There will be multiple yard/garage sales throughout Lakeland Oct. 5th, organized through the Nextdoor app and Lakeland Commissioner Wesley Wright.
This is the 11th time for the bi-annual sales at varied addresses throughout Lakeland coordinated by Commissioner Wright, who started the project before he was elected to public office in Lakeland.
Use the link below to provide your address by Sept. 30th. Only addresses within the Lakeland City limits should be listed. Or you can email Commissioner Wright, wwright@lakelandtn.org A map is to be provided showing all the participants closer to the date of the sale. Link to Nextdoor: https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=123256228
Commissioner Wright urges participants to market and advertise their sales independently. He reminds all that any directional signs should be removed by Oct. 7th.
“This will be the 11th time I have coordinated a Lakeland yard sale,” said Commissioner Wright. “I saw the need online for people wanting to sell the same day as others thus increasing the chances for more traffic to buy goods. It seems yards sales are a communal activity, the more the merrier. I saw the success neighboring communities had with synchronized yard sales so I thought let’s give it a try. Starting back in the spring of 2013, and now every early September (for a fall date) and later March (for a spring date).”
Commissioner Wright puts out a survey via SurveyMonkey that gives people at least eight weekends to choose. Whichever date gets the most votes wins and from there he posts on Nextdoor.com. “Under the post people can comment with their address I can have them listed as sellers. If you are not on ND just email me wwright@lakelandtn.org. The last several times I distributed a map online that allows shoppers to locate the homes much quicker and that has been pretty successful increasing activity, visibility and expediency between homes.”
He reminded participants who want to display yard sale signs to follow HOA rules and only put them out Friday and remove them by Monday morning. “I will advertise via social media but sellers can advertise however they choose.
“We don’t have a rain date because with so many homes being involved, calling it off in real time is too confusing. We just stick with it and it’s worked out almost every time.”
Commissioner Wright said some sellers choose to start selling on Friday if there’s a threat of rain on Saturday or if they have lots to sell. “It’s always good to get a head start if they have the time. Spring yard sales usually have more participants. Some years we’ve seen upwards to 150 to 200 homes participating. The average participation usually falls between 75 and 100 homes in the final count. It gives people a great opportunity to clear out/organize their homes, give other people an opportunity to save money on furniture and toys and things like kids clothes.”
Although participants have suggested a coordination with a local charity for pickups after the weekend, Commissioner Wright said he leaves that up to the individual seller.
“It looks to be cooler but not cold Oct. 5th for the Lakeland Yard Sale. We hope for everyone participating to have their addresses turned in by September 30th so I can map it out.”
