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My best tricks are the same thing grocery stores do... if you have a bunch of odds and ends, put something like "2 for 50 cents" or "4 for a dollar". People are more likely to buy multiples this way.

For bigger items, such as electronics and furniture, mark it with a price higher than what you want, then cross it out and mark it with the price you do want. People still may try to haggle, but if they THINK they're getting a good deal already, you're more likely to get your money. (Note, if someone asks why first thing in the morning you've already slashed prices, you can say something like "oh, that's my brothers... he cut the price at his yard sale but it never sold, so I told him I'd try to sell it".

As a yard sale shopper, it's easy to tell whether the people holding the sale have ever actually been to a yard sale. The #1 mistake (and a dead giveaway that they don't know what they're doing) is pricing things to make money, not to just get rid of them. Sorry, but you're never going to get $5 apiece for your old tourist t-shirts, and that extra iron is not going to sell for $10, even if it's practically brand new. People go to garage sales to get things for next-to-nothing, and don't have the same mindset as they would if they were shopping at an antique store. Price things to get rid of them, and you'll actually end up making quite a bit.

Also, make sure you have a LOT of change to start out with. People will show up as soon as you open wanting to pay for a $3 answering machine with a $100 bill (happened to me).

this goes against what you said, but after many garage sales, i have learned NOT to price things. you would be amazed at how many people switch out prices and then argue with you over the "sticker price." of course, this doesn't apply to "All t-shirts for 50 cents" or anything like that, but it has saved us some headaches.

if i have large things i want to sell in a yard sale, i advertise them on craigslist first, telling people they can come check out the items at the yard sale ... and give general address (like - on Damen street near Iowa street). creates more foot traffic at the sale that way!

Have at least one other person available for bathroom break coverage etc.

Have something available to drink -- selling can be thristy work!

If you suspect something has actual value, do your research first. Dealers often check out yard sales for stock for their shops, and you might as well make the money, not them! (Although if you have collectibles or whatever, you need to advertise that or the buyers that would show up at the shop won't know to stop by.)

Have something like newspaper to wrap breakables.

Don't hold things for people unless they pay in advance. (Or at least pay a substantial portion.) If you just set it aside, they most likely won't come back after they go away and think it over, and you may miss the chance to sell to someone else. If you really believe they just want to go to the nearest ATM, give them an hour, then put it back out for sale.

If at all possible, keep your change on your person (carpenter's aprons are useful) or have somebody watch it ALL THE TIME. There are people, sad to say, who cruise yard sales just for unattended cash boxes. (Sometimes they bring friends to distract the seller.)

Garage sales... my best strategy has been to tell my teen age daughter she gets 1/2 of the take for organizing and helping staff the sale. Works like a charm to motivate a kid who wants $$ for some special acquisition - a lap top the last time we held a sale. We often price things for $1 because the goal is to get rid of them not haul items back into the house. Furniture, of course is often more than $1 but it all works in the flush. :)

Don't forget to rent Phyllis Diller's how to have a garage/yard sale video first.

I am obsessed with yard-sales. I always check Craigslist to find the best sales for things I'm looking for.

Also, the best signs have the date (sometimes we see signs that say "Yardsale Saturday!" but it was from 2 weeks ago), and a general address (2500 block of...)

@areneetay So true! Most times I go yard-sale-ing I end up on at least one wild goose chase, probably due to old signs. Another good idea sign-wise is to make them all match, especially if your home is difficult to find or someone else near you is having a sale. Make them all the same color, or put a big star on them or something. Otherwise, people will just give up or your neighbors will intercept all your customers with their own signs!

If you are a serious seller and you want to be different from any other Yard Sales in your area, you will need to 'theme' it. This sounds "girly" but it works! If you're re-decorating your entire home and most of these items have a specific theme (eg. Country, Retro, 80's, Art Deco etc) then you can call it a 'Country Sale'. The point of this is to highlight the features/setting of your Yard Sale and it will attract like-minded buyers (okay, mostly women). Even 'Moving Sale' or 'Renovation Sale' works. Calling it a Yard Sale will only attract people wanting next to nothing yet you want a tidy profit to go towards new furniture etc. Get together with family & friends to sell their unwanted items of similar theme.

First, make a summary of all the items you are selling then go to your nearest bargain shop AND second-hand shop and note the prices if you bought it as new or seconds. Then price your item using these two prices as a scale (depending on it's condition).

For bigger items (beds, sofas, fridge, dryer etc) check online auctions like ebay and find how much your item can be priced from & to (depending on it's condition)... or place the price you want & include 'Or Near Offer'.

Lastly, the items that aren't selling too well, move to a pile you can group as '5 for $4.00' or 'Make an offer'.

Goodluck!