I never thought I could run a yard sale by myself or make money with one. That was five great sales ago.

To make your first yard sale a success, try what worked for me:

Plan it

A first yard sale won't be something you can throw together in two days. I started planning about a month before my sale date.

A pocketful of change

Start the day with a ten dollar bill, and some singles and quarters. You won’t have to scramble for change, and you'll look like a pro.

Clutter is good

Veteran yard salers pass up small sales. It should look big and promising at first sight to people walking or driving by, depending on where you set up. When in doubt, put it in, or ask friends and neighbors to contribute.

Organize your clutter

Books, records, video games together. Kitchen stuff all on one table. Clothes in one place. All displayed so it can be easily handled. Pricing each item isn’t necessary. Post a list of prices for each category of items.

Make it buyer-friendly

Everything off the ground. If you don’t have tables, improvise with planks and sawhorses, or borrow some. Bending and kneeling discourages browsing. One exception: An assortment of items for kids to sort through, at kid level. Bored kids won’t be tugging at Mommy’s sleeve, and Mommy will keep looking. It’s the best place for your "free" box.

Thank you

Thank everyone for stopping. Some folks will take a look and split without a hello. Let them. Most yard salers are outgoing. A thank you means, even if they don’t buy anything, they might send their friends over, or come to your next sale. (You are thinking about having another one, right?)