If you are a garage sale enthusiast but have a house full of your own clutter, maybe it’s time to do a thorough spring cleaning and make a few dollars for your trouble. Garage sales can help to organize your home by getting rid of unused items, and they can bring in extra income if you know the tricks to organizing and promoting your event. Unlike eBay, you don't have to take photos of your merchandise or make a trip to the post office. All you need is a little advertising, a little help, your inventory and tips to make this the most profitable garage sale yet.

Advertise
Inexpensive advertising is all that you need to get the word out about your event. Rather than sitting and waiting patiently for passers-by to browse, you will have a group of shoppers that have arrived for that purpose.

Consider taking out an ad the Friday before the sale. Advertising will help you attract more people to your sale than just putting a local sign at the intersection for people to see when they're whizzing by at 50 miles an hour. You can also use the paper to make sure you have a backup rain date. It is not a good idea to hold a garage sale when rain is forecast because bad weather will drive away customers.

If you don't want to advertise, put up the largest handwritten sign you can in black magic marker on the nearest busy street. The sign should allow passing motorists to read it easily. That means big, bold, thick lettering, bigger than you might think you need.

Don't forget to take the sign down after the sale is over or you may get people knocking on your door the next weekend.

Whether you advertise, post signs, or both, be sure to include more than just an address and a date. Sale times are just as important. Whatever times you choose, make sure you can stick to them. It always takes more time than you think to get all those items out on display. And be prepared to deal with early birds, politely but firmly.