1. Signs should be legible and attention grabbing.
2. Signs should be durable and sturdy.
1. Signs should not fold over or flap in the breeze
2. Lettering should not streak, bleed or washout in the rain.
3. Use clear masking tape to laminate your signs
4. Make sure people are able to read your signs from 30 – 40 feet away.
5. Backgrounds should be bright colors to help distinguish them from official street signs.
6. Don't clutter your signs with fancy lettering, pictures or listing all items for sale.
7. Use Attention grabbers for your signs (E.g. balloons, flags, streamers etc).
8. Signs have two sides use them both but ensure arrows point the right directions
9. A few good ideas for sign materials are:
1. Campaign signs from a sign shop can be used for self-supporting signs.
2. Thick poster board laminated with clear packing tape.
3. Plywood is excellent for signs. It is cheap, weather-proof (short term), easy to cut and paint.
4. A-framed signs made from wood or metal are great for driveways or front yards.
5. Typing signs and printing them out will make them bolder, easier to read, and faster to make.
6. Print signs using larger font settings (E.g. 500 font) printed on multiple pages and piece together for your sign or cut the letters out to use as stencils.
7. Use paint, felt-tipped pens or crayons to color in large wide letters in contrasting color to your background.
8. Fasten a paper sign to the side of a large cardboard box and put a brick, rocks or sand in the box.
9. Large boxes work great because you can mark each side to cover multiple directions.
10. Signs should be at least 11" x 17" and larger is better..
11. Try to make your words big, so they catch the eye!
12. Have the words GARAGE SALE or YARD SALE and ARROWS.
13. Include your street name and the day & time of your sale.
14. Use abbreviations (SAT, SUN, etc.) for the day(s).
15. Use abbreviations (8am, 4pm, etc.) for the times.
16. Use abbreviations (SAT - SUN 8am – 4pm, etc.) for multi-day sales.
17. Don't place your signs over traffic/safety signs.
18. If posting signs in several locations, make them all in the same style.
19. Place signs in locations that are usually busy so more will people see them.
20. Place your garage sale signs so drivers have time to turn
1. Along major roadways place signs more than 75 – 100 feet (or more depending on the speed limit) before intersections so people can slow down and/or change lanes to safely turn.
2. Place neighborhood directional arrow signs up to 30 feet from a corner so they are not blocked by traffic at the intersection.
21. If you have a long street, place multiple signs along the way.
1. You can also include things such as "2 miles to go" then another "1 mile to go" or “straight ahead” ect.
22. Put out your signs AFTER you are ready to start your sale.
23. Check your yard sale signs during the day
24. Never staple or hammer signs to power poles, trees or street poles it is a safety hazard for workers.
25. Take your signs down promptly after your sale.