New Yorkers call them stoop sales, in New England they're tag sales, and the Brits know them as boot sales. But whether it's a garage sale, a yard sale or a rummage sale, the function is the same: To sell your junk.

To weather the recession, a lot of Americans are selling off their unwanted items to raise extra cash. Craiglist postings for garage sales have jumped 80 percent over the past 12 months, the site said, and anecdotal evidence shows garage sale ads in newspapers are also up, according to the Classified Intelligence Report.

"Garage sales have real economic value," says Jon Fulghum, author of "Everything You Need to Know about Garage and Yard Sales: Be Better Organized, Have Fun and Sell More." ''You get rid of items you no longer find useful and get them into the hands of someone who needs it."

To get the most profits, stick to a good plan. From sorting through your stuff to hauling away leftovers, it can take weeks, if not months, to prepare.

First, set a date. Warmer seasons are better than cold and three-day sales (Friday through Sunday) are typically best. Friday appeals to retirees because they can avoid large crowds, Fulghum says, while Saturday mornings bring out the merchants and collectors. Open the sale early and have it run through early afternoon each day.

Ask your neighbors if they want to join. Block sales or neighborhood sales typically receive more traffic than individual sales.

Also, check with your local zoning department to make sure there are no restrictions on garage sales, especially if you're having a multiple-family sale.

After making a date, go through your house. Sort items in bins or boxes by room or theme: kitchen, books, toys, linens, electronics, home goods, etc. Throw out anything that's broken or torn and can't be repaired. Irreparably stained clothes should also be tossed. Don't include things like a half bottle of aspirin or other over-the-counter medicine.

Next, price each item with a sticker. Be honest, too: If something is wrong with the item, mark that on the price tag.

While there's "no exact science to pricing," Fulghum suggests two methods.

First, browse other garage sales a few weeks before yours to see how similar items are priced and how well they sell. Or, be your own judge. Ask yourself what you would pay for a similar item and price it there. Remember to build in a 10-15 percent negotiating cushion.

"Buyers love to get deals," Fulghum says.

For valuable items like antiques or jewelry, get an appraisal first to set your price. Don't deviate from it and, if you don't sell it, take it to a consignment shop or antique boutique after the sale.

The key is to sell so consider reducing prices on remaining items by as much as a quarter after the first half of the sale. For the last hours, slash prices by half.

Now, you have your date and priced sales items. Time to advertise. Place an ad in your local or community newspaper classified section the day before the sale begins. That way, people can plan to visit your sale. Consider posting ads on Craigslist and Yahoo Groups. Craigslist is especially popular in bigger cities. If you're in a smaller community, post flyers on bulletin boards at churches, supermarkets and schools.

All ads should give an address, the date and times of the garage sale. To entice buyers, add a few featured for-sale items like a television, an antique armoire, a bicycle or a rare collection.

The morning of the sale, post signs leading passers-by to your sale. On bright neon poster board, write "Garage Sale" in large letters with a directional arrow. In smaller letters, write the street address and time of sale.

Place the first sign at the nearest major intersection and lead from there. A rule of thumb, according to Fulghum: A driver should never be out of sight of a sign. The signs should be the same color so drivers know they're following the right path. Also, remember to weigh them down so they don't fall over or fly off.

It's best to set up as much as you can the night before to prepare for the early birds who arrive at or even before the start time.

Display items in a "U'' shape in the driveway or on the lawn, so buyers can easily walk through your wares. Put a table in the middle of the "U'' to add more display space. The aisle should be wide enough to accommodate walking traffic in both directions and people with canes or walkers.

The cash box should be located in a place where you see the entire sale. But make sure it doesn't block foot traffic. Stock your cash box with $150 to $200 in coins, ones, fives and tens. Don't take personal checks unless you know the person. And always provide boxes and grocery bags for customers.

For the most attractive and visible setup, display everything at table height, so people don't have to kneel down to rummage through a box. You'll lose sales that way. Hang clothes on portable garment racks. If you don't have any, a clothesline between two trees works or a pole between two ladders, suggests Kelly Vrtis, spokeswoman for Container Store.

Display books and knickknacks in bookcases or on shelves if they're available. And mark if the bookcase is for sale.

Place smaller items at the front of tables with larger, taller items in the back. That way, people can glance at everything all at once. Use risers or boxes to help feature smaller items. For bulky items like furniture or bicycles, put them nearby on the lawn and place a tarp or sheet underneath.

"You want to think like a merchant," Vrtis says. "The goal here is to make it easy for customers to shop."

All sizes should be clearly marked on clothing, which should be washed and ironed. Group clothing by men's, women's and children's, then by type like dress shirts or cocktail dresses and then by size. Shoes, handbags and belts should also be included in this area. While racks are best for most clothing, display baby clothes on a table department store style.

Keep all kitchen items together. For dishes, lay out one place setting and keep the rest of the set in the box. Note on the price tag if any pieces are missing or broken. Tie utensils together with a colorful ribbon and offer to sell in a bundle. Encourage people to buy all the glasses or teacups rather than just one by offering discounts on sets.

For books, take inspiration from secondhand bookstores. Display them with the spines facing out so they're easy to read. Consider categorizing nonfiction from fiction and alphabetizing by author. The typical price for books? A quarter for paperbacks and a $1 for hardbacks.

But place children's books with toys. In this section, display toys and books at children's height. Kids usually make those purchasing decisions for mom and dad. Also, gather all stuffed animals and place in a $2 box.

Another helpful hint: Have an outlet or extension cord nearby so customers can test electronics. If something runs on batteries, make sure to have some on hand.

Offer a free box at your sale and fill it with items with little shelf life left. Include items like an old paintbrush, extra television cords or a hammer with a good head but a loose handle, Fulghum suggests. Toss in small, cheap items from the sale if they don't get any interest from buyers. When the sale is over, the free box hits the curb.

To create a friendly atmosphere, play soft music in the background. Not only does it relax sale hunters, it can spark conversation too. Welcome each person to the sale and offer assistance. If you sit in the back reading a magazine, people won't ask questions and will walk away.

Think about selling baked goods or having your kids set up a lemonade stand. Or, offer coffee in the morning for the early risers.

Avoid sticky situations by planning. If you take a consignment item from a neighbor, ask for his asking price and absolute minimum price. Also, arrange a time for your neighbor to pick up his item if it doesn't sell. You don't want to end up storing your neighbor's dining room set.

Don't be surprised if you run into a shoplifter. To keep order, enlist friends or family to wander the sale to discourage thieves. If you do see someone pocket something, go over with a box and ask to store the item at the register while he continues to shop. If the person denies having anything, let them go. It's not worth the disruption.

After the sale, there are likely to be leftovers. Check out Goodwill's and Salvation Army's web sites at http://www.goodwill.org/ or http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/ for donation information. The Environmental Protection Agency offers links to places that accept old electronics at www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/materials/ecycling/donate.htm.

If you want to wring out a few more bucks, try posting items individually on Ebay or Craigslist at www.ebay.com or www.craigslist.org. Or, find a local thrift store or consignment shop on the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops' web site at http://www.narts.org/.

Whatever you do, don't bring the items back inside.

Says Vrtis: "If you've committed to putting it in the garage sale, then you've committed to getting rid of it."