This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Better Signs Make for More Successful Garage Sales

Garage sales are fun to go to if you can find them. Use the following guide to make your garage sale work for you.

I love to go to garage sales. Finding bargains is always fun. But sometimes things can get frustrating when the signage is in the range of less than helpful to pathetic. Here are a few tips for helping people find your garage sale. 

Font size: Exactly how big do you think the letters on a sign need to be when the car they’re being viewed from is taking the corner at 25 m.p.h? BIG is the answer.

I hate to try to read a tiny address, as I crane my neck and try to avoid an oncoming car all at the same time. I don’t even want your address. I’m not going to send you a Christmas card. 

Find out what's happening in Daculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Need to know: Here is all that I need from your sign. The words “Garage Sale,” the first big clue. Add a clear arrow pointing toward your house. (One can immediately see the disadvantage of pointing it away from your house.) If desired, you can add the days of your sale (Friday and Saturday, Saturday and Sunday--you get the idea) at the bottom of your sign. That’s it and that’s all.

Number of signs: Put one sign at each major intersection near your neighborhood. Make the letters SUPER BIG on these signs. Make sure to have the words “Garage Sale” and the arrow on both sides of the sign. There’s nothing worse than seeing what looks like a garage sale sign but not being able to read it because it’s facing the wrong way. Grrr.

Find out what's happening in Daculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Within your neighborhood put a sign at every applicable entrance and then put a sign at every single turn. I repeat; every single turn. You may think that folks have read the microscopic address that you wrote on your sign and will then be able to find your house. Think again.

Color: Add one additional clue to your garage sale signage by making all of your signs the same color. It can be fun. Pick a theme: calypso blue, tangerine orange, passion pink, etc. The brighter the better. Don’t forget to tie some balloons to your mailbox. 

Last, but not least, please take the signs down after your sale. Folks get cranky when they drive here and there through a neighborhood following a sign for a sale that happened last week. Double grrr.

For the garage sale itself: If possible, always put some/most of your items outside on your driveway or wherever. If everything is inside your garage, people won’t be as enticed to stop and come in. They want to see the goods. 

So, happy garage sale. Get those signs ready and prepare for a great sale. If you’re a garage sale goer, I hope you find what you’re looking for; like the garage sale.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?