Selling Your Items
Look at the Big Picture
After sorting through your items, you will likely have many items to sell. Many times it is intuitive to sell the better items yourself, saving the lesser items for someone else to sell on your behalf. By doing this you may devalue your lot of items to the point of losing the opportunity of having someone remove and sell those items for you. Without the quantity and more valuable items as part of the lot, it may no longer be profitable for a business to deal with what is left. Whereas, if the original value and quantity were still available, they would have taken the original lot, both the more and less valuable items. Worse case scenario, you are now left with disposal or labor fees to have the less valuable items removed. Keep this in mind as you start making those distribution decisions. You do not want to do additional work and the end result being no additional profit.
Emotions and Disappointments - Tip 1
Seeing your items and memories go out the door of your current home can be the most emotional part of the downsizing and moving process. There are many disappointments that you may be experiencing at the same time. Over the next few posts, we will look at some common emotions and disappointments, with some suggestions for keep things in perspective. During this time, it is good to keep looking forward. There is a good reason for your decision to downsize, and these items do not fit into this new phase of your life. Looking forward at the benefits of the downsize will help you as you go through the distribution part of the process.
Emotions and Disappointments - Tip 2
When you plan to give some of your most-valued items to family members, you may find they are not interested. That piece that was part of such fond memories for you, may not have the same memory for them. Also, they may already have a well-established household, or have no practical use for the item. Put things into perspective by reminding yourself that if you truly want what is best for the person, you will respect and value what they know to best for them and their household. Do not take it personally, and realize your disappointment is related to the difficulty you are having in parting with your items. Ouch! In order to help you the most, I have to be honest and blunt with this tip.
Emotions and Disappointments - Tip 3
Another realization during this part of the process is the reality that your items have little value in comparison to what you may have paid for them years ago. Of course, you may have that one-off, and it you do, that's great! But generally speaking, resale value on antiques, collectibles, and furniture is currently low. Keep things in perspective by remembering that its purpose was to serve you, and it did its job over the years. Of course, we all have those items we purchased and did not use as intended, making us feel wasteful when there is not a good resale value on the item, but it's OK, we have all done it, and it's just part of life.