The unofficial garage sale season is opening soon. The Star Tribune will add to the excitement by publishing its annual garage sale calendars on April 20 and May 18 in Variety. The April 20 calendar will feature sales from April 20 to May 18 and the May 18 calendar will feature sales from may 18 to October.

Both calendars include the larger neighborhood sales with 25 or more homes participating or more than 100 families contributing to a church, school or charity sale. (To be included in the calendar, call 612-673-7000.) The cost is $40.

Also on April 20 in Variety, I'd like to include your best garage sale tips. Sellers, what do you do to ensure that nearly everything sells? What do you do to make things easier and simpler? What are your pricing strategies? Other tips?

Buyers, what haggling techniques work best for you? How do you plan which sales to hit? How do you avoid over-buying? Other tips?

Please respond online or email me at jewoldt@startribune.com. Include your first and/or last name and city of residence. Need by Thursday April 15. Thanks in advance for your tips.