The Ultimate Tag-Sale Guide

Everything must go! What you need to know to throw a successful yard sale.

Setting a Date

Tackle the job between June and October, which is the most popular period for tag sales nationwide. People's schedules tend to be more flexible in the summer. "If you live in a college town, the moving months of August and September can be particularly profitable," says Harry L. Rinker, author of Garage Sale: Manual and Price Guide (amazon.com).

If you're worried about rain, however, you might choose October, the month with the fewest storms in most parts of the country, according to the National Climatic Data Center. The first Saturday of the month usually works well because it's the day after many of your hardworking neighbors have been paid, but follow local customs if they are different.

You may want to see when local churches, schools, or civic groups may be sponsoring fund-raising tag sales in your community; you can rent a table or space. The charity benefits from the entrance fee, while you benefit from lots of traffic (and get to keep the proceeds).