What Should I Do With All My Excess Stuff?

If you’ve lived in your house for a long time, you’ve probably accumulated a whole gamut of stuff that should not be moved but should instead be sold, go to donation or go to the trash. You should only move what will fit, what is important and what you need ﹘ everything else should find a new home elsewhere!. So what do you do with it?

This is when the most important step in the moving process comes into play: the initial assessment of your belongings. This will helps you determine the best options for liquidating your excess stuff.

Every moving situation is different, and yours may require a combination of things to maximize any sale proceeds, expedite completion, and minimize the effort you put into it.

Here are four ways you can liquidate your excess stuff.

Estate Sale

An estate sale may be the best answer for people that are downsizing from a large residence

to a smaller one and leaving behind a house full of sellable items. If you’re a good candidate for an estate sale, then your downsizing efforts just got a whole lot easier. Now you can focus on what you’re taking with you and the rest stays right where it’s at for the estate sale. No more donation or disposal runs ﹘ everything remains in the home where the estate sale company will attempt to sell it.

An estate sale company works on a commission basis and their services generally include research, pricing, set-up, advertising and managing the sale. They can also provide final clean out services after the sale so your home is left empty. I recommend using estate sale companies that are also certified appraisers so they can recognize what you have and price accordingly.

Not all homes are good candidates for an estate sale. The volume and value of the contents may be too small to generate good sale revenue, the location may not be conducive to get a high number of possible buyers or you may not have time to schedule a sale due to real estate transactions.

Private Sale

Are you looking to sell your items for a maximum return? Selling them yourself is one way to retain all the money, but it can be tricky and you must be careful when doing so. Craigslist and similar Internet sites or newspapers are options. A photo description, asking price, location, computer access and phone contact are required. And remember that you’ll need to be prepared for receiving a lot of phone calls.

If you do decide to try your hand on Craigslist, I always recommend you keep the item in the garage to show, NOT inside your home. If selling electronics or collectibles, I recommend meeting the potential buyer at a safe site like a busy coffee shop and. I never recommend Craigslist for seniors or people living alone; the risk is not worth the return.

If you’re working with a move management company like NextStep Transitions, we can help  you match your items with the right buyer. We maintain a list of approved vendors who buy things like antiques, collectibles, jewelry, musical instruments and artwork direct from the client. These individuals will be contacted on your behalf to come view and will purchase directly from you.

Consignment Sales

If you’d like someone else to handle the sale of your items, consigning them is a great way to go. There are several consignment options, such as traditional auctions and Internet auctions, plus specialty shops for furniture, clothing, collectibles, housewares and artwork. You can find them online by searching for consignment stores in your area.

Consignment shops operate on a commission basis and there is a range depending on the item. In most cases, it’s your responsibility to deliver the item to them so you pay to get it there. They also usually have a specific time frames in which to sell your items, and if the items don’t sell, it’s your responsibility to get the items picked back up. Consignment stores have to approve the item before they accept it, which means you’ll have to send them pictures along with descriptions, measurements, make, etc.

For those considering consignment, you have to weigh the potential financial outcome against the time it takes to find the right consignment location and the cost to get the items to them.

Donation

Don’t overlook the power and simplicity of donation! You help those in need by giving others the chance to appreciate the things you have enjoyed. You won’t waste a lot of time trying to sell things for a fraction of what you bought them for. Plus, you can take a tax deduction, which many times is greater than what the item would have sold for!

Take the NextStep

Looking for a move management company in the greater Seattle area? Your next great move experience starts here. Learn more about our estate liquidation services, or schedule a free consultation and see how we can put your transition plan into action.