Imagine the feeling of turning unwanted clutter and junk around the house into cash. Thanks to technology, there are several ways to accomplish this goal, but the tried and true garage sale often works the best–especially for older adults.

Having a garage sale does take work. The better the plan, the more successful the garage sale, which means more money in your pocket and less useless items around the house.

The organizing, advertising, and running of the sale can all be incredibly frustrating ordeals. Follow these steps to avoid massive headaches and issues along the way.

BEFORE THE YARD SALE

Picking the Date

Choose a time of year when the weather is moderate. Spring and early Fall are typically the best seasons to avoid the blistering heat of summer or the frigid temps of winter. Better weather will equal more customers.

Don’t Wait Until the Night Before

A garage sale is very much like running a retail business. Do you think Macy’s puts out clothes the night before a big advertised sale? Weeks of planning are involved.

The same goes for a garage sale. Don’t wait until the night before and randomly pick out items to sell. Plan ahead of time on the items that will be sold, how they’ll be displayed on the lawn and which items to feature front and center.

Enlist Neighbors to Also Have a Sale

One big mistake that most people make when running a garage sale is not getting other neighbors involved, fearing the broader selection of items will hurt sales. This is the wrong approach if you’re trying to sell as many items as possible and make the most money.

A street-wide garage sale means increased foot traffic from interested friends, family members, and bargain hunters, more interest from the community and more people to spread the word.

Advertise Any Way Possible

There are countless ways to spread the word about your garage sale. Facebook groups, Craigslist, and listings on specific websites like Yard Sale Search, Garage Sale Hunter, and Garage Sales Tracker will all bring more customers to your front lawn. The days of newspapers ads and signs on utility poles are long gone (though you should still do both of those things to advertise the garage sale because any exposure helps).

ON THE DAY OF THE YARD SALE

Start Early: You’ll have bargain-seekers there at the crack of dawn. The early bird gets the customers. Instead of starting your sale on a Saturday morning, consider a presale Friday night after work.

Remember Supplies: Keep items on hand like pricing stickers, a Black Sharpie to change prices later in the day, grocery bags for customers who buy multiple things, a calculator, coin change and small bills.

Price Items to Move: Sure, you’d love to get the most amount of money for your items, but remember that the ultimate goal is to reduce the clutter around the house and make some extra cash. Don’t get attached to items and don’t be afraid to negotiate. Few customers are going to pay the price on the sticker, so price items slightly higher to give yourself negotiation room.