Here is my latest column for the KVStyle magazine for the Organize Column. With Garage sale season upon us the tips are timely for exchanging cash for your clutter…to read the article online click here.

A garage sale is an excellent way to clear out clutter and make some money at the same time.

Having a time-sensitive event is a good way to motivate you to complete a task.

Many years before having my first over-the-top garage sale ($2,000 in one day) I did a lot of research. The research was years of attending rummage sales, garage sales, yard sales and tag sales… immersing myself into the world of buying and selling treasures.

Garage sale junkies are up and at it early with a plan prepared long before the garage door opens. It is an art form. Finding that coveted purchase makes the whole day worthwhile.

At garage sales first impressions do count. Having a great sale or a “drive by” is all in the planning. It could mean the difference between clearing out the clutter or packing it all back up at the end of the day.

Here are five key steps to elevate your garage sale from “drive by” to “must see”:

1. Set aside time to prepare for the sale by going room by room and clearing out the unused/unloved/unwanted stuff. Remember, your clutter is someone else’s treasure. Make the event worthy of your time and the buyer’s time.

2. Get others involved and have a community garage sale or have your sale during a town-wide event. This cuts down on your ad costs… yes, there is a cost. Place an ad in the local paper and make it interesting by mentioning a few of the key items. The diehards will already be on the road with their Friday paper before the Saturday paper even arrives. So place your ad in both editions.

3. Attract attention with brightly coloured signs that provide the address and the time of the sale. Use several sturdy signs with a post so you can be sure it will stand out and stay in place. This is also good for the environment as it can be reused. Post the signs by 4 p.m. the day before the sale; you want people to add it to their agenda for Saturday. (P.S. don’t forget to pick up your signs after the sale.) If you are lucky you will get a few earlybirds on Friday. Yes, let them in and let them buy; this is a garage sale not a garage show.

4. Sell good stuff… not garbage or broken things. Broken is just broken; if it is garbage then throw it out. If it does has some life left in it have a free box at the end of the driveway and give it away. As I said earlier “Your clutter is someone else’s treasure.” Make sure it is treasure worthy.

5. Make it easy for people to shop at your garage sale. Clearly mark the prices on the items. People like to know what the prices are without having to ask. Group similar items together like clothing/books/dishes and have a price list above or near the items for quick reference.

You can organize a successful garage sale when you have the right plan of action. Garage sale season has officially started. Now go and organize, advertise and sell!