of lighting within the same room. In other words, don’t make a room disjointed by mixing halogen and LED lights in the same space. Also, don’t forget to utilize natural light to brighten your spaces and save energy. Check out some of our favorite places to shop for home lighting: Houzz.com and Wayfair.com. When you’re ready to sell a home, contact The Boehmer Team to help you stage your home – and its lighting – to make it looks its best so that you get the most value from your home sale.