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Moving is a chance to start fresh, but it's hard to start over if your boxes are full of the past. Once you've weeded out the items that aren't heading to your new locale, having a garage sale is the perfect way to send your stuff out the door.

The advantages of having a garage sale before your move are threefold; you'll help yourself to organize and prepare for packing the necessities; you can get rid of things you don't use and avoid paying to move them; and you'll make some extra cash that you can spend on new things in your next home.

Here's a rundown of how to organize a successful garage sale:

• Advertise. Buy a small ad in your local newspaper and appropriate websites, and post fliers around town to spread information about your garage sale including the time, date and address. If possible, advertise a rain date in case of bad weather.
• Spread the word. Beginning a day or two before, post signs on nearby streets to remind your neighbors when and where the sale is being held.
• Organize. Sort everything you want sold, by category, in one area of the garage so it is ready for the following day. Also guarantee you have enough tables and chairs; if necessary, borrow some from friends or neighbors.
• Set a price. To prevent chaos during the garage sale, mark every item with your desired price. Use bright-colored or neon-colored tags so that your customers can immediately notice how much it costs.
• Sell as much as possible. Remember, the more you sell the less you have to pack and pay to move. Be willing to accept lower offers for those hard-to-sell items, especially if it is something that will end up collecting dust in your new home.
• Consider donating unsold items. If everything you choose for your yard sale doesn't clear off by the end of the day, consider donating the items to charity. You were willing to sell them, so why not help out a good cause instead?

This article was written by a Relocation.com staff member. Relocation.com is a leading provider of moving quotes and information on moving companies.

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