Follow these suggestions for a successful yard sale

Do you have too much clutter in your garage or in your closets? With spring here and summer rolling in soon, it may be time to hold a yard sale to turn your unwanted stuff into a little extra cash.

The most successful yard sales take some preparation, so here’s a checklist to help you get started:

Permits. Determine whether you need a permit from your local government and what, if any, restrictions are placed on signage, location, and times.

Advertising. Make brightly colored signs to advertise your sale, using thick black markers to write your address. Also, use arrows to give directions. Try posting the signs the night before the sale, and don’t forget to remove them once the sale is over.

Cash. Have plenty of coins and small bills on hand so that you can easily make change even if someone pays with a large bill. Store the money in a fanny pack where it will be easily accessible but not easy to steal.

Pricing. Use little stickers from office supply stores to place a price on each item. If the object is used, it should be priced around 10 percent to 25 percent of its retail value. If it has never been used or unwrapped, you can ask 50 percent of its retail value. But be prepared to haggle.

Merchandising. To attract attention and visitors, display the most colorful items out front.