AKRON, Ohio - The Dawson family's annual garage sale isn't just a money-making opportunity. It's an event. | Classifieds: Find local garage sales

Every year, the family gives over its Tallmadge, Ohio, garage and driveway to its annual sale, a combination thrift shop, family reunion and neighborhood gathering.

We visited the Dawsons' recent garage sale to pick up some pointers for others interested in making a little money while unloading their excess. Other ideas came from Randy Lyman, who wrote "Garage Sale Gourmet" with his sister, Anita Chagaris; Chris Heiska, who runs the Web site YardSaleQueen.com; the video "Garage Sale Succe$$"; and the books "Garage Sale Magic!" by Michael and Pam Williams, "How to Have High Dollar Garage Sales" by Jean Hines and "The Garage Sale Handbook" by Peggy Hitchcock.

Set the date

Timing can affect a sale's success. The Dawsons have found they do better in March or April than in the summer. The competition is less then, and "I think a lot of people are excited about getting out and starting to garage sale for the year," Barb Dawson said.

They've also found that Wednesdays and Thursdays draw the biggest crowds. Juanita Dawson, Barb Dawson's mother-in-law and garage-sale cohort, thinks that's because people have more family responsibilities and other things to do on weekends.

Check community calendars for events that might keep people from your sale - or conversely, draw people to your area.

Many people are paid on the first or 15th of the month, so consider holding your sale just after one of these dates.

Recruit

Bigger sales attract bigger crowds, so offer to sell your friends' and neighbors' stuff. The Dawsons have had as many as five families involved in their sale.

Each seller prices his or her own items and initials the price stickers, so the Dawsons can keep track of everyone's sales in a ledger. The family also checks with the sellers in advance about whether haggling is OK.

Advertise

Advertise in the local publication where you see the most garage sale ads, because you can bet that's the one avid buyers check. Highlight items that appeal to a range of buyers - men, women, older people, kids.

And tell everyone you know about your sale.

The evening before the sale or early that morning, post signs at the end of your street and on busy streets and intersections within several blocks of your home. Post one in front of your house, too, and maybe attach balloons.

Prepare

Give yourself time before the sale to clean the garage, launder clothes (use fabric softener so they smell fresh) and get other items in top condition.

Make sure the sale area is safe, too, with no loose cords or sharp objects within reach. Repair electrical items if you can, which makes them more appealing to customers and allows you to charge more. If you can't fix them, mark them as broken.

Keep in mind that most shoppers are looking for things they can buy cheaply. You'll probably get more money for antiques and higher-priced items by selling them through such means as classified ads or eBay.

Price to sell

Check thrift stores, classified ads, other garage sales or online sites such as Amazon.com, Half.com and eBay for pricing guidance. An eBay check can also flag items that are more valuable than you'd thought.

Do leave a little room in your prices for bargaining, however. That's all part of the fun.

Set up

Display like items together. The Dawsons grouped books, toys, clothes and miscellaneous in their own areas.

People can see things more easily if they're on tables rather than on the ground. Borrow tables from neighbors, or create makeshift tables - for example, a sheet of plywood set on a couple of sawhorses, an ironing board covered with a cloth or even a big box.

Display clothes on hangers if you can, maybe even grouped into outfits. Your clothes rack can be as simple as a clothesline or a PVC pipe suspended between two ladders. You might even hang old curtains or a sheet to set up a changing area, perhaps in a corner of the garage.

Display electrical items near an outlet or extension cord so shoppers can test them. Display books on tables or in boxes with the spines up.

Furniture, bikes, TV sets and other big items should be placed near the street, where they'll catch the eyes of people driving by and lure them into stopping.

Anything you're not selling should be moved away from the selling area or blocked off.

It's a good idea to be prepared for inclement weather. Leave room in the garage to bring things inside, if necessary, or have tarpaulins or other coverings ready. The Dawsons have a hunting tent they set up in the driveway if rain is forecast.

Focus on service

Garage sales are social events, so it's nice to make your shoppers feel welcome. The Dawsons offer complimentary coffee.

Nice items to have on hand are a tape measure, wet wipes or tissues, scrap paper and pencils for customers' use, a calculator, plastic grocery bags and newspapers for wrapping breakable items. If you have a cordless or cell phone, keep it outside with you in case it's needed.

Make sure you have plenty of change on hand. A good amount is $28 in $1 bills, $5 in quarters, $5 in dimes and $2 in nickels. If you have higher-priced items, include a few fives and tens, too.

If you have a truck, offering free delivery for large items can help you sell them. Or have information on hand about a friend who's willing to deliver for a fee.

You can expect early birds, so decide ahead of time how you'll handle them.

Some people advertise their sale's start an hour later than when they really plan to open, so they're ready for the early shoppers. Barb Dawson politely tells early birds she doesn't deal until the sale starts, although she'll open early if she's ready. Others tell early birds the price is double before starting time.

Stay safe

One common ploy is for a shopper to ask to use the bathroom, then use the opportunity to steal valuables from the house. Lock the doors to your house, and don't let anyone inside - or if you do, make sure the person is accompanied. You might even make copies of directions to a nearby public bathroom.

Keep an eye on the cash box, or wear a fanny pack or carpenter's apron so you can keep the cash on you. Display valuables at a table that's always staffed.

Don't change big bills. If the customer has nothing smaller, direct him to a bank or store where he can get change.

Plan for leftovers

Even the best garage sales won't rid you of everything, so it's smart to have a plan to get rid of what doesn't sell. The Dawsons usually give leftover items to a church clothes closet or arrange for a charity to pick them up.