1) Check your homeowner's policy.  Make sure you are protected if someone trips on a step or falls into the pool. $Tip: If you rent, ask your landlord about his coverage.

Note: Many renters mistakenly think their landlord's insurance will cover their furniture and other possessions. Not so. You need to have your own coverage, known as HO-4. Most policies also include liability coverage for any legal defense costs. The amount of liability protection varies but typically it is 3 to 10 times the amount of your personal property coverage.

For more information on all types of insurance, go to: http://www.iii.org/.

2) Call your town hall. A growing number of localities require "assembly" or "business" permits for yard sales. The fees are minimal -- $5 to $25 -- but the fine for not having a proper permit could be 5 to 10 times that amount.

3) Pick a date. Do so as far in advance as possible so you can put notices in local newspapers and on bulletin boards at churches, synagogues, libraries, grocery stores and community centers.

Three websites where you can post information about your sale are:

At: http://www.yardsalesearch.com/ you can advertise you sale for free. And, if you're looking for a sale, you can browse by state or by major city. It says it has the largest website in the country for garage sale ads.

Take time to read its "Tips" section. It is well organized and helpful. Among the advice: have a "Free Box" for items that hold very little value. If you are giving a sale with other people, put your initials on all price tags. YardsaleSearch.com also shows you how to make signs for your sale and where to place them. 

At: http://www.garagesale.nearu.com/ you can get a free web page for your sale and explore links to other garage sale Internet pages.

And then there's http://www.pennysaverusa.com/, launched 50 years ago in 1962.

Four phrases that capture attention:

"Everything Must Go"

"More Than 500 Items"

"Exceptional Antiques"

"A Three Generation Sale"

If you have items that require a truck or van to take them away, say so. Your notices should also indicate if the sale will go on rain or shine or, if you plan to have a rain date.

Tip: Two-day weekend sales draw larger crowds than those held just one day or during the week.  Exception:  If you live in a city where people take off for the country on Fridays, run your sale on a Sunday/Monday or a Thursday/Friday.

Unless you don't mind being disturbed, skip putting your phone number in ads or on flyers. If you do, you'll get calls all hours of the day and night.

4) Join your neighbors. You will get much more action if several of you hold a mini-block sale. Joint deals not only attract more buyers and make for more impressive ads, but if you put everything in a central location, you and your neighbors can spell one another for lunch.

5) Keep plenty of change on hand. Make a trip to your bank prior to the event. You don't want to lose a sale because you can't make change for a $20 or $50 bill. Recommended mix: 100 $1 bills, $50 in $5 bills, $50 in $10 bills and several roles of quarters.

Then, only accept cash. Do not take personal checks.

If you're accepting bids on certain items, keep a notebook for recording the potential customer's name, phone number, the amount of their bid and the best time to reach them. Have pre-printed receipt forms for those who leave a deposit.

6) Serve cookies & lemonade. Free refreshments keep shoppers shopping, especially those who are hungry. Kids, even very young ones, can be put in charge of the stand because it doesn't involve making change.

7) Set up a play area.  Hire a teenager or grandparent to keep children busy -- reading books, playing games, drawing, singing. Then their parents will poke around longer, uninterrupted by the question, "Mommy, when can we go home?"

8) Organize the tables. Put like items together. It makes shopping easier. Categories: clothing, toys, games, sporting equipment, small appliances, office equipment, books, records, CDs, collectibles, household items, jewelry, large equipment & appliances, electronic items, furniture and antiques.

Don't put the pricey stuff at the end of your driveway or at the entrance to the sale. Shoppers will turn away if it appears that your items are expensive. Place upscale items next to where you or your partners will be sitting.

If you're selling jewelry, sunglasses, hair bows and clips, scarves, hats or neckties, have a mirror so people can see how the item looks on them.

If you have a number of pieces of clothing, hang them on a portable coat rack or clothesline and set up a trying-on area.

If there are electrical appliances or equipment in the sale, have an electric outlet so buyers can make certain they work.

Tip: Items sell faster if they're up, off the lawn and on a table. That way they are easy to see and examine. You can also boost sales by making sure everything is clean.

9) Be careful. Wear a fanny pack rather than putting money in a cigar box on a table. Lock your house. And keep pets inside. Some people are allergic to animals; other are deathly afraid of them.

10) Donate what's left to charity. Don't stuff rejects back into your garage or closet. Instead, take them to your favorite charity or call one that picks up contributions.

Ask the organization for a written receipt, on its letterhead, stating the dollar value of your donation. If you itemize on your tax return, you can deduct the amount of your contribution.

For more information, get a copy of IRS Form #526, "Charitable Contributions" at: http://www.irs.gov/.

     - Nancy Dunnan