From 'Junk' to 'Treasure' at the Citywide Garage Sale

Residents, pencil this in: May 18–19 Oak Forest will once again turn into one giant garage sale. Those dates mark the return of the city's fourth annual Citywide Garage Sale.

Registration is free and the only real requirement is having something to sell.

"All they have to do is sign up, and the city does all the work," Clemons said.

Residents who sign up are added to a master list of participating addresses. As the sale nears, the city advertises with local newspapers and websites, including CraigsList, and on city television. Shoppers come from surrounding suburbs, including as far away as Joliet. Shoppers spend the day strolling from house to house, browsing different residents' trinkets and long-buried treasures.

"Last year someone made thousands of dollars," Clemons said in 2011, of one of the 400 participants from the previous year.

Last year, two-time participant Gail Werr returned from a year off of participating in the sale, but was really ready to sell off some of her least-used possessions.

"Through the years, I've collected a lot of stuff I want to get rid of now," Werr said before the sale. "They say 'one man's junk is another man's treasure.'"

The economy has people sifting for sales more than in the past, Werr added.

"People are looking for a deal," she said. "Some people put some good stuff out there. There are some great deals."

During the two-day event, shoppers tend to dine at local restaurants, too, Clemons said.

"It's kind of a win-win."

To sign up for the sale or for more information, contact Ald. Laura Clemons at lclemons@oak-forest.org.

Can't decided if your old odds and ends might be of value? Check out some of Patch's .