Garage Sales: Make Money and Clear Clutter

Everybody wants to make a few extra dollars. Having a garage or yard sale is an excellent way to bring in a bit of extra cash and clear out some clutter. Plus it gives you a chance to socialize a bit. Definitely a win-win situation.

Yet when you have that yard sale you want to make the most of your precious time so you reap maximum benefits.

Once you have sorted and priced your items, if you feel you don't have enough to sell, consider teaming up with a few neighbors. A multi-family sale or a block sale are bigger enticements for bargain hunters. The bigger the blowout, the bigger the turnout.

Check your community's ordinances, too, to make sure you're within the confines of the law. Some communities let you have as many sales as you like, and some require a license and want you to post it at the sale. Stay legit and you'll risk less hassle.

Another thing to watch out for is the animals, especially if you have a big dog. Some people are mighty fearful of Fido, so maybe keep him in the house for the afternoon. Plus, if the pooch gets touchy with a lot of browsers lurking around, it's safer to keep him out of snapping distance to avoid bad blood, real blood and lawsuits.

Once you've got items sorted and priced, a license and nothing to scare shoppers, it's time to work on what will draw them.

I grew up in a household that loved to go to a yard sale and loved to hold one. The best way to draw a crowd was to make the signs and directions loud and clear. Post a couple big signs, with bright, colorful letters in your front yard and at the ends of your street or at a busier intersection. Tie a few balloons around a pole, anything to catch drivers' eyes. If you can put up a couple LARGE pieces of posterboard, with HUGE letters, it'll quickly grab people's attention and give them time to turn onto your street. There are die-hards who will go to any garage sale, and there are those who, if they don't see the sign on time, will pass right on by. And then, who knows, maybe the person who would have bought your old cookbooks is gone.

Now you'll get the attention of traffic in the area, but what about people looking to make a day of yard-saling? There are a number of ways to get the die-hards' attention.

You could put an ad in the newspaper. A lot of newspapers have specials for garage sale season, and will also post your ad online.

If there's a local radio show you can announce information on (like those swap or sale ideas ones), you might be able to get word out on the airwaves.

Also, think of the Internet. You can post a sale on a site like craigslist, or even do a mass e-mail or post it on your Facebook page. But when you do post that ad, don't forget the essentials: Time, location and summarize what you're selling. Some people are in the market for children's clothing and toys, and others are looking for some new furnishings and home accessories. Play up what you have and you'll get the kind of people more likely to buy.

Then once you've gotten word out there, you can set up your yard or garage for the sale. Be clear with pricing, don't overclutter the tables, and give people room to maneuver around. If it's too crammed some people might be turned off.

Don't forget, there are those whose passions burn for hunting down a bargain, so be prepared that some might want to whittle your price down. Be prepared for some wheeling and dealing.

And get ready to make a little cash and gain some room.