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A few tips and tricks on what makes a good yard sale sign.
There are many ways to make a good sign for your yard sale, but there are many more ways to make a bad one. Here are a few tips on what makes a good sign with a few bad examples sprinkled in along the way.
- Think BIG. If you scribble your sign with a magic marker then no one will be able to read it as they are whizzing by on the street. Sketch out where you want your letters to go using a pencil. Then use a permanent marker or crayon to write lasting bold letters. (Double check after your sign is up by driving by yourself to make sure you can read it.)
Right.
credit: http://flickr.com/photos/discarted/484272070/
Wrong. And please, please spell check.
credit: http://flickr.com/photos/woodmania/190311205/
- Use sturdy paper. Regular poster board will not always cut it. If there is any moisture in the air it will fold like a bad poker hand and no one will be able to read it. Cardboard is a great way to create a substantial home made sign.
- Box it up. Some neighborhoods restrict people from using fences, utility poles and street signs to affix your sign to. Never use trees and be careful about putting staples in street poles as it might be hazardous to the workers that climb them. In this case a cardboard box is a great idea for a temporary sign. Fill the bottom with rocks (so it won’t blow away) and write on the bottom then stand it up.
credit: http://flickr.com/photos/hypowren/474644213/
- X marks the spot. Draw arrows on your signs so that people know which way to drive to get to your house. (Make sure you plan out where each sign will go and what direction each arrow should face BEFORE you start drawing.)
credit: http://flickr.com/photos/10007271@N06/784320970/
- Make them similar. People need to have a little consistency so that when they are following the signs to your yard sale they will know they are going to the right one. Having 3 completely different signs might mislead people to think there will be 3 different yard sales in the area.
- Flyers are great signs too. Put up flyers on community bulletin boards too. Some good places to start would be grocery stores, local schools or community centers.
credit: http://flickr.com/photos/studiostein/2553815295/
- Make it memorable. I always want to go to the yard sales with the signs that make me laugh or catch my eye. Make the sign say something funny or make it a bright color or interesting shape. My favorite type of sign is in the shape of an arrow.
credit: http://flickr.com/photos/eraut/558053224/
Of course, always make sure you know the rules and regulations for your neighbor. Some residents are surprised to find out that some local governments have restrictions on the number of yard sales per day per area. And most importantly, when promoting your yard sale be aware of the sign restrictions! Most cities have laws against people putting signs from the sidewalks to the streets, or in the “Public Right of Way.” Make sure you know where the restricted areas are in your neighborhood so that someone does not take your hard work down and throw it away.
Don’t forget: Take your signs down when your yard sale is over! You don’t want to litter and more importantly you don’t want unexpected shoppers coming the next Saturday asking if they can purchase your patio furniture.
