Yard sale season begins

By JEFFREY SAULTON , jsaulton@newsandsentinel.com


PARKERSBURG —One of the ways to know spring is here and summer is not far behind is the sudden appearance of yard or garage sings and advertisements in the classified section of The Parkersburg News and The Parkersburg Sentinel.

Many sellers said yard sale business is brisk, possibly because of the economy or maybe people just enjoy finding bargains.

Minnie Miller of Parkersburg had a yard sale recently for two reasons.

“I’m planning on putting my house up for sale and I need to get rid of items I don’t need anymore” she said. “It’s all items I’ve accumulated and kid’s things I still have around.”

Miller said what does not sell may be part of another sale she plans to have after she puts her house on the market.

In Parkersburg there are no ordinances regarding yard sales and a permit is not required, said Gary Moss, director of code enforcement. However, in all areas it is illegal to post yard sale signs on utility poles because they are property of the utilities.

A spokeswoman for the City of Vienna said residents there are limited to two sales a year and a $2 permit is required. Williamstown does not restrict the number of sales on private property. Residents there may not post signs on utility poles or in city parks and the signs may not obstruct traffic. No permit is required for a sale on private property.

Sometimes after the sale there are leftover items and people have different ways to deal with them.

Amy Taylor of Parkersburg said she was selling things just to get rid of them. As for her leftovers, she was going to give them away.

“I plan to take the leftover items to Goodwill,” she said. “I’m just doing this to get the clutter out.”

Barbara Raybuck and her daughter Karen Hughes were having a yard sale at Raybuck’s home in Vienna. Hughes said the sale had two purposes.

“We are getting rid of items we don’t need and I plan to use the money to take my boys on a trip this summer,” she said.

Hughes said she has had yard sales in the past and the response was about the same when the economy was healthier.