Consider getting your neighbors together to host a multifamily garage sale. Not only can you then split the cost of placing a newspaper ad, but larger sales tend to draw larger crowds, thereby increasing the likelihood of selling off more of your things.
Decide where to send any leftovers. Before drafting that first "Garage Sale" sign, decide what you'll do with the items that don't sell. You can arrange to have them picked up by a local charity or haul the stuff there yourself; either way, have some empty boxes ready for any remaining goods.
After your sale, either make a list or take a quick digital photo of donated items to attach to your receipt for tax purposes. See IRS Publication 561 to estimate the value of the items donated. You can also give a shout-out on a free Web service like Craigslist or the "free stuff" section of Freecycle. Just be sure to hold off on posting these items until after your sale, or you'll lose paying customers to post-sale freebie-seekers.
Whether your garage sale is an annual event or a one-time purge, a little planning will make the sale run smoothly while finding a home for your unwanted possessions.
