A No-BS Guide to Selling Everything You Own for an International Move

Moving countries? Big mood. Getting rid of your stuff is emotional, a little terrifying, and a bit liberating all at the same time.

#1: Purge

How much should you get rid of?

I mean, nobody can answer that for you but I got rid of preeettty much everything I owned. An international move is expensive ya’ll, and most of those fancy kitchen gadgets aren’t going to work in overseas outlets anyways so you might as well get that cash.

I moved with 2 suitcases, a carry-on and sent about 5 boxes of things that were more sentimental or deemed “absolutely necessary” on ahead of me, including a bicycle. Guess how often I use those absolutely necessary things? 5 years later, most is still in boxes in my attic.

#MovingProTip: Embrace the Marie Kondo method on steroids. If it doesn’t spark joy, or you haven’t used it since that one time in 2017, sell it. Be ruthless. Your future self will thank you, even if your current self feels a little torn.'

#2: Pricing

Reality Check: Your Treasures Aren't Worth What You Think:

Brace yourself for the cold, hard truth - people don't see your stuff the way you do. That vintage vase you adore? Strangers won't pay your sentimental value. Get this: You will NOT get what you think you should. So, let's get real early.

Start by slashing those prices in your head. Accept that you're not going to make a even half of what you expect you should. If you overprice, you'll waste days, maybe weeks, selling nada. Then, when desperation hits, you’ll drop prices, but by then, your ad is old news, and the buyers have scrolled past.

Even brand-new items are worth far less once they’re outside the store, and you will need deep discounts far beyond what you would think is a great deal at the best-ever black-friday sale.

#MovingProTip: Think of it this way: every unsold item is a suitcase you can't fill with new memories. Price to sell, not to store. It’s a garage sale, not an auction at Sotheby's.

#3: Getting Buyers

From Garage Sales to Craigslist ads and more

I lived in an apartment, so a Garage Sale was out of the question for me, but even then I don’t recommend having one until the end. Start with ads on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or even EBay (but keep in mind you’ll have to schlep yourself to the post office between the zillion other things you have going on).

Tips for online market places:

• Scammers: First and foremost, watch out for scammers, they have that shit on lock-down. By the time you’re done you will be depressed over the state of humanity.

• Pics please: Second, take excellent pictures because people will ask all sorts of questions about it, and ask you to take another for them from some random angle. So pictures. Front. Side. Back. All of it. Good lighting. Capture that item like its the most beautiful french model.

• Descriptions: use them. Write about all its features, mention things like scuffs or marks that people will ignore and ask about anyway. Most importantly from a psychology standpoint to help you sell. Mention why you’re selling it. People are naturally suspicious. If its so nice, why are you getting rid of it then? Be upfront, I am moving overseas and clearing house. I was hesitant to mention this at first because I thought people would use my desperation to take advantage. Some will. But mostly? I noticed stuff moved a lot quicker once they had a valid reason for why I was selling it.

• Pricing ads: For ads, price only a little higher than what you think you can actually get, then expect less than that. Don’t price too high because then people will assume you are out of your mind and scroll past. You need to leave room for negotiation because people will still try to negotiate with you even if its listed as “free”. I promise you, people are weird, yo.

• Have boundaries: People are going to ask all sorts of crazy things from you. People are entitled. People want you to spend a bunch of time and money in gas and drive across town to drop off a $2 vase. While it may seem refreshing to argue with these people at the time, you aren’t going to win them over and I promise you, you have less time than you think. Roll your eyes, ignore them, and move on.

#4 Negotiating

You either love it or hate it but you gotta embrace it.

Okay, so real talk on negotiating: People will lowball you. It's like a law of the universe or something. You list your beloved coffee table, priced to sell, and boom, they show up. What a blissful moment, they saw the ad, they new the price, they came to buy it. How easy! Guess what, 9 times out of 10 they’re going to negotiate anyway. They will walk up, squint at it like it's built by a kindergartner, and then hit you with an offer that's less than your morning latte.

Here's the deal: You're gonna feel offended. "But I mentioned the scratch in the ad!" you'll protest. Newsflash - they don't care. They drove to you, hoping to score a deal, and that scratch is their golden ticket.

Remember when I said accept lower prices in your head? This is why. It's a game to them, a sport. So, play ball, but keep it fair. You think your item's worth more, but in the used market, it's a whole new ball game.

Negotiate, but don't cling to your price like it's your firstborn. If they walk, they’ve wasted more time than you. And if they buy? Celebrate. You've won the most challenging game in the moving-out Olympics - selling your stuff without losing your mind.

#5: Last Resort Stuff

Still have stuff left? Here’s what to do

Alright, so you've played the online sales game, wrestled with every type of buyer imaginable, and still got stuff cluttering up your soon-to-be-vacated space. What's next? Garage Sale. Why now? Because those online ads, while a royal pain, usually rake in a bit more dough. But brace yourself: garage sales are the Wild West of sales - expect lowballers and people who straight up want things for free.

After the garage sale:

Survived the garage sale? Still got stuff? Time to play the Donation Game. You might feel like giving stuff away at your garage sale, but hey, don't let those penny-pinchers win. Your stuff's worth at least a little respect, right? Ask friends and family to call dibs on whatever's left, then donate the rest. Why donate? Because, my friend, it's a tax write-off. And yes, even as an expat, Uncle Sam wants to hear from you at tax time.

So there you have it. From digital hustle to garage grind, down to the sweet release of donation - it's a wild ride, but hey, it's all part of the adventure.

Now, Relax and Enjoy your Cash

Whew, you did it! Now, it's time to bask in the glory of your hard work. Look at that pile of cash. Feel like a low-key hustler. Roll it, fan it out, make it rain – just for a sec. I took a picture of my proud moment:

But hey, let’s not go full Wolf of Wall Street here. Take that glorious stack to the bank like the responsible adult you pretend to be. Deposit it. Watch those digits bounce up in your account.

You've hustled, bartered, and maybe shed a tear or two. But here you are, lighter in possessions but heavier in pockets. Take a moment, pat yourself on the back, and maybe, just maybe, splurge a little on something nice for dinner. You've earned it.

And hey, remember, this isn't just about the cash. It's about freedom, new beginnings, and proving you can do the hard stuff. Now go, conquer that international move with the swagger of someone who just sold their life in yard sales and Craigslist ads.

Last but not least, avoiding scammers

1. Trust Your Gut: If something feels off, it probably is. Scammers have a vibe. Listen to that inner voice that says, "Nah, this ain't right."

2. Cash is King: No checks, no wire transfers, no "I'll pay you next Tuesday." Cash, in your hand, end of story.

3. Public Meetups Only: Meet in a public place. Coffee shops are great – there’s caffeine and witnesses. I was stupid and a single woman alone who invited strangers to her apartment to buy things. That was stupid. Don’t be me.

4. No Personal Info: Your address? None of their business. Your last name? Forget it. Keep it need-to-know, and they don’t need to know.

5. Beware the Overpayment Scam: They send a check for more than the asking price and ask for the difference back? Classic scam. Run away.

6. Don’t verify anything: People have weird scams where they want you to verify a phone number, or some other weird PIN. Don’t do any of it.

7. Don't Ship: Local pickup only. You're not Amazon. Shipping invites trouble.

8. Ignore Sob Stories: Scammers love a good tearjerker. Stick to the transaction, not the drama.