Garage sales are a great way to declutter your home, make a little extra cash, get to know your neighbors better, raise money for a cause, and teach our children a little about the free market place, the value of money, and salesmanship. To have a successful garage sale, you must put a lot of effort into the planning stage.

Timing is everything. Find out if Realtors are having open houses in your neighborhood on a particular weekend. Though you may advertise in the paper and put up signs directing drivers to your garage sale, it is helpful to have plenty of drive-by traffic. Watch the weather reports and make sure there are no forecasts for inclement weather. What other events are going on in the community that could draw people to your sale or away from it? Superbowl weekend may or may not be a good time. The guys will probably be glued to the set, but the ladies may be up for a garage sale. You get the idea.

Glean your basements, attics, garages, and closets for saleable merchandise. People are getting pickier these days. One of your biggest competitors is e bay. Select items for your sale that are in high demand. Children's toys and books, baby furniture, tools, collectibles, and kitchen gadgets are items that will sell quickly. Children's clothing that is in good condition will sell, but adult clothing is more difficult to sell unless in excellent condition and still stylish. Used furniture should be briefly described in your ad as the purchaser will be a vehicle in which to transport it.

If you find that you don't have enough items, call your friends, neighbors, and relatives to see if they would like to participate. The more items you have, the more interesting the garage sale looks to passersby. Make sure everyone has their items labeled clearly and have a system for keeping each person's earnings separate. Having more than one person sit during the sale is helpful also and is, frankly, safer. One person should tend the money box while another person is helping the buyers. Never let people enter your home for any reason unless you know them very well. Be in attendance of each customer without hovering.

Once you have your items together, you must price them and arrange them on tables, hanging racks, or on a drop cloth. Price them the night before and arrange them very early in the morning. Avid garage-sale goers like to get a jump start on everyone else. So expect them to arrive very early.

Put an ad in the paper

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