What is the best way to prepare for a large garage sale?

Organize everything. Use colored dots for prices. Have lots of change. Expect people to try to cheat you, And start organizing weeks ahead.

Yes to the above. Any garage sale is a lot of work! Mostly, start early in pricing. Pricing is a pain in the you know what, so do it early! You can also make signs that tell the prices - like for clothes. All t-shirts $1, unless otherwise priced - for example. And remember, no need to get wigged out - it's only a garage sale!!

Recruiting a family member or a friend or two to to help is a good idea as well . They can throw in a few things , help keep you from getting ripped off and you can eat lunch and take potty breaks in shifts .

A fun tip is to give jobs to the kids so you can keep an eye on them during the sale. They can sell lemonade or bottles of pop or water. They can sell their own toys and keep the money. It becomes an adventure! Have fun!

YARD SALE 9 - 2 SATURDAY, 01/01/2017 I am a hard core yard sale looker/buyer so I will give you some ideas that I have learned from hosting yard sales as well as being a buyer. Decide how you want to advertise the yard sale. There are many choices on line that you can use and not spend anything. Make signs and put them at the entrance of your community and at cross street. Make them large enough to read and put them out at least 2 days before. Be a good neighbor and remove them after the sale ends....that that day. Organize, organize, organize. If you don't go to yard sales, go to a few before you get started. It is a lot of work and the more organized you are the easier it will be on "The Day." Make sure you have enough to sell to make it worth while to do the organizing. Use tables etc. as much as possible so people can see items easily. Although it adds more work put a price on everything. The first thing buyers want is to pay less and prices remind you where you want to start. You can still ask them to offer what they want to pay and negotiate. Don't put unreasonable prices on items unless you don't mind either taking unsold items back into the house or to thrift store. Because the first people who come will not wait for you to haul those last 5 boxes out, be ready at the time you advertise for starting. Don't call it a neighborhood yard sale unless you have more than 1 neighbor participating and don't call it a estate sale when it isn't. If friends or family are bringing their things to sell don't intermingle theirs with yours. Make sure they know that they have to be there. If I am expecting an estate sale and drive by and all I see is baby items, children's toys, books and clothing and a card table of glassware and things you have picked up free I won't stop. If I am someone that wants children's things I would be happy to stop. LOCK DOORS AND WINDOWS BEFORE ONCE YOU ARE READY. If you are using your garage for some things, cover things that aren't for sale and put a sign on them NOT FOR SALE. (A FUNNY! I watched a little old lady grab a hoe out of someone's garage and take off down the driveway with it. Not only was it not for sale, she wasn't thinking of paying for it.) I don't mean to hurt the feelings of any other HT readers/posters, but I advise that children have a day with a friend or grandparents. They want to be helpful but it is not only a distraction to you, but also buyers and you don't want to be going in the house for their needs and leaving items unattended. Nothing like trying to look at things when your children are going through things and are arguing and upset about things you are selling. Maybe you could make a deal with them that you will give them what you get paid for certain of their items, such as toys or books. Go to the bank the day before and get change. I use a "carpenter's apron" instead of a shoe box or cash box. TOO TEMPTING! Trust me I have been to yard sales and someone had stolen their cash box. If your husband will help that is good if he doesn't mind negotiating with people or maybe a couple friends will help but decide whether they feel comfortable talking price or if they would be more comfortable just keeping an eye on things and sending them to you for pricing. This is not a time to have a get together with neighbors because you will loose sales. I will only walk around for a short amount of time trying to pay the asking price or negotiate before I will walk away. Be friendly and greet prospective buyers with a hello, good morning, etc. The last yard sale I went to two women sat in their patio chairs and talked to each other and didn't acknowledge my existence. Think how you like to be treated in a department store. I left and on my way down the driveway I gave a sincere, "thanks have a nice day," My last advice is have a bottle of wine (or whatever is your favorite relaxing drink) cool and ready at 2 PM. Now you have the good and the bad! It is a lot of work and it takes up more than just those few hours on Saturday. If you are organized you will have an enjoyable day.