Wrong House for Sale?

I almost fell for it, myself, this time.  It looked pretty official and I know the owners have become a bit disenchanted with the village these past several years.  FOR SALE, the sign in front of their house said.  But the last time I talked with them, they said, “No way.  Not even a glimmering thought on the horizon.”

Hampson House For Sale

And then I realized that it was a sign that had been moved a few dozen feet from where it has been sitting for some time – in front of the property next door.  The Sneaky Sign Mover of Oysterville is at it again!

Kepner House for Sale

As far as I know, the Sign Mover’s primary interest centers on the various real estate signboards that have recently proliferated in the village.  Twice, we were the unwitting midnight recipients of such ‘yard art.’  As in the current situation, the house next door to us was/is for sale and the sign had been pulled out of the ground and stuck into the grassy, graveled area right in front of our place. It’s a bit of a chore to do that – requires some muscle.    Both times it happened when Nyel was hospitalized and we were, therefore, out of town.  We never saw it – not even a picture – but several people told us about it and a couple of others reported that they had returned the sign to its proper location.

Hausler House for Sale

We assume the intended ‘message’ was that we should move.  Either that or someone is confusing trickery with stupidity.  I’ve heard tales of the boys in town moving outhouses around at Halloween. But that was back in my mother’s day, a century ago.  I’m sure the adults were disgusted but probably chalked it up to ‘boys will be boys.’  It’s hard to forgive the present-day sign scammer so readily.

I wonder if such sign-moving happens in other areas of the Peninsula and if the realty companies even know about it. Further, I wonder if they would have any recourse.  Probably not.   I almost hope the  targeted homeowner doesn’t know, either.  I was glad I heard about our house being ‘for sale’ after the fact. Even so, it’s an uncomfortable feeling. Especially in a little village like this one where we all know one another and take pride in our shared sense of place.   Or so I’d like to think.