Garage sale tips to turn spring cleaning into spring cha-ching!

1. Tag-team it

If you don’t think you have enough stuff to draw a large crowd to your yard sale, join forces with a friend or neighbor. You’ll lessen your own prep work and make the event more fun.

2. Sell as if you’re a store

Group things by texture and color to make them look their best. Bunch together some single pieces—like old picture frames or mismatched plates—and sell them as a unit.

3. Bribe friends to help

Promise each one a free item or two from the sale, and you’re sure to get lots of help moving heavy objects, wrapping sold pieces and answering shoppers’ questions throughout the day.

4. Advertise

It’s easy to make your own flyers and then hang them in coffee shops and the grocery store. Consider posting a listing in local papers and online classifieds like craigslist.com. And if you’re hanging signs by a road, make sure the print is large enough for drivers to see.

5. Encourage savvy shopping

Everyone likes a deal, so set up a special sale area, such as a three-for-one table. It can also be enticing to offer a box that’s filled with an assortment of items. Set a starting price, let people bid on the box and its contents, and watch the hodgepodge from your attic go home with a new owner.

6. Add nice touches

Clean, simple price tags that are neatly written look good and lessen the pressure of having to answer the “How much will you take for this?” question. And pops of color like a red ribbon tied around a few books can go a long way!

7. Feed your customers

Bite-size nibbles do wonders to build goodwill (save by buying in bulk from your local wholesale club). Free sweets make people happy. And happy people buy more!

8. Donate the leftovers

Arrange for a local charity to pick up whatever doesn’t sell—and be sure to get a tax receipt!