• Plan ahead: Make plans with a moving company four to six weeks in advance, especially if you’re moving during the peak summer months, and arrange your move for the middle of the month. Those dates are typically less busy, and you’re more likely to get a top-notch crew.

• Do your homework: Check consumer reviews on Angie's List to find the best moving companies. You can also check for certification on Angie's List and the American Moving and Storage Association at www.moving.org. Ask to see the company’s license issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

• Buyers beware: If a mover requires you to pay a big deposit to “hold the dates” or “ensure prompt service,” choose another one. Don’t necessarily pick the lowest price, especially if it is significantly lower than your other estimates. Check MovingScam.com to see if the mover has any reports of illegal activity such as hostage moves or unresolved complaints.

• Protect your belongings: Be present during packing and take inventory of all your items.

• Update your contact information: The mover should know how to contact you during the move in cases problems arise.

• Find out if you’re dealing with a broker: This is someone who charges you a fee up front and then selects another mover to actually perform the work. If so, find out who the work will be subcontracted to so you can check them out before you sign anything.

• Look for damages: If you notice that a box is damaged at delivery, open it in the mover’s presence and have them confirm the condition of the articles in the box. Note any damage on the inventory form. If you don’t notice damage until later, you have nine months after delivery to file a claim.

• File a complaint: If you’re unsatisfied, file a Household Goods Consumer Complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation. The mover must acknowledge the claim within 30 days and deny it or make an offer within 120 days.

Landscaping can reduce air conditioning costs as much as 25 percent by shading the windows and walls of your home. Plant trees and shrubs on the east and west sides of the house.

• Annuals die at the end of the growing season and must be replaced the next year. Perennials die at the end of the season too, but re-emerge year after year.
• Planting seeds is more cost-effective than starting with plants, but not all varieties are hardy enough to survive.
• Early bedding plants can be planted while it’s still cool. Plants such as pansies, snapdragons, dianthus (pinks), alyssum and dusty miller are tolerant of the chilly spring.
• Hold off planting new perennials, warm-season annuals and anything that does not tolerated frost until the danger of frost is past.
• Before you go shopping for plants, consider what kinds of plants you would like to plant. Are you looking for flowers, vegetables, herbs or greenery?
• Be realistic about your budget. You may not be able to afford it all this month or even this season.
• Before picking out plants, decide where you want to plant them. Is the area sunny or shaded, or both?
• If you’re not a big avid gardener, keep in simple with some pretty flowers.
• Read plant labels. They tell you everything from how far apart to plant, water needs and whether it’s an annual or perennial.
• Many culinary herbs are easy to grow from seed or from plants. Many can be grown on your back deck or a window box.
• Prepare and test your soil.
• Mulch will keep the soil moist and cut down on weeding.
• Check Angie's List consumer reviews to find the best landscapers in your area.

• Timing is everything. Avoid holiday weekends. Have a two-day garage sale – Friday and Saturday. The real treasure hunters are out on Friday to get a jump on the competition. You can also price things a little higher on Friday, and leave room for lower prices on Saturday.
• Share your sale. Consider joining forces with a neighbor so you can split costs for newspaper ads and signs, and attract more traffic. However, neighborhood-wide sales sometimes backfire because there’s too much competition. While they are a great way to support your neighborhood, if your customers think there might be something else down the block, they’re less likely to spend at your house.
• Don’t skimp on the publicity. It’s worth paying a little more to describe what you have to sell and give good directions. If you have hot items, such as baby and toddler clothes, or furniture, be sure to include it in your ad. And, go all out on the signs. Make them bright, readable and identical so that shoppers can follow them to your house.
• Organize your inventory. A few months before your sale, designate a spot in your house for the things you’ll want to sell and let your family members know about it. As time goes by, the spot will fill up with things around the house that you discover you no longer need. Also, schedule a family clean-up day several weeks ahead to go through closets and storage areas. If you wait until the last minute, you’ll find yourself needing to have another sale with all the items you forgot about.
• Price to sell. Remember, you don’t want this stuff anymore, but you do want to get your money’s worth. Think about what you’d pay if you found the item at a garage sale. You can always lower the price, if need be. Household goods and appliances that are in good working condition will bring in about ¼ or 1/3 their original price. Clothing, especially adult clothes, is harder to sell. Kids clothes, especially baby clothes, are more popular and should sell easily. As the day goes on, don’t be afraid to start marking things down. If you really want to just get rid of the stuff – clothes for instance – put out some grocery bags and tell shoppers that the clothes are all you can fit in a bag for $1. If you are wondering about dishes, furniture or other items that may have been passed down from your parents or grandparents, have them appraised. You don’t want to find out later that you sold a priceless antique for next to nothing.
• Set it up like a store. Make sure your items are clean and well organized. Your shoppers want to be able to quickly appraise whether it’s worth stopping. If you have popular items – like baby clothes of good furniture items – put them close to the front, so people can see them as they drive by. If you are selling electronic items, have a place to plug them in so shoppers can make sure they work. Also, make sure each item has a price tag that is clear and easy to find. Avoid using color codes, such as all blue tags are $1. It’s confusing and too easy for shoppers to switch the tags.
• Be safe. While bargains are on the minds of most garage sale shoppers, there are others who are on the look out for other opportunities. Use a fanny pack or apron to collect money and make change. As well, place small valuable or higher priced items where you can keep a close eye on them. Never let shoppers into your home. If someone needs a restroom, provide directions to a restaurant, store or public building that’s close by.
• The money. To get your garage sale going, have about $50 in change and small bills on hand. Keep a calculator at the check-out table.