When you buy something - or when you sell something - it’s customary to receive some sort of proof that the transaction has taken place. When you fill up on gas at the gas station, the automated machine will ask you if you want a receipt on your purchase. When you buy groceries at the grocery store, a long receipt will list off everything you purchased, helping you to understand everything that officially registered at the clerk’s station. These “receipts” are usually automated; but what about a receipt on something that requires a little more legal weight?

That’s what a bill of sale will be. When we say “bill of sales in general,” we’re not simply referring to an automobile bill of sale, but to a written contract for anything that’s been sold. Typically, this can represent large property from, yes, automobiles to boats, RVs - anything you have that’s worth a lot of money. A bill of sale is a way for the legal system to verify that both parties agreed to the sale for the agreed-upon price, and that the transaction was indeed valid.

So what can you learn about bills of sale that will help you in the future? A number of things. First of all, it’s important to remember that putting sales in writing can be integral to making sure that the sale goes off without a hitch - and if there is a hitch, that you’ll have some sort of legal recourse to make sure that the other party fulfills their end of the bargain. This basic legal power is at the center of what makes the legal system work, helping you to avoid being cheated out of money or property.

It’s also important to recognize that bills of sale are typically more appropriate for the larger items you sell - for example, let’s say you were to sell an expensive piece of electronic equipment for a few thousand dollars. If you were trepidacious about making the sale in the first place, then you certainly won’t want to make the sale with only a check in hand. Why? Perhaps the check will bounce, meaning that you’re out of money and you’re not sure where the purchaser will end up. You want to have legal recourse should something unusual happen.

This is not only a great way to ensure a smooth transaction, but to give you the peace of mind you need to part with an expensive piece of property. Having a general bill of sale at your disposal - and you can find many printable ones available online - is a great way to give you the confidence you need to make the sale in the first place. If you don’t like using the Internet to sell things - such as finding people on Craigslist - then you can still use a general bill of sale to keep the confidence of a legal transaction on your side.