Yard Sales

Home owners and apartment owners sometimes have yard sales. This is an opportunity for them to clean out their basements, attics, and garages of unwanted or unused things - aka stuff. This sometimes reminds me of that old adage “One man's junk is another man's treasure.

Yes, it is an opportunity to clean out your basement, turn some of that stuff in the garage into cash, and feel like you've accomplished something. But here are some things you need to know about yard sales.

If you're having more than an annual yard sale to get rid of your own clutter, it could be a problem. If you have frequent yard sales, instead of being considered a yard sale, it could be considered a business; for example, if you're bringing in other people's items to sell, then that may be considered a business, not a personal and therefore, the homeowner's policy or tenant's policy would not respond and pay a claim if someone were injured.

Here are some other things to consider:

If you're doing a fund raiser yard sale for a charity, check with the people you're raising the money for and see if they have insurance that would cover you. Your renter's insurance or homeowner’s may cover you, but you should check with your insurance agent.

In addition to checking on insurance coverages, you should keep safety in mind.

• Repair loose railings and cracked concrete, sidewalks, etc, which can cause injuries.
• Place sale items so that there is enough room to move around without tripping.
• Avoid placing items too close to stairs and ledges where people can fall. Don't sell items you know are unsafe or hazardous.

Have a great tag sale, make a couple of dollars and clean out your basement, but don't lose the house because you made a bad decision.