For Sale

1997

For Sale is an exciting board game about buying and selling properties. Experience the thrill of bidding and strategizing for maximum profit, all while navigating rule changes and new artwork across different editions.

30
minutes

3 - 6
player(s)

10+

Medium Light

About the game

For Sale is a thrilling auction-style board game that brings the high-stakes world of real estate bidding right to your living room. Whether you’re a seasoned real estate mogul or a budding property investor, For Sale offers an exciting and strategic gaming experience that will keep you on your toes.

The game is set in the dynamic real estate market, where properties ranging from haunted houses to luxurious mansions are bought and sold. The core mechanics are split into two distinct phases: the Buying phase and the Selling phase. This two-phase system gives the game a unique rhythm and depth, as players must constantly evaluate their strategies based on the current phase and what they anticipate for the next.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

For Sale is a quick, fun game nominally about buying and selling real estate. The game consists of the following components:

1. Property Cards: 30 cards numbered from 1 to 30

Each of these cards represents a different type of property, from a cardboard box to a space station.
These cards are used in the first half of the game where the players bid to acquire these properties.
The numerical value on the cards indicates the property’s worth. Higher numbered property cards are more valuable.

2. Check Cards: 30 cards in denominations of $0 to $15,000

These cards represent the money that players can earn by selling their properties.
In the second half of the game, players use their properties to bid for these check cards.

3. Money Tokens: Amounting to $14,000

These tokens represent the money that players have at their disposal to bid on property cards.
Players start the game with a certain amount of money tokens and use them to bid on properties in the first half of the game.
At the end of the game, these money tokens are added to the value of the check cards to determine the winner.

4. Player Tokens: 4 tokens in different colors

These tokens represent each player in the game.
They are used to indicate a player’s current bid when bidding for properties.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

‘For Sale’ is a delightful bidding and bluffing board game where players buy and sell properties to earn the most money. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set it up:

1. Prepare the Game Components

Unbox the game, and ensure that all components are present: 30 Property cards, 30 Check cards, and a pile of Money chips.
Shuffle the Property cards (numbered 1 to 30) and Check cards (ranging from $0 to $15,000) separately and place them face down in two separate decks on the table.

2. Determine the Number of Players

The game supports 3 to 6 players. Each player assumes the role of a property investor, bidding for properties and selling them to earn money.

3. Distribute Starting Resources

Give each player $14,000 in Money chips, distributed as follows: two $1,000 chips, four $2,000 chips, and one $5,000 chip.
Leave the remaining Money chips in a common pile near the decks. This will form the bank.

4. Adjust the Property and Check Decks

If there are fewer than six players, remove some cards from the Property and Check decks to adjust for the number of players. For 3, 4, or 5 players, use 6, 8, or 10 Property cards and 6, 8, or 10 Check cards less than the full decks respectively.

5. Set up the Property Market

Draw a number of Property cards equal to the number of players from the Property deck and place them face up in the middle of the table. This forms the initial property market for bidding.

6. Random Elements

Throughout the game, the properties and checks drawn from the decks introduce random elements, as players won’t know the value of the next card drawn.

Now you’re all set to start the bidding phase of the game! Happy trading!

Game flow Round and round we go

‘For Sale’ is a captivating bidding and bluffing board game, where players aim to buy and sell properties at the most profitable rates. The game is divided into two main phases – the Buying Phase and the Selling Phase. Each phase presents unique challenges and requires strategic thinking.

The Buying Phase unfolds as follows:

At the start, a number of property cards equal to the number of players plus two are revealed.
Each player then, in clockwise order starting from the dealer, either places a bid or passes.
If a player places a bid, it must be higher than the previous bid. If a player passes, they pay to the bank half of their last bid (rounded down) and take the lowest-valued property card available.
Bidding continues until all players have passed. The last player to pass pays their full last bid to the bank and takes the highest-valued property card available.
The process is repeated until all property cards are claimed.

Once all property cards are claimed, the Selling Phase begins:

At the start, a number of check cards equal to the number of players are revealed.
Each player chooses one of their property cards in secret and places it face down. Once all players have chosen, the property cards are revealed simultaneously.
The player with the highest-valued property card takes the highest-valued check card, the player with the second highest-valued property card takes the second highest-valued check card, and so on. In case of a tie, the player who revealed their card first takes the higher check card.
The process is repeated until all property cards are sold.

At the end of the game, players add up the values of their check cards and any leftover money from the Buying Phase. The player with the highest total is the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

During a player’s turn in ‘For Sale’, they can undertake various actions. These actions can have significant impacts on the flow of the game, and different strategies can be employed to maximize their benefits.

Phase One: Property Acquisition

The first phase of the game involves property acquisition. Players have the opportunity to bid on properties, with the highest bidder winning the property card.

Bid: A player can start or raise the current bid. The player must bid higher than the current bid and cannot bid more than they have in money.
Pass: A player may choose to pass. If they are the first to pass, they pay half of their bid (rounded down) and take the lowest value property. If they pass later, they pay their full bid and take the highest value property still available.

Strategically, players must balance their desire for high-value properties with the need to conserve money for the second phase. A player who overspends early may find themselves unable to compete in the sales phase of the game.

Phase Two: Sales

In the second phase, players sell their properties. Each player chooses a property from their hand and all chosen properties are revealed simultaneously. Then, in order from highest to lowest value property, players select and take a check.

Choose Property: Each player privately selects one property card from their hand.
Reveal Property: All players reveal their chosen property cards at the same time.
Select Check: Starting with the player who revealed the highest value property, players select a check from those available.

Strategic decisions in this phase involve timing and prediction. Players must try to anticipate the values of the checks that will be available when it is their turn to choose, and select their property card accordingly. It may be advantageous to play a lower value property if higher value checks are unlikely to be available.

At the end of the game, the player with the most money (from property sales and leftover from bidding) wins. Therefore, judicious use of money in bidding and strategic selection of properties to sell can greatly influence the outcome of the game.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of ‘For Sale’ ends when all properties have been bought and all checks have been auctioned off. The player with the highest total of money and property values is the winner. Let’s break this down into more detail.

End of the Game

The game is divided into two phases: the Property phase and the Sale phase. The Property phase ends when all properties from the deck have been auctioned and purchased by the players. The Sale phase ends when all checks (also known as currency cards) have been auctioned off.

Victory Conditions

The objective of ‘For Sale’ is to accumulate the highest total of money and property values. This means that the player who has the most money at the end of the game — both in terms of cash on hand and the values of their purchased properties — is declared the winner.

Actions Before Final Scoring

Before the final scoring, players must ensure they have completed the following actions:

Exhaust the Property Deck: All properties should have been auctioned and bought by the players during the Property Phase. No property cards should be left in the deck.
Exhaust the Check Deck: All checks should have been auctioned off during the Sale phase. No checks should be left in the deck.
Calculate the Total Money: Each player should calculate their total money, which is the sum of their cash on hand and the values of their purchased properties. This is done at the end of the Sale phase.

Once these actions are completed, the game is over. The player with the highest total of money and property values is declared the winner of ‘For Sale’.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

‘For Sale’ is a fast-paced and exciting bidding game where players buy properties and sell them for the highest price. The scoring system in the game is as follows:

1. Buying Properties:

At the beginning of the game, players bid to purchase properties. The amount of money spent is not directly scored, but it determines the properties players will be able to sell later on.

2. Selling Properties:

During the second part of the game, players sell their properties. The check value (represented by a card) received in exchange for selling a property counts as points.
The player with the highest property card in each round receives the highest check available, the next highest property card receives the next highest check, and so on.

3. Final Scoring:

At the end of the game, players add up the values of their money and checks. This is their final score.
The player with the highest total score wins the game.

4. Tie-Breaking Rules:

In the event of a tie at the end of the game, the following rules apply:

The player with the most leftover money (not spent on properties) wins the game.
If there is still a tie, then the player with the highest single property card wins.
If there is still a tie, then the player with the highest total value of property cards wins.
Finally, if there is still a tie, all tied players share the victory.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

‘For Sale’ is a quick, fun game nominally about buying and selling real estate. During the game’s two distinct phases, players first bid for several buildings then, after all buildings have been bought, sell the buildings for the greatest profit possible.

There are some special rules, exceptions, and important rule clarifications as follows:

Bidding 0: In the first phase, a player may bid 0, effectively passing for the rest of the round. It’s important to note that a player who has chosen to bid 0 will take the lowest-valued building card and will not pay any money for it.
Equal Bids: If two or more players bid the same amount during the property acquisition phase (Phase 1), the first player (in clockwise order from the start player) gets preference. The same rule applies during the sales phase (Phase 2) where players have the same value card.
Keeping the Money Secret: During the second phase of the game, players keep their money secret. Money is kept face down in front of each player, and the amount of money a player has remaining is not open knowledge.
Selling Multiple Buildings: In the sales phase, if the number of players is less than the number of available checks, players will play multiple building cards in a single round. Players should be aware that they must decide to play all their cards at once without seeing the other checks and buildings that will be available later in the round.
End Game Scoring: At the end of the game, players count their money and the values of the checks they have won. The player with the most money in combined checks and leftover money from the bidding phase is the winner. If there’s a tie, the player with the most leftover money from the bidding phase wins.

Remember, playing ‘For Sale’ with a clear understanding of these rules will ensure a smooth and strategic game.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

For Sale is a fast-paced, fun-filled game of property bidding and selling. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a beginner, keep reading for some valuable strategies, tips, and common pitfalls to avoid in the game.

Advanced Strategies:

Assess the value of the property: One of the key aspects of For Sale is determining the actual worth of a property. A high value property can bring a significant return in the second phase of the game. So, don’t hesitate to bid high for properties with large numbers.
Make strategic bids: Don’t let your opponents know how much you value a property. Make your bids strategically to keep them guessing and potentially make them overpay.
Manage your money wisely: Money is a limited resource in this game. Be sure to manage your money wisely to have enough for both the bidding and selling phases of the game.

Beginner Tips:

Start with low bids: If you’re new to the game, it’s a good idea to start with low bids until you get a feel for the property values.
Watch your opponents: Pay attention to the strategies of your opponents. This can give you valuable insight into the game dynamics and help you improve your strategy.
Practice makes perfect: Like any game, the more you play, the better you’ll get. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t win right away. Keep playing and refining your strategy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Overbidding: It’s easy to get carried away with bidding, but remember that overbidding can lead to a lack of resources in the later stages of the game. Always keep track of your money and avoid overbidding.
Ignoring your opponents: While it’s important to focus on your own strategy, ignoring your opponents can be a big mistake. Keep an eye on what they’re doing and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Undervaluing properties: All properties have a potential return value in the selling phase, so don’t undervalue properties. Even the lowest numbered property can bring in substantial income if played correctly.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Plan ahead: For Sale is a game of strategy. Planning your bids and sales ahead of time can greatly improve your gameplay.
Use your money wisely: Money management is crucial in this game. Use your money wisely and avoid reckless spending.
Keep practicing: The best way to optimize your gameplay is to keep practicing. The more you play, the better you’ll understand the game mechanics and the more effective your strategies will become.