A Clear Vision
Before we start ed the physical act of downsizing, we needed to have a clear vision of what we wanted to keep, our lives were very different from our parents, and we as siblings had different lives and styles so we walked thru the house and made preliminary selections and had a conversation of what to do next. I envision
2. A Plan of Action
Creating a structured plan is essential. We need to break down the process into manageable tasks, like tackling one room at a time or setting aside specific days for decluttering. This will help stay organized and focused. The first things we did was to purchase a heavy-duty shredder and contact the local garbage company for a dumpster.
3. Emotional Readiness
Downsizing can be an emotional process, especially when it comes to letting go of items with sentimental value. We needed to be mentally prepared to face these emotions and remindus to take our time and realize that some things could be debated about.
4. Support System
Having a support system in place is crucial. Whether it’s friends or family who can help sort through belongings or just lend an ear when needed, their support will make the process feel less daunting.
6. A Donation Plan
We did some research and found a company that would hold an online auction for us. This did not include the real estate. We packed everything and the company transported it, set up the auction and took care of passing it along. For this , they took 40% of the proceeds. It was an acceptable percentage for us. We learned a few interesting things: furniture did not sell well,( and our parents had very good piec s) and that included lamps. We were surprised that toys , especially if you had all the pieces went extremely well. My brothers Matchbox cars sold very well and as did my fathers miniature train collection( we included the tracks). We also had a collection of record albums of the complete books of Beatrix Potter. Lewis Carroll and A.A. Milne which sold for an unbelievable amount of money.
I will list below some companies that do this kind of thing.
Sotheby’s
Known for luxury items and high-end collectibles, Sotheby’s manages auctions for art, collectibles, toys, and even vinyl records.
They take care of the entire process, from appraisal to listing, marketing, and selling. Sotheby’s is ideal if you have rare or high-value items.
Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctions offers full-service auctions, handling collectibles like coins, comics, sports memorabilia, toys, and vinyl records.
They provide appraisal, cataloging, and promotion services, and they have a large base of collectors looking for unique and rare items.
Everything But The House (EBTH)
EBTH is an online auction company that focuses on estate sales and collectibles, including toys, vintage items, and vinyl records.
They provide a comprehensive service: photographing, listing, managing, and selling items on their platform, making it convenient if you have a variety of items to sell
RR Auction
RR Auction specializes in collectibles, including historical items, music memorabilia, and pop culture items, which can include vinyl records and toys.
They provide a full-service auction experience, including cataloging, listing, and marketing. They’re known for unique collectible items and often attract dedicated niche buyers.
Liveauctioneers
Liveauctioneers partners with various auction houses and sellers to list a wide range of items, including toys, records, and vintage collectibles.
Although you may need to work with a specific auction house affiliated with Liveauctioneers, they provide support in reaching a broad audience and managing the sale from start to finish.
Auction Ninja
Auction Ninja focuses on estate sales, collectibles, and vintage items, often attracting buyers interested in mid-market items like toys, vinyl, and other memorabilia.
They have a user-friendly platform that manages the auction process for you, and their target audience includes buyers looking for affordable and unique items. Invaluable
Invaluable is an online marketplace that hosts auctions for mid- to high-value collectibles, including toys, records, and vintage memorabilia.
They partner with auction houses but manage the entire process, including cataloging and listing. They’re known for a wide range of collectibles and vintage items, with dedicated collectors as part of their audience.
Our parents loved books, we had over 150 boxes of books that we didn't want to just put in the dumpster. One of us lived in a town with a major university and their woman's club held a major book sale every spring. The took most of the books. They did not take things like dictionaries, encyclopedias, readers digest condensed books etc,
We also contacted the local Red Cross, thrift shops and local churches to ass ess their needs. Some communities have local buy nothing websites and stores that sell secondhand sports equipment.
I will return on Monday March 17, 2025 for more information on my journey
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