All Hail the Great American Yard Sale — rows of old suits, jeans and high school T-shirts; kitchen appliances you always thought you'd use; a baby stroller; and, undoubtedly, furniture that has overstayed its welcome.

And now with gas and food prices taking a bigger bite out of your wallet, yard sales are an ever-appetizing option for turning clutter into cash.

Louie Favorite / lfavorite@ajc.com (ENLARGE)

Quantity, not quality, generates yard sale traffic, especially if the goal is to eliminate clutter from your home.

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Whether you host a sale in your garage, yard or porch, preparation — from pricing to presentation — can make the difference for your sales success.

We chatted with John D. Schroeder, author of "Garage Sale Fever!" and local organizing expert Monica Ricci for tips on throwing your best yard sale ever. They suggest:

Inventory

When it comes to yard sale selection, it's quantity over quality for getting traffic. A few weeks to a month before the big day, begin setting aside items and pricing them. Items that sell well include DVDs, CDs, books, practical household items like radios, antique vases, lawn mowers, tools, baby items and furniture. Consider whether you have enough to make it worth your time — a table of 10-cent books may not be worth the effort.

Display

Channel a department store layout when arranging your items; group by families, such as clothing, children's toys, kitchen items, bed/bath, hardware, etc. Items should be clean and arranged on tables (don't make shoppers dig in boxes). Simple elements such as plastic tablecloths and signs that mark the shopping areas can add big organizational impact. Make it ridiculously easy for people to stay longer and spend more.

Pricing

Ask yourself if you're trying to move items or make money. If the goal is to eliminate clutter, price items as cheaply as you dare. Group the cheapest items according to pricing, such as a 50-cent table, to make them more enticing. Unsure how to price items of higher value, like furniture? Visit a couple of sales in your area to get a feel for going rates, but also know that no matter your asking price, the savvy shopper will always try to make a bargain. Ricci advised posting a sign asking shoppers to make their best offer at the end of the day.

Hours

Saturday is best for a one-day sale, but a two-day sale should be spread over Friday and Saturday. Friday sales attract the hard-core shoppers, who will drive a hard bargain, but they'll clean you out. Expect shoppers before your opening hour.

Advertising

Try Web sites like Craigslist.com or (shameless self promotion warning) ajcclassifieds.com to post sale notices. Use posterboard signs around your neighborhood to direct traffic to the sale, but be sure to label the actual day, as drivers won't know if "Sale Today" means a week ago.

Tools

On the day of the sale, have $25 to $50 in quarters, ones, fives and 10s to make change. The check-out table should be clearly marked and equipped with a calculator, paper and pencil and a safe place to store cash. (This may be the only time a fanny pack is appropriate.) Keep tarps or sheets on hand in case of bad weather.

Leftovers

Take it to a local charity. You don't want to bring stuff back in your life.