FURNISHINGS : A Garage Full of Potential Profits

Call it a garage, tag, yard, porch or barn sale, it’s a terrific way to get rid of a lot of unwanted items.

And the bonus is that the money you make is virtually all profit. You don’t have to pay employees, there’s no overhead and--in most cases--there are no sales taxes to pay.

Here are some tips for holding a successful garage sale:

About a month before the sale, check with your local government to learn if you need a special permit. And find out the rules for collection of local and state sales taxes.

Assemble the items to be sold. If you don’t have enough, ask friends and neighbors to participate.

Ask yourself these three questions to decide which items qualify for the sale:

* Have I used this item in the past year? If yes, it’s worth keeping for another year. If no, discard it.

* Does it have sentimental or monetary value? Yes? Then keep it.

* Might it come in handy someday? If yes, but you have nothing specific in mind, you’d better plan to get rid of it. A yes answer usually means that you’re hanging on to clutter.

Clean and repair salable items. Test appliances and other electrical devices to be sure they work.

If you have valuable items such as antiques or other collectibles, have their value determined by a professional appraiser.

Price goods with removable tags or tape. Use different colors, or initials, for different owners. As a general rule, price merchandise from 10% to 50% of what it would cost new, depending on the age and condition. When in doubt, price lower. Consult one of the large mail-order catalogues to learn the approximate value of some items.

Publicize your sale, giving the sale location, the date (and rain date) and sale hours. Note the kind of items available. Post signs with large, bold, easy-to-read lettering near the sale location.

Before the day of the sale, arrange the merchandise on card tables or picnic tables. Group items together, clothes on racks (be sure to indicate size if it’s not on the garment tag); odds and ends on tables; books on shelves or in boxes. Plug in an extension cord for testing electrical items.

Have on hand plenty of wrapping materials--newspaper, supermarket paper and plastic bags, extra department store shopping bags, tape and twine.

Start with $30 to $40 in small bills and change. Keep your money in a cash box with the lid closed when not in use. Designate one person as the cashier, seated at the exit end of the traffic flow through the sale. Or turn up the bottom of an apron and stitch five pockets so that you can wear your cash box around your waist, keeping the coins and bills separated and safe from theft. Or sew some extra pockets into a carpenter’s apron.

Be prepared to bargain. After all, you’re trying to get rid of everything. Reduce all prices during the last two hours of the sale.

Donate sale leftovers to your favorite charity or set them aside for another sale next year.

Be a good neighbor. Take down all signs and posters when the sale is over.