Flipping tips

Learn to Negotiate

The less money you invest in a house, the more money you can earn during the flip. Good negotiation strategies will help you effectively haggle with contractors and other workers.

Meta titles

It’s amazing how many blogs don’t have a meta title. A meta title is a short description of your blog that appears in the browser tab when people visit your site. It also appears in all search engine listings of your blog. If you hope to ever rank well for core keywords related to your blog’s subject, you’ll have to incorporate a keyword-rich metatitle, but one that also reads like an intriguing tagline. You can use the free Rank Math plugin to manage this and many other essential SEO functions of your website.

Use Quality Images

Everyone loves photos. Just a few well-placed attractive photos can really improve the design, and they can help improve impulse clicking on your articles. Create a folder of images that you are free to use; your own images, Creative Commons images, and paid photos from places like Haute Stock. Related: Where to find free stock photography Even if your topic is not a visual theme, find as many relevant images as possible. The images can also spark article ideas that can be written around them.

Shop off-season

When it comes to thrift shopping clothes or seasonal decor, off-season is your best bet. Check out the winter coats in July, and the Christmas decorations in February. The store may have more inventory, or lowered the price to clear it out.

Be selective

Don’t be afraid to leave empty handed! There have been several times when I’ve left a thrift store without purchasing anything. It’s perfectly okay to leave behind whatever you don’t love or have a use for. Check over what you’re interested in buying to make sure there aren’t hidden stains, tears, or cracks.

Consider the surrounding neighborhood

Sometimes wealthier areas have more valuable thrift store merchandise. The potential downside could be that regular thrift shoppers will come a distance to shop there, and buy the best stuff before you can. Or the store itself could be in the habit of charging higher prices because of the area. Try out a few different stores, and see where you have the best luck.

Go with a list

If your wardrobe or home is in need of some specific items, write and bring a list. You can even keep an ongoing thrift store wish list on your phone. This will focus and streamline your shopping trip.

Shop on days with extra discounts

Most thrift shops have different specials on certain days. Discounts for students, seniors, and military personnel are common. They also have sales on certain colored tags, or types of items. The Goodwill stores in my area have two 50% off days per month, so I try to go then. Salvation Army occasionally holds a sale where you can fill a bag for $5.

Know when to shop

Spring and summer can be some of the best times to go thrift shopping. Items that didn’t sell at garage or yard sales often get donated. If you live in a college town, check your local thrift shops for newly-donated items when the winter semester ends in April or May.

Check racks by fitting rooms

Shortcut your searching by starting at the ‘put-back’ racks near the fitting rooms. They often hold some of the best clothing. People have selected them as worthy of trying on, but maybe declined buying them because of fit.