As the warm weather of May brings open windows to the homes of southeastern Connecticut, many owners looking to shed the heaviness of winter layers and get a fresh start before summer find time for spring cleaning, which often comes in the form of a tag sale.

Watching people browse through the no-longer-needed items displayed on tables in her front yard earlier this month, Waterford resident Traci Hancock said the one or two tag sales that she has every year are about getting rid of excess stuff and also about trying to make a few extra dollars. As items were bought up, the tables became less crowded. Hancock said it feels good to get rid of things that aren’t used anymore.

“It’s nice to actually see the tables,” she laughed. Things that aren’t sold she usually donates afterward, but “usually we see if we can get a few pennies first,” she said.

Hancock said that even though she no longer needs the holiday decor, reclining chairs and kitchen utensils that were displayed on her tables and along her driveway, she hopes someone else might have a need for them.

“I’m happy someone else can use it. It’s a treasure to them even if it’s not to us anymore,” Hancock said.

Niantic residents Debbie Hatch and Chip Goff, who also held a tag sale earlier this month, admitted that even though it’s nice to get rid of things, tag sales are still a chore, and it can be a weird experience.

“It is odd to have people rummaging through your stuff. You almost feel judged,” Hatch said, but on the other hand, “people are mostly friendly. (They) reminisce over your stuff.”

The less stuff she and Goff have, the less they have to clean, the less clutter they have and the easier things are in general said Hatch. What can be difficult, she said, is choosing what is put up for sale. That decision came down to weighing sentimental value against usefulness.

“This is the last stop before donation or dump,” for many of the items Goff said.

Tag sales are so popular this time of year that some towns are stepping in to organize community sales, bringing the sales to one convenient time and location. Montville’s Parks and Recreation department is hosting its annual community tag sale at Fair Oaks Community Center on Saturday May 30. North Stonington’s town-wide tag sale will also be held on May 30 at Wheeler Library and around town.

Other towns like Ledyard and Groton are also having townwide sales.

Rather than having residents bring their sales to one community location, they are asking residents to hold their sales on the same weekend and will provide shoppers with a list and map of all the sales in town.

Ledyard real estate agent Linda Davis, who is organizing Ledyard’s town sale on June 6, said this kind of event can accommodate a large number of sales. So far, around 100 have been registered in Ledyard. Businesses in town are also part of the event, she said, with some local shops offering sales and restaurants offering lunch specials.

“I just thought we have a small community it would be fun to do the whole town,” said Davis, who got the idea from a friend who organized a similar event in Albuquerque, N.M. “I think it will be a fun day for people.”

Davis said that, as a real estate agent, she has seen many cluttered homes and has come to appreciate the idea of getting rid of extra stuff whenever there’s an opportunity to do so. She said she’s also seen homes left to family members after a death, and has seen how it can be emotional and overwhelming for grieving families.

“It seemed like (in) springtime people are decluttering and trying to eliminate. I’ve been on this declutter trip lately. I’ve visited a lot of homes where they’ve lived in the home for many years,” said Davis. “I’m a big supporter of decluttering when you can. As I get older I’m looking to eliminate clutter.”

She said that the tag sales will be good for both buyers and sellers.

“I hope it will be an opportunity for sellers to eliminate clutter and for buyers to maybe find a deal,” Davis said.

Groton City is having Yard Sale Day on June 27. Call (860) 446-4118. For more information on Ledyard’s tag sale, visit www.simplyledyard.com. For information on Montville’s community tag sale, contact the (860) 848-3030 and for North Stonington’s townwide tag sale, contact Wheeler Library at (860) 535-0383.

j.hopper@theday.com

Twitter: @JessHoppa