Writing a Better Ad

1. Start with keywords. Pay to have them boldfaced. People skimming the classifieds will not notice your ad unless it grabs their attention within the first three words. Skip ambiguous phrases such as "For Sale" or "Up For Grabs." "1988 Harley Soft-tail" or "New Exercise Machine" is a much better opening.

2. Create a classified ad with urgency. The ad must sound as though written in a hurry by a busy person. Keep it short and end with a phrase such as "First $25 takes it home," or "First come, first served." You need only a few sentences to gain the reader's attention. Detailed information is better suited to a phone conversation.

3. Be descriptive. Explain all appropriate details. Consider year, size and condition. Utilize hot-button terms like "Brand new", "Antique", "Limited Edition", "Collectible" and "Rare."

4. List the price only if you are offering an outstanding deal. Leave it out of the ad if the price is merely fair. If you choose to insert a price, qualify it. Words like "or best offer", and "firm" give the reader your flexibility range.

5. Remember to leave contact information. When you write a classified ad, listing your town, phone number, and the best time to call is the minimum requirement.

6. Categorize your ad correctly. You are unlikely to sell a purebred Doberman in the automotive section, no matter how well written the ad.

7. Proofread the finished product. Find your ad in the paper and read carefully to ensure correctness. A simple typo can render your ad useless. Remember, only one letter separates a Buick from a brick!

Success with Garage Sales

Reprinted from Sara Noel on sideroad.com

Hosting a garage sale is a great solution for ridding yourself of clutter and making some extra money. To have an effective, efficient, and successful garage sale, it takes some preparation and basic know-how. Part of the apprehension in having a garage sale is the fear of a negative outcome. Let's cover the basics to optimize the best results.

First Things First

Before you start planning, phone your local authorities to inquire about any permits you may need and any provisions or ordinances they may have. Some communities may prohibit the sale of food items or used bedding.

Plan ahead what you'd like to do with remaining leftovers that don't sell. Donations are always welcome at thrift stores, some shelters, and even some nursing homes. Call ahead to these establishments and get information on any items they don't accept or how and when they accept drop-offs.

Decide if you want to include others. Maybe you have friends or family that would like to add some items to your sale. You may want to consider an entire neighborhood or block sale. This can cut your advertising costs down considerably.

Safety Tips

  • Have a phone handy if possible.
  • Post a sign on any entrance doors that states "Off Limits". You don't want anyone inside your home or wandering around the perimeter of your home.
  • For safety reasons, consider sitting outside of your garage. Being inside the garage is often remote and not visible from roadside.
  • Keep your cash box in a safe location.
  • Don't permit any hanging sale items or tables to obstruct your view.
  • Don't place items right next to the road where they could be easily stolen.
  • If you have a pet, please make sure it's on a leash.
  • While making change, always keep the money handed to you in plain view. This prevents anyone from claiming they gave you an amount they didn't.
  • In many areas, it's illegal to post signs on utility poles because it's a potential hazard to workers. Check before placing your signs.
  • Be sure the items you're selling have not been recalled or pose any potential hazards. You should avoid selling older cribs, strollers, helmets, playpens, carseats, and baby gates.
  • Consider not posting your full address in your ads. You can share main cross streets and let visitors follow your signs.

Gathering the Goods

You can start at anytime to declutter and organize items you don't want to keep. You can start organizing your unwanted items into boxes. There are many practical items that are great sellers, so don't overlook anything because you think it won't sell. You never know who might purchase it. Every little sale adds up. You should try to have a wide variety of items. Many collectors and dealers frequent garage sales, so don't be afraid to include one of a kind type items. (Ex: one single glass or one individual candlestick) Items to consider selling

  • Go room to room and start cleaning, purging, and placing all your unwanted "stuff" into your garage sale holding boxes. Don't forget to go through closets, dressers, basement, attic, and even the garage to haul out your "junk".
  • Baby items
  • Household items and kitchen appliances
  • Toys
  • Books or magazines
  • Craft supplies
  • Linens
  • Plants
  • Tools
As you're placing items into the designated sale boxes, note if anything is easily cleaned or repaired. It's much easier to go through this process as you're slowly accumulating and collecting, than to inspect everything all at once while you're pricing items later.

Planning the Date

Your best day to host a sale is on Saturday because most people get paid toward the end of the week and are looking for sales on the weekend. The majority of garage sale days are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. You may want to consider hosting your sale more than one day, but you'll want to have a lot of items if you opt for a multiple day sale.

All is not lost if you decide to have your garage sale on a weekday. The benefit of having it during the week is that the people attending won't be garage sale hopping and holding out for better deals elsewhere.

Try to avoid a date that conflicts with any major holidays, as they may not be as profitable. Keep in mind that you can't accommodate everyone.

Be prepared for early birds. Someone always comes early! Decide if you're willing to accept people arriving any time prior to your advertised time of your sale. Don't be afraid to turn folks away, if they come knocking too soon and you've decided not to permit early birds. You're better off to be prepared than to have possible regrets later. If you do plan to permit early birds, be prepared the day before your sale or at the very least an hour before.

When planning the date, clear your family calendar for the entire day. You may want to recruit some help, so make sure others are available to assist. Give yourself at least a couple week's notice to organize well.

Getting the Word Out

You need to advertise your sale. You can advertise your sale in community papers, signs, local newspaper, word of mouth, laundromats, and grocery stores.

Advertising tips

  • Displaying balloons at your house is an eye catching way to show where you're located.
  • Your garage sale sign(s) should have arrows, be simple, readable, and bright.
  • If you live on a side street, a few signs leading to your house is a good idea.
  • If posting a printed ad, be sure it's printed on a weekend and offers a couple days notice because most garage sale buyers check out the ads Friday thru Sunday.
  • It's best if you can mention the best items in your ad to show that you have a good variety available and to attract the most people.
  • Please remember to take your signs down after your sale too.

Pricing and Money Matters

Every item should be priced and easy to read. Label anything damaged or questionable "as is". I recommend using easy to remove price tags. Stickers and string hang tags work best. There is nothing more disappointing than finding an item at a sale and the seller has added the price directly on the item in black marker. Color coded stickers are great if you're holding a group garage sale with others.

It is sometimes beneficial to have current prices of what your items cost new. This can serve as a comparison to how good your prices truly are. Pricing can be set at about 1/2 the retail cost to you.

Prep tips

  • Post a sign if you're not accepting checks and that all sales are final.
  • Don't hold items without a deposit.
  • Be sure to have lots of change for your sale, a calculator, paper or sale's slips for receipts, bags, boxes, and newspaper to wrap things.
  • If holding a group sale, plan with others the lowest price they'll accept on their items.

Display Tips

  • Neat displays and groupings are recommended.
  • Long narrow portable tables work great.
  • Display large merchandise and some good items for both men and women visibly appealing from roadside. Items like tools, lawn equipment, weights, and electronics, furniture, baby gear, and bikes are good examples. If it looks like junk from roadside, people will drive right by and not bother to even stop.
  • Have an electrical source. This is for people to test any electrical items you have for sale. Maybe consider having these items plugged in already.
  • Place breakables towards the back of tables or higher for protection against breakage.
  • Leave enough walking space for shoppers.
  • Clothing can be difficult to sell. You should arrange them neatly. Consider displaying them by color or size. Hanging clothes is best, but you can also fold items neatly or try a "filling a bag for $1.00? special. You can also try box lots. This box for $5.00 or everything on this table $1.00.
  • Make sure that items that aren't for sale are set aside, so buyers don't try and buy them.

Smart Selling

Everyone loves a bargain. Be prepared to haggle and set your prices accordingly. Greet visitors and be friendly, but let them browse freely too. You don't want to be a high pressure salesman, so I suggest you sit someplace out of the way, yet still accessible. You want to give your visitors some space to look items over, but be ready to answer questions, if they ask. You can share any information you have about items they are interested in.

Don't allow anyone to intimidate you. Be firm and don't reply in an uneasy or uncertain tone. If they offer you less than an item is worth, just nicely mention your price is firm on that item. If you're flexible but hoping someone else will purchase it for your asking price, you can always ask them to swing by later and if it's still not sold, you'll accept their offer.

Boredom Busters

Plan some activities to keep yourself occupied, in case of slow times. Consider a good book, crossword puzzles, crochet, or cards to keep from being bored. You can play some music for yourself and the buyers. You can also offer refreshments for a small fee too.

After The Sale

After your sale be sure to divide the money, if it's a joint sale. Put your money in a safe place. You can take down your signs and start packing up your items that didn't sell. You can decide if you want to donate your items or keep them for your next sale. It all makes "cents". We've covered all the basics of running a successful garage sale. Hopefully, your sale will be profitable and it will encourage you to have more sales in the future. If nothing else, you'll clear out some clutter , organize your home, and have some fun. You can then decide what you want to do with your cash from "trash".

Classified Shopping Safety Tips

Reprinted from budiz.com

Classifieds Safety Guidelines

As part of our mission to offer a whole new way to shop classifieds, Budiz continues to invest in ways to make the experience safer for all parties. Most listings are perfectly legitimate, despite the often highly publicized exceptions, but consumers can protect themselves by following these precautionary measures.

When Buying Something

Initial Contact Ask questions. When you first contact a seller by phone or email, express your interest in the item and ask any questions you may have. Ask about the condition and/or history of the item. Ask to see digital photos as well. Limit personal information. Limit the amount of information you share about yourself (for example, don't give out your home phone or address and remove personal information from your email sig file). However, after the seller has answered some questions and seems credible, you may need to disclose more information about yourself such as your name and cell phone number (but keep it limited to that). Establish the credibility of the seller. In addition to communicating over email, we recommend talking to the seller by phone before meeting them. If the seller seems evasive or suspicious, or makes you uncomfortable at any point during the initial contact process, do not continue to pursue the transaction.

Meeting the Seller

Meet in a public place. Meet in a public place if possible - during the daytime when other people will be around. Bring a friend. If the item is large, like a piece of furniture, and you must go to the seller's home, always let someone know where you are going. You may also want to share whatever contact info you have for the seller (their email address, phone number). If the seller seems evasive or suspicious, or makes you uncomfortable at any point during the meeting, simply excuse yourself.

Seeing and Evaluating the Item

Do your research. It always helps to do advance research on the market value of item so you will know if you are getting a good deal. You may want to bring copies of similar listings with you that support your valuation. Don't be afraid to haggle or negotiate on price, but don't insult the seller with an unreasonably low offer. See it before you buy it. Always see the item in person before you buy it. If it is merchandise, inspect its condition carefully. If it is a car, check the vehicle history (carfax.com offers a vehicle history for about $30) and ask for receipts for any service records. You can also request a pre-purchase inspection at a local mechanic, (generally between $100 and $300), a service which can identify potential safety and mechanical issues. Take the car on a test drive and for extra precaution, ensure that the car is registered in the seller's name. If the item in question is a pet, check its veterinary records and pedigree papers. If the item is not as described or pictured, don't be afraid to walk away from the deal or change your offer.

The Transaction.

Pay cash. In online classifieds, it's best to pay cash and to keep the payment simple. Do not use personal checks, money wires, Western Union or Moneygrams. Do not give out any personally identifiable information such as bank numbers or credit card numbers. For big purchases, use cashier's checks. For an item priced over $1,000, you may be more comfortable using a cashier's check from a well-known bank so you don't have to carry around the cash. You can bring a cashier's check in person to your first meeting, but it may be better to wait until you are sure you want to buy the item since you will need to make it out to the seller and you will need a final amount. You should also ask for a signed receipt. Protect your personally identifiable information. Don't give out your social security number, bank numbers, credit card numbers, etc. If someone like a landlord asks for your social security number, give them a copy of your credit report instead, with your social security number blacked out. If the seller seems evasive or suspicious, or makes you uncomfortable at any point during the transaction, walk away from the deal. Always trust your instincts.. When Selling Something

Posting Your Ad

Be descriptive, use photos. Describe your item as accurately as possible so potential buyers don't become irritated if the item is not as expected. Include photos to give an idea of the appearance and condition of the item. Limit personal information. When posting your classified ad, use an email address that does not personally identify you (for example use a Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo email rather than a work or home email). If you use a phone number, use your cell number instead of your home phone. Be direct and respond to potential buyers, answering questions and also finding out any information that may help inform the person to whom you are selling or renting. Responding to Initial Contact Answer questions. Respond to any interested buyer over email and/or by phone to answer his or her questions and to determine whether he or she is someone with whom you want to do business. Try to get a sense of his or her overall credibility and trustworthiness to see if you want to move forward. Limit personal information. Don't disclose any personally identifiable information, like where you work, until you feel comfortable with the other person. Avoid inviting someone to your home. If a buyer seems to act suspicious or raises any red flags during preliminary contact, trust your instincts and walk away from the deal.

Meeting the Buyer

Avoid doing business with people who are not local. Classifieds transactions should always be done locally. Don't accept offers from potential buyers you can't meet in person, especially those over your asking price. A common scam is an offer over your asking price plus an extra amount for shipping. The "buyer" will send a counterfeit cashier's check and ask you to refund the difference back to them. By the time you discover the cashier's check is counterfeit, it's too late. Meet in a public place; avoid being alone. Meet in a public place if possible, or if the item is large, like a piano or a washer and dryer, arrange to have a friend over when the buyer arrives. If you are selling an item, you may want to schedule your showings all at one time, especially if you are at home alone (there is safety in crowds). Let a neighbor know that potential buyers are coming to your house. Be prepared to negotiate. A buyer may want to haggle with you about the price of an item. Be prepared to negotiate the price and terms of the transaction, but be clear where you stand. Remove listing when sold. For common courtesy and to avoid angering potential buyers, once your item is sold, be sure to remove your classified ad and contact any interested buyers so they don't waste their time coming to see it. If a buyer seems evasive or suspicious, or makes you uncomfortable at any point during the meeting, walk away (or ask them to leave if they are at your house).

The Transaction

Insist on cash. In online classifieds, cash is the safest and the simplest for both parties. Do not accept personal checks, money wires, Western Union or Moneygrams. Do not give out any personally identifiable information such as bank numbers or credit card numbers. Also, ask for payment in full. For big purchases, you can accept cashier's checks. A potential buyer may be uncomfortable carrying around large amounts for items priced over $1,000, so an alternative is to go to a bank together and arrange for a cashier's check to be written out to you. Do not accept a cashier's check from someone's pocket (they are easy to forge). Arrange to go to the bank together during business hours to verify the check's authenticity. Protect your personally identifiable information. Don't give out your social security number, bank numbers, credit card numbers, etc. Offer a receipt. Detail the amount of the transaction and the condition of the item should any further disputes arise. Make sure that both parties sign and keep a receipt, especially in the case of a car sale. You may need the receipt later as proof of relinquishing ownership and responsibility of the vehicle if it is not re-registered and gets a ticket, or is in an accident.

About Our Classified Packages

Our Classified Advertising packages reach over 2.4 million* D-FW adults and contain a variety of mediums designed to give you the largest audience for your investment. Depending on the type of ad you are placing, your package may include some or all of the following:

The Dallas Morning News Classifieds – published seven days a week! Classifieds online – published the same number of days as your print ad Al Dia Bazar – our Saturday Spanish-language Classifieds Autos Al Dia – our Saturday automotive tabloid aldiatx.com – Al Dia Classifieds online neighborsGo – our Friday community newspapers Briefing – our non-subscriber newspaper

In addition, most packages include online enhancement features such as additional photos, expanded text description, video, mapping, social media sharing, and more!

For more information about our Classified Advertising packages, feel free to chat with a Sales & Marketing Consultant at 214-745-8123.

*Based on a monthly avg. 2011 Release to Scarbrough report
Online Ad Enhancements

All of our Classified ads include online enhancement features either included as part of your package or as an optional upsell. These features allow you to maximize the value of the online version of your ad and include:

  • Additional photos
  • Expanded text description
  • Video upload
  • Mapping and driving directions
  • Social media sharing
  • And more!

When purchasing an ad with online enhancement capabilities, you’ll receive an email that contains a link that allows you to create your account and utilize these features. If you don’t receive the emailed link within 24 hours of purchasing your ad, or if you need assistance with uploading your photos, please call our Customer Care team at 214-977-7810.

Tips for Buying a Pet

Due to potential misuse/abuse of pets, The Dallas Morning News suggests that advertisers charge a minimal fee for their pets. Every life has a value. Also, due to health risks to the pets, we recommend puppies and kittens are at least 8-12 weeks old before they are sold. Use caution when responding to pet ads that involve unusual payment plans or require long-distance shipping. Find your pet from a trustworthy source. If purchasing from a private party or breeder, ask to see where the dogs/cats live to ensure the environment is a clean and healthy one. Reputable breeders will almost always provide detailed genealogical information and a health guarantee. You are encouraged to report suspected inhumane conditions and animal neglect and abuse to the SPCA of Texas and your local authorities.


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