KILLEEN, TX — Hosting a garage sale sounds like a great idea if you need to make some more room in your home.
Although, it takes a lot more than just opening up your garage door. There are some rules and regulations to follow that your city might have in place.
For starters you'll have to obtain a permit from your city. They usually cost $5 to $10. Once you obtain that permit you can only have your garage sale open for three days. You also can't obtain more than two permits in a year.
This is because your city is trying to make sure you don't make neighbors mad. There is a nuisance that could come with selling from your home if a city did not regulate how many times you can host.
"The permit has to be displayed where some one who is driving by can see it so we know that it's a registered garage sale. If you're not a registered garage sale you can be ordered to cease and desist," Hilary Shine said, Communications Director with the City of Killeen.
In Killeen, if you do not have a permit posted while hosting a sale, you could receive a fine of up to $500. If you do not stop everything within the hour, fines could continue to be added.
Debbie Irwin recently hosted a garage sale. She said it took more work than she expected but its been fun seeing everyone look through her things.
"It's a lot of work, especially when you have this much stuff," Irwin said. "It's a lot of work but it does pay off and you meet a lot of nice people along the way."
Irwin had the mindset of most when wanting to sell her clutter.
"We need the room and quite honestly I want to go camping, I want to go mudding," Irwin said. "I want to go have some fun and not store stuff all the time and move it around."
This time of year is especially popular for garage sales as the weather gets warmer and spring cleaning begins. Even with the popularity of Facebook and other online selling platforms, garage sales are still popular.
In 2018, Killeen sold 1400 permits and in just the month of March of 2019, there were 100 garage sales. In Waco, over 1800 garage sales were hosted last year.
If you choose to host a garage sale make sure you advertise before hand at least three days in advance.
That way people can plan to stop and they know to stop by when you are ready to sell.
If you choose to host a garage sale make sure you advertise before hand. At least three days in advance is what most suggest. That way people can plan to stop and they know to stop by when you are ready to sell.
Also make sure you have your garage sale organized. Set everything on a tables or pieces of plywood so they're displayed nice and people don't have to look to hard what you're selling.
Killeen is also hosting the Just as Nice Consignment sale starting Friday, April 12 and ending Sunday April 14.
The sale is being held at the Special Events center in Killeen from 12-7p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Anyone had the chance to sign up and sell items they were willing to part ways with.
For more information visit the Just as Nice website.
For more tips and tricks on hosting a successful garage sale visit these websites below.
Obtaining a permit:
Waco,Temple,Killeen,Woodway,Copperas Cove,Hewitt,Robinson,Belton,Beverly Hills,Harker Heights ,Nolanville
Tips and tricks:
Garage sale benefits
Garage sale tips
15 things to always buy at sales
