While most garage sale hosts are friendly, inviting people who just want to sell you their stuff and have a peaceful day hanging out in the sun, you will sometimes run into others who have a less positive attitude for their customers.  You may find yourself running into one of these personalities while shopping -- but you can deal with them!

The Grouch

Glares at dogs and kids, snatches your cash from your fingers, and snarls, "Do you need a bag?" when you're wrapping up the transaction.  The Grouch is probably the most common problem-host you'll encounter, but they're also the easiest to deal with.  As long as you approach them with a smile and be as friendly as you can, they can't really hold anything against you.  And many of them will crack, if you squeeze in a good joke or witty phrase while dealing with them.  Sometimes, the Grouch only exists because he or she has had a long weekend of preparation and just wants everything to go smoothly.  Help that dream along, and you won't have a Grouch on your hands much longer.

The Perpetual Straightener

Follows behind you, tutting loudly and shifting every item you touch back into its "proper" place.  The Perpetual Straightener thinks he or she has set out the perfect garage sale, and isn't ready to see some stranger destroy that.  A Perpetual Straightener may be an irritation, but they generally aren't going to bother you, unless you really mess something up (in which case, you might get yelled at!).  So just put everything back where you found it, and ignore the hovering presence over your shoulder.

The Tightwad

Refuses to budge a penny on prices, won't bundle items to help you save, and definitely won't let you use the bathroom without first forking over some dough.  The Tightwad is a barterer's nightmare, and also sets his or her prices high, so it might be good to test the waters if you suspect you're dealing with one.  Listen in as the potential Tightwad deals with other customers; if you're the only shopper there, try to barter on a small, inconsequential item (one you won't mind taking home, but you wouldn't be heartbroken leaving behind) before you get too attached to their other high-priced merchandise.  If you show enthusiasm for their items, you might be able to make a Tightwad budge, but don't count on it!

The Cold Shoulder

Ignores your questions and comments until there's money in your hand.  The Cold Shoulder prefers to show off their mean streak as if they were proud of it, and you can suffer for it.  Cold Shoulders are similar to Grouches, but they are more persistent in their silence, so you're better off just keeping a low profile until you're ready to pay, and choosing items you're willing to pay full price in case bartering is a silent auction from the Cold Shoulder host.

The Chatter

Patters around after you, regaling you with tales of his or her adventures in garage saling, world traveling, and breakfast eating.  The Chatter isn't a bad host, per se, but if you're just out for a peaceful afternoon of yard saling, you may find him or her extremely irritating.  If you really want to get a Chatter to stop, act disinterested in what they have to say  -- but realize that you still have to deal with them at the payment table!

Come visit GarageSaleCow.com today for more useful tips.  And if you've ever dealt with a difficult host not listed here, share it with us in the comments and let us know how you handled the situation!

Do you have a blank wall in your house you'd like to make a little less bare?  Garage saling is a great way to go about gathering decorations for your home, as they provide much less expensive options than buying new.  If you're at a loss as to how to go about planning your decorations, here are a few ideas to get your creativity flowing.

Posters are often expensive when brand new.  Usually starting around $5, they can get as pricey as $50 or even more for limited-edition posters.  The great thing about garage sales is that some hosts don't realize they're selling something rare, so they don't bother to put it out for a high price.  You can get all sorts of obscure and popular posters from yard sales, especially moving sales (posters are notoriously hard to pack without crunching them).

Magazine squares or cutouts are great fun, and can be easily themed to fit whatever your room décor may be.  Old National Geographic magazines are ideal for gorgeous magazine squares, and if you have a child into sports, you can cut around action shots of their favorite athletes from past issues of sports magazines.  A good way to keep these attached to each other or the wall is to use Mod Podge, a great product that gives what you paint with it a glossy finish and acts like an adhesive.

Paint samples can make a really cool collage if lined up next to each other into either a symmetrical or asymmetrical shape.  You can often find paint samples in the free box at a garage sale, as people don't expect to be able to make a profit off something they themselves got for free.  Supplement your garage sale pickings with your own trips to the hardware store, where they have a great supply of paint samples.

Fabric scraps can be used to make an unusual kind of wallpaper, or you can sew them together to make a unique bedruffle or table skirt.  You can also use them to make creative, 3D pictures to hang on your wall.  Fabric scraps are useful for all sorts of decorating purposes, so even if you can't think of something offhand, go ahead and buy up those inexpensively priced lengths of scrap fabric and save them for later.

Have any other creative ideas?  Email us at blogger@garagesalecow.com and let us know!  Maybe we'll post a future set of reader tips.

When holding a garage sale, you have a lot to worry about: pricing, organization, setting up, sitting still, rowdy children, rowdy parents, and a whole host of other crazy and unexpected circumstances.  One thing you may have to contend with is the weather.  Even if you've chosen what's supposed to be the nicest weekend of the year, you may still find yourself battling with the elements to keep your garage sale alive.

Rain

Rain is the most likely troublemaker on a garage sale weekend.  If there's any chance of rain, you might consider laminating your signs to prevent them from running or disintegrating.  You'll also want to keep a few tarps on hand to quickly toss over your items to keep them dry.  Consider keeping a portable shelter of some sort to pop up over your sale, or -- if the forecast is especially dour -- try holding your sale inside the garage instead of in your driveway.  That way, the hardcore customers can still shop even as it pours down outside.

Heat

Heat is a villain you may have to face, but it's fairly easy to be prepared.  If you have an extension cord and outlet within reach, set up a fan or two to blow cool air on your customers.  Have complimentary cups of ice water available, and set up in such a way that you create as many shady areas as you can.  As for your own safety, stick to the shade and drink lots of water yourself.

Snow

In the unlikely event that you get snow in the late spring or summer (or, more likely, that you've chosen to hold a winter yard sale), you'll likely need to call it off.  Snow is a problem for your customers as well as for your sale, and if it's cold enough to snow, it's cold enough to stay indoors.

Wind

Wind can be a nasty monster and tear apart your nicely organized sale.  It can also make your dollar bills and your paperwork fly away!  When the breeze starts picking up, get something heavy to put on your important papers.  Make sure signs on your tables are secured and well-taped, and tuck books or other paper products away in boxes.  Wind may deter customers, so if you can, offer some sort of shelter from it, perhaps in the form of your house (by putting items up near it so they are protected while they shop).

Thunder and Lightning

This is another sale-closer, if it gets too close to your house.  Customers will be nervous getting out of their insulated cars if the storm is nearby, and since thunder and lightening often preclude a storm, it's best to start closing up shop before the heavier weather hits.

And while you're checking out the forecast for your yard sale weekend, stop by GarageSaleCow.com too.  The world's fastest-growing online garage sale community is full of wonderful resources, including the ability to advertise your sale, for no charge at all!

Community sales can begin in a neighborhood, a church, or a co-op -- even schools have been known to hold bargain sales as fundraising opportunities for a sports team or club.  If you're considering organizing a community yard sale, take the following step to avoid hard feelings, chaos, and the potential of a botched event.

First off, it's vital that you write everything down.  When you start assigning tasks, either take it upon yourself to keep track of who is supposed to do what, or find someone you trust to be your temporary assistant.  If possible, have people sign off on their tasks; that way, if someone comes to you complaining that there aren't enough awnings to keep them cool, you can point to your notebook and remind the person in charge of that task.  This also prevents you from going crazy with remembering each detail, and also from forgetting to complete an important task.

Make sure that everyone is okay with you taking charge before you go nuts with planning.  A simple vote at a community meeting will do, or you can take the time to speak with each participating member individually.  If others want to help organize, don't be a tyrant -- let them join in.  While you've got the group's attention, decide on a weekend on which the most possible people will be able to participate.  This can be decided, again, by group vote.

Unless everyone agrees to pool their items for ease of pricing and organizing, it's best to keep everything separate until the day of the sale.  That way, no one's item gets sold at a much lower price than intended.  Additionally, nothing can be misplaced, and everyone can formulate their own system of pricing and tagging that will be easily distinguished from the rest.  (On that note, you should decide early on if you'll be combining yard sales or just holding them all at the same time.)

You must be absolutely positive that you have enough table space!  This is the quickest way to an argument, especially if the space is being shared.  Have some extra tables on hand to whip out just in case.  If you run out of tables, use tarps.

Signs should be uniform, so it's wise to assign the task to an individual or a small group of people who can work together; otherwise, potential shoppers may become confused and think they're visiting three different yard sales.

Be sure to check local regulations about yard sales.  Individual garage sales are easy to overlook, but if an entire community is having a sale, streets will inevitably be blocked and litter will inevitably make its way onto the street.  Make sure your local government has no laws against holding a community sale in your neighborhood or area.

Finally, have someone log on to GarageSaleCow.com and post a listing for free.  With a large community of like-minded shoppers and sale-hosts, GarageSaleCow.com provides a ton of great resources to help you put on a successful community sale.

Have you ever been to a garage sale and touched one of the items for sale, only to find that your fingers come away covered in dust?  It's disgusting and rather off-putting to discover that the host hasn't bothered to clean off the items they're hoping to make money from.  As a host yourself, you need to avoid this mistake in order to put forth the best presentation possible to your clientele.

It's likely that a lot of the objects you're selling have sat around in a garage or basement for a few months or longer, and have gathered a fine coat of dust.  Even if you do nothing else to prepare your items for selling, dust off everything.  Use a rag and some dust-attracting cleaner and swipe it along all the edges of furniture, books, board game boxes, electronics, and toys (and whatever else you may have) that has the potential to gather dust.  You may not be able to see the dust under artificial lighting, but once you take it outside, it's going to look disgusting.

Hose down bikes, lawnmowers, and other outdoor objects -- taking care, of course, not to get water on the electronic components.  Anything with a motor may require a more detailed cleaning approach, with a damp cloth and some elbow grease, but bicycles, rakes, and other non-motorized outdoor tools can just be sprayed down with the garden hose.  No matter your method, just get all the dirt and old plant matter off, and it will be clean enough to sell.

Before you even take them out of the kitchen, run dishes through the dishwasher.  Nothing is more disgusting than finding food particles or lipstick stains on the flatware you're considering buying -- except maybe for finding fresh stains on the clothes you thought about taking home to your kids.  You should also put shirts through the washer and dryer cycles, and, if you are a smoker or live with one, store them where the smell will not permeate the fabric again.  Anything worn or used in such a way that it gets dirty needs to be cleaned before it goes out for sale.  This will prevent the spread of sickness and also make your inventory less disgusting to browse.

The containers holding your items may have little bits of dirt and unknown crumbs at the bottom; take a baby wipe or damp cloth to the corners of your containers.  Digging through dead beetles, spider legs, and halves of Cheerios makes hunting down treasures in the 25¢ a gross chore instead of a fun process.  Do your customers a favor and get rid of those nasty surprises before they even have to sheepishly mention them to you.

One of the riskiest things to buy at a garage sale is baby toys -- just think about all the places those have been.  Sterilize all baby toys (and all toys, really, if you can) in a diluted bleach solution and rinse them well.  The same goes for any other infant-related equipment you plan to sell: bottles, cloth diapers, play equipment, or car seats.  It all needs to be cleaned and disinfected if at all possible.

What kinds of nasty surprises have you discovered in your garage sale shopping?  Share your horror stories here, then head over to GarageSaleCow.com for some more yard sale-related fun!

Buying clothes at a garage sale is always a fine line to walk.  On one hand, they're ridiculously affordable and you can really fill out your wardrobe on little money.  On the other hand, you can never know for sure if they'll fit you, unless you have the chance to try them on.  Even then, it's often in a poorly-lit garage, and you can't always tell if the color looks good on you.

Here are some tips for picking out clothes in case all you have to go by is the size and the natural lighting.

If your skin tone is light, you'll be best complimented with lighter colors for your tops.  Creamy pastels, like beige, rose pink, sea-foam green, and other paler colors will go nicely with your skin.  Bright colors will also make you stand out, especially if your hair is darker.  However, wearing black may steal the attention from your face and make you appear washed-out.  Vibrant accessories will help tie everything together and add a splash of color, so invest in bold headbands and other hair pieces that will stand out.

If your skin tone is golden, you can wear just about anything.  Strong colors are more effective than lighter ones in enhancing your looks, but you can get away with pastels if you really like a piece of clothing in a light color.  Black really slims you down and your skin isn't so light that it washes you out, so if you're looking to really make a splash, choose black formal wear.  Colored pants also look great on you, so don't be afraid to be daring with those colorful slacks!

If your skin tone is bronzed, definitely go with bold warm colors, like orange, pink, and even red for your tops.  Extreme cool colors, such as turquoise, will also enhance your attraction.  Be careful with pale colors, as they will clash with and fade weirdly against your darker skin.  You can wear black, but don't overdo it -- it is a flattering color.

If your skin tone is dark, semi-rich colors are best for you in tops.  Try not to buy colors that are too dark, as your form can be obscured by the lack of contrast.  If you want to go with something light, pick a bold light color, such as pure white, ivory, or a very intense neon; all of these will make your skin stand out beautifully.  Khaki pants also have this effect.  Normally, you can wear jeans or dark slacks and look great.

Any more words of fashion advice?  Share with the community here in the comments!  Or visit GarageSaleCow.com to list or locate a garage sale at no cost!

Garage sales are inexpensive, so you can never spend too much money at one...right?  Wrong!  Spending in small amounts is actually one of the fastest ways to dole out way more of your funds than you intended to; this applies to everyday expenses as well as garage sales.  If the main reason you go to garage sales is to be frugal, it's wise to sit down before you head out and determine how much money you're willing to spend.

It's handy to come up with a general ballpark figure that you're willing to let yourself (or your spouse, or your kids) spend.  This will guide the rest of your conversation or thoughts about budgeting for your yard saling.  Try to match it to a bonus or surplus you may have been given in the recent past.  Did you earn an extra $50 this month?  Did you get some birthday money unexpectedly from an aunt this year?  Some people may have a line in their budget specifically for garage saling, but most don't, so you'll want to find a way to fit your thrifty shopping in.

Budget out the ballpark figure into categories, if you know what you're out looking for.  You may be casually browsing, and perhaps that's even more reason to give yourself a ballpark figure.  But if you know you're on the hunt for back-to-school clothes, a new board game, and some gently used kitchen utensils, write down how much you're willing to spend to get them used.  (When it comes down to it, you may be better off buying some things new at a discount store, so do your research!)  It will give you a clearer idea of what price you want to get to when you enter a bartering conversation.

Ask yourself why you are willing to spend as much or as little as you've determined.  Do you like the second-hand nature of items?  Is it your way of protecting the environment?  Are you galvanized by the thrill of the hunt?  Or are you just saving money and prefer not to pay top dollar for your household goods?  Whatever the answer, knowing how you feel about the yard saling process helps you stick to your budget.

If your household uses a budget for everyday expenses, figure out where garage sale purchases fit in.  Do you consider them gifts, extra expenses, clothing, or under a totally different category?  It might be best to take out cash on your debit card and write it up as a cash withdrawal on the budget.  You may be tempted to consider garage sales exempt from being budget entries, but if you spend any significant amount of money, you may find yourself wondering where it went when the end of the month rolls around.

When making your budget, don't forget to account for refreshments and attractions you might pay for.  Yes, that glass of lemonade does count!  And just because you can't take that dog show home doesn't mean it won't count as a cost.  Another tip: budget for your kids, if you take them along, and let them in on the process.  It's a great learning tool for handling money.

GarageSaleCow won't cost you anything!  The nation's largest garage sale website is full of goodies and valuable information that you can't miss if you're a garage sale.

Taking home the things you purchase from a garage sale can actually be a complicated process.  Depending on what you set out to buy -- or what you end up taking home without meaning to -- you may need some special equipment.  Follow this guide and take along whatever you may need, so that no matter what you end up buying, you'll be prepared!

Considering buying furniture from a garage sale?  If you own a truck, or know someone who does who would be willing to let you borrow it, you may want to go ahead and drive it to the sales, in case you find something you'd like to buy.  Garage sale hosts aren't always understanding about keeping a large item until you can go fetch a vehicle to take it away, so if you're already prepared to haul it off, they may be more likely to give you a discount.

If you're going to buy cups, plates, or other glass or fragile objects, you'll want to load up on newspaper or tissue paper to wrap the items in.  This will prevent them from clanking against each other and against anything else.  Wrap several layers of newspaper around little pieces that are prone to snapping off, and secure them with some masking tape.

Take along reusable bags to sort out purchases before you get home and forget what you intend for each item.  For example, you can put presents for others in one, items for yourself in another, and practical household items in yet another.  If you take your children with you, have them also put their items in a shopping bag, so they don't vanish all over the house or car.

If you choose to go walking to garage sales, don't leave your home without a large backpack.  You can put all sorts of objects in a backpack (especially if you bring some newspaper or tissue paper to make an artificial partition between them), and being able to put them on your back while you carry other parcels in your hands will allow you to take a lot more home, making a walking expedition much more fruitful!

Maximize your carrying space by stacking rectangular items on the outside and the bottom of the bag, then other things on top.  This will keep structure in the bag and not waste any space.

Want some more garage sale tips?  Then come visit us at GarageSaleCow.com!

While it's true that you can have a successful sale -- with careful planning, of course -- any weekend of the spring or summer, being wise about when you choose to have your yard sale can maximize your sales and your overall experience.

You're probably already aware that weekends are the best choice for holding a garage sale.  It might seem like a good business move to hold it on a weekday, as there will be no one to compete with you, but honestly no one is looking for garage sales during the week.  For one thing, many people are at work, and for another, most will just dismiss your signs as leftovers from the last weekend.  Unless you're specifically targeting stay-at-home moms who are out running their errands near your neighborhood, choose a weekend.

The first sunny weekend of the year is not a wise choice, because once the sun comes out, people get restless and head on mini-vacations to enjoy the sun.  In most places, any weekend in May is the perfect choice -- the weather is nice and people start expecting to find garage sales, but there are no major holidays to take people out of town.

Holiday weekends in your neighborhood can be quiet and empty.  The Fourth of July is particularly bad, although Memorial Day and Labor Day are also seen as perfect vacation opportunities, so unless you live in a vacation town, don't waste your time on a holiday weekend.  Local events, such as parades and rallies, will also distract potential shoppers.

So what are the best times to hold a yard sale?  Try any weekend after a holiday.  Your would-be customers are back in town and refreshed from their get-away the week before, meaning they're up for perusing garage sales and probably won't be leaving home again for a while.  There's the added bonus of you being home that weekend, too, without losing any vacation opportunities.

Weekends leading up to the return to school are perfect for targeting families with children who will soon start classes again.  With all the expensive clothes and supplies that come with a new school year, many parents seek deals elsewhere besides the department stores, and garage sales are a popular target for the thriftiest.  Make sure you note on your signs if you have any children's clothing or potential school supplies to bring moms and dads flocking to your yard.

If you do choose to hold your sale during the off-season, here are some special tips for a successful fall or winter yard sale:

-       Prepare for wet weather!  Try to get some shelter, or hold the sale inside your garage.  If you don't have any other way to protect your items, at least keep tarps on hand to cover them until you can transport them inside.

-       Keep your items in covered boxes if possible and tell customers they're welcome to peer inside.

-       Laminate your signs to avoid running and dissolving.

-       Sell hot chocolate or coffee.  Customers will be grateful for the warmth.

No matter when you choose to hold your yard sale, GarageSaleCow.com can help.  Post your listing for free and draw on the world's biggest online garage sale community to help you advertise and find more customers!

Many garage sales have a free box, where what is clearly the previous owner's trash can be discovered as little treasures for some lucky shopper.  This article will explain why having a free box is beneficial to any yard sale, both for you and for your customers.

When it comes to the pricing stage, you're already going to be overwhelmed by the number of items you have to staple, stick, and mark with prices.  Is 5¢ or even 10¢ worth the work?  At best, you should create a box for the cheapest items, but sometimes it's clear that no one will pay you for some of your items.  In this case, it's best for everyone to just throw it into a box marked "free."  You'll save Sharpie ink and little colored dots, and you'll probably see that useless junk leave your yard by the end of the day.

The word "free" draws attention like none other in the English language.  If you place a box marked F-R-E-E in large block letters, people will come poke through it, even just to satisfy their curiosity.  Make your free box big enough, and people who are drive-by investigating your garage sale may just pull over and come see what you're giving away.  (Some shoppers will do anything to keep their fanny pack of quarters!)

And if you put the free box near your attractions, you can draw extra attention to them.  Someone pawing through your free box may get a slight twinge of guilt as they take your stuff, and therefore be more inclined to purchase a cup of lemonade or a cookie.  Or their interest could simply be drawn to whatever other wares you're selling.  By the same token, if you put the free box near where you finalize sales, you can offer a customer who is arguing with you about a bargain an "extra" item to sweeten the deal.  Reminding them that you have free items might quiet them about the more spendy ones.

Free gives you credibility as someone who isn't out to steal every penny your shoppers brought along.  It shows that there are some battles you won't try to win; and this makes you seem more reasonable when people approach you to barter.

Kids love stuff.  Period.  And getting something without their parents handing them another quarter makes them happy.  (This is beneficial for someone who brings their children with them.)  In addition, if a shopper's child is content with something they paid nothing for, they could be willing to dish out their money for something they want.

Don't fill your garbage can with those old McDonald's Happy Meal toys, stained oven mitts, stretched-out baby socks, and ripped dog clothes...let someone else get rid of them for you.  Unless you know for sure that no one can get any use out of it, put it in the free box.  There's a creative recycler out there who's looking for exactly what you have to give away.

Want free stuff for yourself?  Visit GarageSaleCow.com for free listings, advertising, and advice for garage salers around the globe!