I need help with clutter control, especially of 'other peoples/dead relatives stuff that I ended up with.?

Question

I have so much accumulated, but don't know where to start. I'm afraid of tossing something I could get money for, and this is important, as my husband died of cancer leaving me with a mortgage, health care bills and 2 youngsters. When I sold some very nice furniture at a general auction I really got "taken" . Where do I find best prices for things? list on ebay one at a time? (ug!)
A couple of specific questions:
1. Are old National Geographics worth anythiing, or should I donate/recycle. they go back to the 60's.
2. Record albums. They were my husbands, hundreds of them. I saved about 200, and got about .25 cents each for about 200. they don't want the rest . should I just toss them?
3. old atari games, unused (we had a consession yrs ago)
4. big disk movies, a system that competed w/video yrs ago. Good stuff: last seasons skiis used once. Waterford crystal. Beleek China. boxes and boxes of colored glass, china, nice knick nacks.I'm overwhelmed, please guide me!

Answer 1

National Geographics from the 1960's are worth nothing:
http://uttm.com/stories/1999/03/18/deleted/main39419.shtml
I would ask your local library if they want them to complete their collection -- if not, recycle them.

For all of the other items, you can generally list them for free on http://www.craigslist.org -- you may need to renew the listings a few times.

Many people have warned against using eBay and I have to disagree. The beauty of eBay and other on-line auction sites is that you have a GLOBAL set of buyers instead of just the people from the surrounding couple miles who show up at the flea market or read the pennysaver. You can have a minimum sale price you will accept if you don't want to let things go too cheaply. You get to re-list most items for free if they don't sell. Etc.

Record Albums: There are lots of people who collect the old vinyl LP's, 45 RPM singles, and so on. Value will depend entirely on what specific album it is. You are going to have to type in each and every album 1 at a time into the search engine to find out what they are worth. You might have luck through one of the vinyl LP collector groups:
http://www.solidviper.com/
http://www.vinylrecords.co.uk/
http://dmoz.org/Arts/Music/Collecting/Vinyl/
As a hint, start by alphabetizing them by artist name, so you can look through whole lists on-line faster.
The good albums put up on eBay or sell through a specialty vinyl LP dealer. The rest put in a box and give them to someone at a flea market who is already selling vinyl LP's.

Old Atari games: Very sale-able. Put them up on eBay, individually but be willing to "combine shipping for multiple wins". Make sure the listing says they are NIB (New In Box) Unopened. If they are for the Atari 2600 look here:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/atari2600/
If for a different Atari platform, just type in "Atari _____ game group" into the Yahoo search bar and you will find enthusiast groups. As you can see by the following eBay search, these things can fetch a decent price:
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=Atari+2600+games&category0=&submitSearch=Search

Video Discs: Again, there are collectors out there. Not as many as for video games, but they are there.
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=Atari+2600+games&category0=&submitSearch=Search
Here is someone with specific wants:
http://puosu.dna.fi/~kerappo/ld/ld-want.html
Craigslist is a very good place to advertise these, it is global but can be narrowed to local listings to avoid shipping, and it is free so you can afford to wait for the few interested buyers.

For the skiis, contact nearby high schools and colleges -- most have a ski sale each winter. Failing that, these are good items for the pennysaver.

Knick nacks -- again, good eBay items if you know exactly what they are. But if they are just "this knick nack thing" then it will be very hard for buyers to find your listing so eBay probably will not get a good sale price and may cost you money in the long run. Your local flea market would be better.

Crystal, China, and colored glass -- these can be very valuable, or hardly worth anything. You need to have MULTIPLE antique dealers or specialists look them over. Don't just take the first dealers word for it that they are only worth a couple bucks. The number of people on PBS's "Antiques Roadshow" who get their whatsit appraised at $100,000 after the local dealer offered them $100 for it is stunning... These are the kinds of things you really need to research and learn about to not get taken.

My condolances on the loss of your husband.

Answer 2

I have been in this same situation for a number of years. It makes you afraid to sell anything because of whatever value it MIGHT have.

Publications have been so massive that I doubt that the National Geographics have much value. Our public libraries in the Tampa Fl. area take in magazines and people pick up and bring in on a rotating basis. See if maybe a nursing home could use them. They might fit with the age of the people there. That would be one thing gone. You will feel better with everything that leaves the house.

Records there are very few that are of value. Sun records especially at the beginning when Elvis was with them. I just got pricing on about 50 albums and about the same amount of 45's.
It was very little.

Set them aside for a yard sale. Or strangely enough you can heat them over an oven proof bowl and let the vinal melt and droop into the bowl shape.

Maybe scouts or someone could use them for a craft project. Or make the bowls and fill them with something for the holidays for gifts. They could be spray painted colors after the bowl is shaped.

Electronics are so incredibly prolific these days that I doubt if it is worth much. We have a lot also. Have you checked on E bay to see if they have had any of what you have? That might give you a price idea.

The skis I would run an ad for. They sound like a great buy. Determine what they sold for last year and advertise them for half the price. That is probably as good as you will get.

In our area we have a paper called the flyer. You can run a free add every week, the item has to be under $500.00. So I have been running something most every week for 6 months and have gotten rid of quite a lot.

The Crystal and Beleek or LaLeque China and glassware, you should call an antique dealer.
Check these items on any of the auction sites and see if you can get any ideas on value. You can place them one at a time on Ebay.

Do one thing or subject matter at a time. That will keep you sane.

"How do you eat an Elephant?" , she said, "One bite at a time."

I definitely sympathise. Have you tried an auctioneer. We had a massive auction for my mother in laws full house. This was in Iowa. The auctioneer made 15%. It might be the fastest way. Do it all in under a week.

Happy Holidays and Good Luck

Answer 3

I'm an orgination nut, expecially someone elses stuff and the best advise I can offer is: Go threw all of the things and decide what you want to keep for yourself or the 2 youngsters when they get older, like some of the things that were their Dads. Put the rest in totes by items and label the totes so that when you need something you can easily find it, take pictures also. I have learned that almost ANYTHING is worth something to someone, the best way to get the best price is to go online and look up the old items and get an idea of what's fair.
Something like the atari games you could donate to a group-home for underprevilaged children. As far as the albums their is
a record collector's store in Greensboro NC if your close.
The best items to get money for will be the crystal, china, knick nacks, and possibly the colored glasses. I've been to an antique
sale that is held 2 times a year in Cameran NC and you would do really well their I think. I was able to get some Jewel Tigi potery that matches what I have of my Grandmam's at a great price their. You may even be able to get rid of the National Geographics their also... Best of luck with this and I would be glad to help with the orgination of the stuff if you need a hand and are close to were I live, Reidsville NC. If you organize by items and take pictures you should get alot of space for other things freeded-up.
Remember that your two youngsters will get older and some of the items my be a very nice gift from a family member they never got to know, expecially anything that was their Dads.
I'm sorry to hear about your Husband, cancer is very unfair but God has a master plan for all of us. My mother passed away at age 27 in 1973 from cancer and I have some of her things that i will pass-on to my 3 teenage girls. They never got to meet her but they'll have a connection with their Grandma Faye.

Answer 4

It sounds like my old habits!
I would say first, you probably know the antiques and other items that a dealer or collector would be interested in. Pick an unused room and put all those items in there. If it is more that the room can hold, use two, or rent a storeage unit at a mini-warehouse to put those items temporarly. Next ask some relatives or friends of yours and your husband's if they would like a keepsake, maybe a picture, a book, record, etc. Next hold a yard sale on the weekend to see how that goes. If it goes well, after a day, extend to 2 days or two weekends.
Next is the hard part, throwing out things.The best way is to pick up at least one item every time you go into a room and toss it. After about a month of this you should be close to what you want to keep in the house. Now run an ad in your local paper about items in your warehouse, to see if anyone wants to buy them. Ebay could be a good place for antiques and other valuables, especially collectibles. Don't forget Goodwill is a good place to take items if they are in good condition, especially clothes and furniture and other items that will just not sell. Be sure and get a tax deductible receipt. Also here is a site to join to give away things where the receiver picks it up:
www.freecycle.org/allgroups.html

Hope this helps.
...jj

Answer 5

Hi,
Well let me add my two cents here. I am a garage sale junkie...love looking at other peoples "stuff."
Listen it is just that..."stuff."
Keep the china, crystals and a few knicknacks. You might want to pass them on to a future daughter-in-law as family heirlooms.
The rest...hate to tell you but it's only worth what someone else is will to pay for it. Early bird lookers garage sale junkies are collectors and will snap up anything worth something to them...they know what moves. The rest...are just buy what they see they think they want and only if the price is right and will bargain for it. What's left call the Salvation Army to pick it up. Even they won't take some items.
You question was to get rid of the clutter, not make a fortune doing it. No, I agree that you were not taken by the general auction. That is just the way it is. People tend to talk up the worth of "stuff." It's clutter. Get what you can an move on...it will be a relief off of your mind.
Best wishes.

Answer 6

Ok, you can get money for records, atari games, some people still have the laser disk players, but you might not make anything with thim. Skiis will sell well. National Geographics probablly won't sell well (depending on the content) but you can always take them on half price or list them on ebay. There is no guarantee that you will get what you deserve on any of these items. The best thing for you to do is have a garage sell and what doesn't sell try and list on ebay. If you have antiques go to antique shops and they might buy them. I would list items at bulk on ebay so you don't have to do one at a time and waist all of your time doing it. I know it can be very time consuming. On larger items do a pick up only feature so you don't have to worry about shipping.
For skiis and what not I would place an add in your paper, alot of papers let you list for free if it is under a certain amount. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (in TX) has a list free for under 200 dollar items. Go to Craigs list and list stuff. It is all very overwhelming just take a step back and let yourself breathe!

Good luck

Answer 7

Take your time and try to deal with a selling a few items a day or going through a box a day so you won't get overwhelmed.
besides ebay -which IS time consuming, you can list items in a local pennysaver type newspaper; have an estate person come and evaluate your items (they want to buy cheap though and in bulk unless it's REALLY valuable); put items for sale on craiglist in your local area (free ad); making donations to charitable organizations is a good way to clear stuff out that isn't worth listing individually and you can get a receipt for your taxes (I do this all year long and just keep accumulating receipts).

Like someone else said, it's better to get just about any price for some things rather than keep them cluttering your home or worse yet paying a storage fee!

good luck

Answer 8

At some point in my life, I became ruthless about getting rid of clutter and toys, probably after I had my 2nd child. First off, I limit where toys can be in the house. They are to stay in the playroom only. The only toys allowed in the bedrooms are the 2-3 stuffed animals or dolls that they like to sleep with. Secondly, a week or two before a birthday (and I luck out, since I have a kid in 3 of the 4 seasons, so clean-out happens pretty regularly) or holiday like Christmas, the kids and I go through the playroom and throw away or donate a least a full garbage bag of stuff. Toys that are broken, games that are missing pieces or anything just junky gets tossed. Toys that they are bored with get put into a large rubbermaid bin that sits in the garage. If in a month, no one asks for anything that's in the bin, the contents are donated to Goodwill. All of their toys must fit into the toy bins. When the Barbie bin starts to overflow, it means that some of the Barbies must be gotten rid of (like the ones who have gotten haircuts or have been given makeovers with markers and ballpoint pens). When the stuffed animal bin gets overflowing, it also needs to be purged. A few special toys have been put aside and saved, but not that many. The Vermont Teddy Bear that my daughter got for her 1st birthday was saved, the handmade Raggedy Anne and Andy set have been saved. The purple teddy bear that she got from the fair is long gone. We use a variety of IKEA Trofast bins and frames to keep everything organized. As for a dollhouse, my kids have the Fisher Price Loving Family Dollhouse. It's a nice set. The kids have had it for years, and still play with it. We got it 4 years ago, before my youngest was even born, and when my oldest was 3, and the middle just 2 years old.

Answer 9

I have no idea about the value of these things. You know, in our town we have a reputable guy who will come to the house and look your stuff/collections over and pay you for the stuff and take it off your hands. He's not called the Antique Man, but something to that effect. I would look under antique dealers and see if you can find someone who will buy your stuff. Just take some time to gather your wits--in other words, don't start pitching the stuff out until you've thought it over a bit more. Some phone calls to antique dealers may give you a lead to someone or some ideas about how to get rid of your stuff without taking a beating. If you have someone to help, there are flea markets and yard/tag sales. I wish you the best.

Answer 10

An auctioneer is your best bet. He/she will know the value of things and be willing to actually tell you without charge. Local charities often know who these people are. Try the heart society, cancer, etc, locally and ask around. And yes, ask your friends.

It sounds like you did get taken on the albums, I'm sorry to say. They are probably worth much more.

I think the atari games are valuable, do an ebay search to see what they are selling for. Use Ebay ONLY to see what things are selling for. Don't get caught up selling on Ebay. The fees to sell there are too high. Plus, you have to estimate shipping and ship everything and deal with special Ebay people who are royal pains in the butt, very often. They want something for nothing, very often.

What you do at Ebay is you type in what you have in their search feature. Then, look over to the left side and click on "Completed Auctions." This will show you all the auctions that have sold. Everything in green sold and the red did not even sell. You can easily see what the price was. Click on an individual auction to learn more about the object. Don't even bother with the ones that are in the process of auction.

Sell locally, have an auction or a simple yard sale and have the sale in honor of your husband to raise money for something specific, like your children's education. This way when you advertise in the paper, people will understand.

Was your husband a collector? Mine was. He left all kinds of interesting things I now wish I had kept. Don't sell everything. If it was special to him chances are he was holding onto it for a reason. Unless of course he was just a chronic collector! ;)

Sounds like the movies are also valuable, in addition to everything else you have listed. When you have your yard sale, do some special advertising. But consult an auctioneer first about holding a fundraiser/auction and have them look at your stuff and give you some kind of ideas. Then decide to hold an auction or hold a special yard sale/tag sale for these valuable items.

Answer 11

Wow - first, I'm very sorry for your loss.

For the albums, you could see if a used record store will buy them. For the skiis, crystal, china and stuff, definitely ebay. I've sold plenty like that on ebay and got a lot of money for everything. I know it takes some time to ebay stuff, and if you don't have the time then find a local ebay business that will list and track it for you. You'll have to pay them a percentage, but they will do all the research for you and price it correctly to maximize your profit.

Whatever doesn't sell on ebay you could try Craigs List. Also for china, crystal - there is a web site called www.replacements.com that sells discontinued patterns. You could check with them and see if they'll buy yours.

If, after you've done everything you could including yard sales, then inventory everything that's left and donate it to Disabled American Veterans or Goodwill - then take the tax writeoff.

Best of luck!