It seems 2016 is moving fast. Spring is just around the corner and we often think about “Spring Cleaning” this time of year. When I think of the notion of spring cleaning, I often think of pulling everything out of the house and throwing away half, then reorganizing. During the process, it seems as if it looks worse before it gets better. For a lot of people, much of our “stuff” is not thrown away these days.
With the help of the internet, many people feel comfortable selling items and meeting a total stranger to complete the transaction. When selling items online, safety is always a concern.
Here are some tips to assist with staying safe during these transactions.
- Meet in public. Always meet in a public place, during the daylight hours if at all possible. It’s always a smart idea not to have someone you don’t know come to your house or go to a stranger’s house.
- Only accept cash. Cash is king, and some checks can be rubber, meaning they could bounce. I have had an experience where I accepted a check and when I went to the bank, the funds were not available. Hard lesson learned on my part. Cash only from now on.
- Donate to a local charity. Donating to local thrift stores and churches is a great way to help out others in need.
Spring is a great time to think about renewal and cleaning. If you have not thought about cleaning up and cleaning out, today would be a great day to start.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Spring means time to clean