The Liability Risks of Having a Garage Sale

Learn What
Liability Risks Come Along With Hosting a Garage Sale and How To Protect Your
Assets

A garage sale can be the perfect way to clean
out your home while also making a little bit of money, and giving your gently
used items a second chance at life. While it’s not uncommon to host a garage sale,
it’s important to know that selling used items and inviting others onto your property can expose you to potential liability risks.
Continue reading to learn more about the potential risks that come along with
having a garage sale, and what you can do to protect yourself and your assets.

Trip and Fall
Hazards

Whenever there is someone on your property, there is always the risk that they will trip or fall.  These accidents can be caused by anything
from holes in the ground, cracks in your driveway, or merchandise laying the lawn. The truth is, when you have a garage
sale, you have trip and fall hazards.
Preventing accidents and
protecting your assets is of the utmost importance. Mitigate the risk of a trip
and fall accident happening
at your garage sale by following these tips:

●   Stage your sale on a flat section of your lawn. Be sure to steer clear of any drop-offs, elevated areas, raised
concrete, or sidewalks that could cause a slip, trip, or fall.

●   Make sure to repair any loose railings on your property.

●   Neatly and strategically place items far enough
away from one another so that there is room to move about.

●   Sales tables and objects should be stable so that
they cannot fall over and injure someone. Think about things like treadmills, clothing racks, ladders, etc.

●   Avoid placing items too close to stairs and ledges.

●   Be sure to keep all sharp objects such as knives and
scissors out of the reach of children and locked away if possible.

●   Refrain from
selling items that you know are unsafe or hazardous, including recalled items.

Product Recalls 

Speaking of recalled items, although the
general rule of thumb is “ buyer beware” when selling items during a private transaction, there are exceptions. For example, if you know there is something
wrong with the item you are trying to sell, you could be held liable for damages or injuries caused by the defective item. We would suggest that you
do some preliminary research or even consult with the Consumer
Product Safety Commission
before listing an item for sale.

Pet Incidents 

Some pets
can become very protective over their owners when strangers are on their property.
Even if your pet is docile, you never know what a stranger’s presence might do to
trigger an act of aggression or fear. Err on the side of caution by keeping all
pets inside your home
for the duration of your garage sale.

Protect Yourself
Financially 

Many
homeowners and renters insurance
policies have liability coverage as a part of the policy. This coverage will help
you in the event that someone gets injured on your property. You may consider
purchasing an umbrella policy for
additional coverage to protect your family’s assets as umbrella coverage offers
an extra layer of protection above what your homeowner coverage limits cover.

One-time
events that are held for the sole purpose of selling unwanted items, such as
garage sales, are generally covered under a standard homeowners or renters
policy. If you are having frequent garage sales, or frequently sell things
online, it is important to discuss adding coverage for this business endeavor.
Depending on the frequency, you may either need to add an endorsement to your
homeowners policy, or purchase a separate business policy altogether. To speak with one of our trusted, local agents
about a business related policy with NYCM
Insurance, check out the
link below!