Before anything else, check with your family members to see if they still need the item that you are thinking of selling. Sometimes, it may seem like trash to you but for your significant other or children, it may have sentimental value. If the item, such as books, CDs, magazines or trinkets aren't ready to be thrown away or sold, keep them in storage boxes and neatly place them in a corner of the basement or attic, away from the pests such as termites, cockroaches and even rats.

Just like a commercial on TV, in order to attract the attention of your neighbors or passers by that you're having a garage or yard sale, put up a big sign. Better yet, put an appliance out by the road that would really make their heads turn – something big and old but still re-usable.

Now, cleaning the basement, garage and attic is really challenging because it requires patience when sifting through each item. Afterwards, you double check whether you can sell them or not. If you can, then you have to clean them up before presenting them to potential buyers.

The basement and garage are the most challenging to sift through. First of all, you have to check with your husband if he still needs those tools or your wife if she still has use for those appliances. As for old toys, books, magazines and CDs, your children might be holding on to those for sentimental reasons.

That's the challenge to garage sales. Most people can't let go of the stuff they can sell because of sentimental reasons. Sometimes they do, but then the price is too high. Remember that these items for sale are only sentimental to you, and not to the buyer. Grandpa's chair is only grandpa's chair in your eyes. For a possible buyer, it is living room furniture.

In cleaning the basement and garage stuff it is advisable that you start in one area, finish it, then move to the other. Don't rush it. Take your time. Since these are where most of the old schoolwork and appliances are kept, be very careful in lifting because if you do it too quickly, they might fall on you.

Ask help from family members in fixing and cleaning the garage. This can be a family-affair over the weekend. Usually, it only takes one to two days to sift through all the items that have been stored.

Now that you have cleaned the garage, the next step is to label the things you will be selling. Tools are a bit more expensive than living room appliances – even if they're second-hand.

However, before presenting them in a stall or booth in front of your house (wherever you'll be holding your garage sale), make sure that the garage tools you'll be selling are repaired and cleaned. You'll gain from this because thoroughly cleaned second-hand items may seem brand new to the buyer.

To earn more, you could also ask help from your relatives or neighbors. If they're willing to do so, they can also have their own garage sale. In doing so, this may call in the attention of more people and collect more money if pulled successfully.

The secret to a successful garage sale is patience. In the end, you'll also benefit from it. Not only will you be earning extra cash, you'll also have more space in your garage and your basement for future storage.

That's why you must always make it a hobby to clean your garage and basement whenever you can. There are also funny stories when uncovering a sentimental item during spring cleaning. That item alone brings back good memories. You should try it once in a while. Sometimes going back to what is important in your past can either be useful in the future or cathartic to where you are in the present.