My folks wont be coming back home now, its become inevitable. I've been cleaning slowly some in the house, some in the shed. I've got 4 siblings-we are on good terms. Folks were typical, kept everything. I'm trashing the obvious trash and setting the obvious rummage aside and piling the heirlooms. Question is how to liquidate? After we each take what we want there wont be a huge dollar amount of stuff. Except the tractors, which I am in charge of selling outright and putting in general fund. I say we have a yard sale and then donate, two siblings say donate-they think rummage sales are stupid, one says get a dumpster and trash it all(!?). And one cant bear to let it go. Its not rubbish-it has some value...I know what rubbish is. I say make one pass at selling it then pitch or donate. Its not enough for an auction. I've been to a hundred auctions so I have knowledge of those. There is no massive hurry but it does need to be done. One of those estate sale outfits is out of the question, they are a rip off. We're talking household and shop items.
- Thread starter redtom
- Start date
DENNIS MIN
Member
redtom,
With little advice and long on empathy, you're in a tough spot.
I'd hope you and the siblings come to a speedy agreement. I lean towards a single sale of items, followed by donations.
D>
With little advice and long on empathy, you're in a tough spot.
I'd hope you and the siblings come to a speedy agreement. I lean towards a single sale of items, followed by donations.
D>
huntingreen2day2
Member
Goodwill takes a lot of stuff if there is one near. Auction house for what is left after a good yard sale might be the way to go. It took about 3 years for us to get rid of my parents stuff. What we could sell brought pennies on the dollar but you get tired of dealing with it and moving it around. A lot went to the dump. best of luck.
After my parents passed away I did the same as you. I only had a sister and we took what we wanted and had several yard sale and what was left went to Good will. Five years latter my sister passed and I had to do it all over again. Something I hope I never have to do again.
Andy Martin
Well-known Member
Sorry for your loss. We are almost there, already split up some of the big stuff and tools. Glad your siblings are on good terms. Important to keep it that way. Around here there are auctioneers that will handle small sales. The key is the money doesn't matter, it is more important to me that the "stuff" goes to people that can use it or resell it, not just put good stuff in a land fill. Is there a hurry to sell? I've seen more hard feelings over a rush to sell than exactly what happened to everything. We can't sell the farm, been in our family since homesteading in 1823 (SW Mo.) and have a trusted relative living there. Don't know what we'll do, too nice of a house to let sit (dad built it at retirement from Lockheed Georgia, two scroll compressor ground source heat pumps, etc.) but none of us can go there to live.
Best wishes.
Best wishes.
Is there a consignment auction house near you? We have one near me that takes anything from small lots to entire housefuls. The auction is at their site, and because it will be combined with other lots it will draw a larger crowd. The one here has a monthly auction, so they get a lot of repeat customers (and sellers, it's not all estates). Better than a yard sale in my book.
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
I just did this with my mom's place. Just my wife and me, and a little help from the neighbor. My mom is a bit of a hoarder, 60+ years of hers, dad's, even some of my stuff to dispose of, no small task!
After filling the dumpster at work 3 times with what I thought wouldn't sell, giving any interested relatives first choice for anything they wanted, I had a 3 day estate sale. Advertised it on Craigs List, put up a few signs.
Had a great turn out! I borrowed tables from church, set everything I could up inside the house and the attached carport. Lots of resale people showed. They bought most of the stuff, package deals, but were really into low balling the prices. Didn't go into this to make money though, just to find a home for the stuff.
What was left we moved to my garage, had another sale the next weekend. Had a poor turnout, sold very little. It all went to a local charity and Goodwill.
All and all, it went well, tons of work, but it had to be done. All I would have done different would have been to not have the second sale, just donate the leftovers to charity.
After filling the dumpster at work 3 times with what I thought wouldn't sell, giving any interested relatives first choice for anything they wanted, I had a 3 day estate sale. Advertised it on Craigs List, put up a few signs.
Had a great turn out! I borrowed tables from church, set everything I could up inside the house and the attached carport. Lots of resale people showed. They bought most of the stuff, package deals, but were really into low balling the prices. Didn't go into this to make money though, just to find a home for the stuff.
What was left we moved to my garage, had another sale the next weekend. Had a poor turnout, sold very little. It all went to a local charity and Goodwill.
All and all, it went well, tons of work, but it had to be done. All I would have done different would have been to not have the second sale, just donate the leftovers to charity.
Dave Salway
Member
We to are doing the same . The tractors were the easy part . My
Mother is still at home and she is the main boss . Most of their
things my wife and I call junk . Mom calls it somebodies treasure .
Most items are from 1970 and earlier back to 1800 . We have used two
roll aways already BUT Mom insisted to try and sell alot . She found
a local weekly auction and to our suprise two 16' stock trailer
loads have put a new metal roof on her home . Leason learnt
junk can be someone treasure and it is pleasing our Mother too.
Mother is still at home and she is the main boss . Most of their
things my wife and I call junk . Mom calls it somebodies treasure .
Most items are from 1970 and earlier back to 1800 . We have used two
roll aways already BUT Mom insisted to try and sell alot . She found
a local weekly auction and to our suprise two 16' stock trailer
loads have put a new metal roof on her home . Leason learnt
junk can be someone treasure and it is pleasing our Mother too.
All of you are on good terms huh? I hope (but doubt) it will stay that way. Went through this several years ago when my MIL died with a huge estate. House was loaded with "junk". My SIL jumped ugly with me for calling all those "antiques and heirlooms" that so I then kept my mouth shut. They had several professional antique evaluators come in to go through everything and while they did not use the crude term 'junk' they said with a smile (the more socially acceptable) 'has no value'. Even the few items they thought may have some value never sold in their consignment stores. The thousands of usable small items like clothes, bedding, dishes, etc went to Salvation Army to get some relief on her tax debt. After a mammoth negotiating session the siblings agreed on distribution of other usable stuff and I, fortunately, wound up with most of the tractor related equipment (probably because all of it needed repair to get working). The whole process, including selling the house, took over a year and as messy as it seemed the lawyers said everything went slicker than snot compared to most families.
Back when we used to have garage sales we had a rule that after the sale, nothing came back into the house! We took left-over things to the Salvation Army.
If our kids had to divide the estate, son would want to keep everything and daughter would want to give it away. We have a couple unusual laws in AZ, so made arrangements to cover who gets what; the remainder goes with the house, which is handled in a separate document. Executor only has to distribute a few items as covered in the directive and the estate is handled. There will be nothing for the kids to fight over; we took care of that in advance.
If our kids had to divide the estate, son would want to keep everything and daughter would want to give it away. We have a couple unusual laws in AZ, so made arrangements to cover who gets what; the remainder goes with the house, which is handled in a separate document. Executor only has to distribute a few items as covered in the directive and the estate is handled. There will be nothing for the kids to fight over; we took care of that in advance.
flembo
Well-known Member
We just went thru this with my wife's parents place. Family members had first choice we sent pictures of all rooms and the barn to those that lived away so they could let us know what they wanted. Dad saved everything scraps of wood old windows and doors you name it.I did most of clean out and dump runs because we lived the closest. After family took what they wanted we had a 3 day estate sale pricing things low so as to move more than making money, we took in over $4K The small things that didn't sell went to church sales and Planet aid, the furniture items went to a consignment shop, most of which sold in the first month and we received a check for $400 the consignment shop kept 40%.The home place is now on the market and my wife and I are the ones to keep it up mowing raking and plowing snow. The real estate agent told us she is showing the place Monday to a couple that has looked at it 3 times so we have our fingers crossed. good luck with whatever you decide, it is a hard thing to have to do.
Redtom,
My folks moved to assisted living exactly a year ago. I have 3 siblings. We took what we wanted as mom and dad wished. My older brother and I really didn't want anything but I salvaged all the old and new photographs that I could find and I'm so glad I did. All the grandkids got a few items. We had two auctioneeers come in and they both said there really wasn't much there of any value. So I took it upon my self to clean up the stuff. I sold a few pieces of furniture outright. I took a small trailer load of items to a monthly consignment auction. It totaled $74 in sales and my parents ended up with $26 after we paid the consignment fee and auctioneer comission. I bought the refrigerator and I'm going to buy the stove. We're in no hurry to really clean it out because no one will ever be living there again. The area is being developed so the property is worth way more than the 144 yr old house ever will be. It needs a lot of work and we decided not to fix any of it, such as the foundation, both chimneys, kitchen, bathrooms, plumbing.
My wife and her sister cleaned out their mom's house last year then rented the American Legion Hall and had 3 day inside yard sale for the MIL"s belongings. They made over $600 and I was surprised. Again we could take anything we wanted and so could the grandkids. Her furniture was hand-me-downs but she had some nice dishes and other new items she never used. All the appliances stayed in the house and it is to be sold with the farm hopefully this year. Her house is newer than my folks like a 100 yrs newer...LOL.
So it's not a fun or quick job I know.
My folks moved to assisted living exactly a year ago. I have 3 siblings. We took what we wanted as mom and dad wished. My older brother and I really didn't want anything but I salvaged all the old and new photographs that I could find and I'm so glad I did. All the grandkids got a few items. We had two auctioneeers come in and they both said there really wasn't much there of any value. So I took it upon my self to clean up the stuff. I sold a few pieces of furniture outright. I took a small trailer load of items to a monthly consignment auction. It totaled $74 in sales and my parents ended up with $26 after we paid the consignment fee and auctioneer comission. I bought the refrigerator and I'm going to buy the stove. We're in no hurry to really clean it out because no one will ever be living there again. The area is being developed so the property is worth way more than the 144 yr old house ever will be. It needs a lot of work and we decided not to fix any of it, such as the foundation, both chimneys, kitchen, bathrooms, plumbing.
My wife and her sister cleaned out their mom's house last year then rented the American Legion Hall and had 3 day inside yard sale for the MIL"s belongings. They made over $600 and I was surprised. Again we could take anything we wanted and so could the grandkids. Her furniture was hand-me-downs but she had some nice dishes and other new items she never used. All the appliances stayed in the house and it is to be sold with the farm hopefully this year. Her house is newer than my folks like a 100 yrs newer...LOL.
So it's not a fun or quick job I know.
T in NE
Well-known Member
- Location
- Cambridge, Nebraska
I know some people who had an uncle's house cleaned out before he was in the ground.
TomH in PA
Well-known Member
Based on my experience I'll give one piece of advice - get it done.
It's easy to procrastinate and end up with garages and basements full of stuff that you wouldn't have bought at someone else's yard sale.
It's easy to procrastinate and end up with garages and basements full of stuff that you wouldn't have bought at someone else's yard sale.
Appliances should not stay in house unless they are built in. Buwers will probably allready have their owm items and if not will want something different than what is there. And then what is good that you leave will go into dumpster. Sell them and let somebody that will actually want them have them. Had to do my inlaws about 6 years ago, town house 10 years old and realetor on that. Auction on the rest. 6 kids and except for small items they had to buy any items they wanted and them the dollars were distracted from their share of the inhearatance. This acording to laywers directions.
Have a reletave that is an auctioneer and he says do not throw away anything before a auction sale except pure garbage as a lot of what you think will not sell is what will bring the most money. He handled my Father-in-laws sale about 6 years ago.-When we sold out my Mom & Dad house 20 years ago did not know him at that time.
Roger in Wisconsin
Member
It sounds like you are on track, the sooner the better. My sister was in charge when they went into assisted living and then nursing homes. 4 years went by before getting to it at the farm. The mice got into everything, a lot was ruined. Water got in the basement, a real mess. It took 18 months and many hours before it was sold. The quicker you distribute the money the less tax problems. Keep some in reserve.
Laughter helps. Good luck
Laughter helps. Good luck
Goose
Well-known Member
My wife has an older, 88 year old, lifelong bachelor cousin who is now in a nursing home with a form of dementia. Since he and his brother were both bachelors and had no kids (that anyone owned up to) that end of the family has died out to where my wife is one of two known living relatives of that generation.
When he passes, I suspect my wife may inherit his house. The house is solid and would make a good two bedroom rental, EXCEPT the cousin could never housebreak the last dog he had and the inside of the house stinks to high heaven of dog poop, so we're told. The house is unoccupied at the moment, and the CPA who has power of attorney to handle the cousin's affairs won't go into it for the smell.
I haven't been in the house for several years, and I'm not sure I want to, but we'll probably have to face it some day.
When he passes, I suspect my wife may inherit his house. The house is solid and would make a good two bedroom rental, EXCEPT the cousin could never housebreak the last dog he had and the inside of the house stinks to high heaven of dog poop, so we're told. The house is unoccupied at the moment, and the CPA who has power of attorney to handle the cousin's affairs won't go into it for the smell.
I haven't been in the house for several years, and I'm not sure I want to, but we'll probably have to face it some day.
Cory Schmidt
Well-known Member
I'm with you sell as much as you can(a penny is a penny) then donate the rest. I helped people clean out buildings and worked with an action outfit for a time, a lot of stuff may seem worthless but it might be worth something or have life left to use again by someone else.
ex.. canning jars: my pa was at an auction and asked about a stack of them, auctioneer said no, my dad said give ya a buck,ended selling for more then new.
Numerous times when helping, the person in charge would say "dumpster", I ask can I take it, sure...end of the day I have a truck load of useful stuff that would of just went in the dumpster(even have chance to sell some occasionally). Funnier still when the person comes over and ask if we had something(they could barrow). When we hand it to them and they ask where we got it from, it was in a box you told us to trash.
ex.. canning jars: my pa was at an auction and asked about a stack of them, auctioneer said no, my dad said give ya a buck,ended selling for more then new.
Numerous times when helping, the person in charge would say "dumpster", I ask can I take it, sure...end of the day I have a truck load of useful stuff that would of just went in the dumpster(even have chance to sell some occasionally). Funnier still when the person comes over and ask if we had something(they could barrow). When we hand it to them and they ask where we got it from, it was in a box you told us to trash.
Cory Schmidt
Well-known Member
I'm going to add if cleaning out as family go room to room. Don't just go in one here, one there. That way if you find something someone wants they can claim it, if two want it flip a coin, if none sale/junk pile...saves a lot of time and arguing over everything.
Some estate sales may be a rip off but when I cleaned out my parents house I did it with an estate sale. They came in, marked everything, advertised it, and staffed the 2-day sale. Their share of the sale for all of their work was 1/3 and my share was 2/3. When the sale was done, a 3-person team came in, gave me $100 (we negotiated that price) and took everything that was left. The job was done and the house was empty.
I had just posted this on page 1 but will re-post here.
My mother died a couple of years ago and I was the executor. The week end after the funeral my brothers and I ,and some of the families, met at the house to clean things up, etc. (There are only us four boys). We went through things , and if someone wanted something, they got it. Things we gave her went back to the one who gave it. Never an argument and it went smooth. She had four quilts she made, so we drew numbers, and no. one had first choice, etc. What nobody wanted went to a local charity place. We did give some things to her sisters families also. A month later we had the house cleaned up to sell, listed it on Friday and had an offer on Monday. Lucky as all get out I think.
My mother died a couple of years ago and I was the executor. The week end after the funeral my brothers and I ,and some of the families, met at the house to clean things up, etc. (There are only us four boys). We went through things , and if someone wanted something, they got it. Things we gave her went back to the one who gave it. Never an argument and it went smooth. She had four quilts she made, so we drew numbers, and no. one had first choice, etc. What nobody wanted went to a local charity place. We did give some things to her sisters families also. A month later we had the house cleaned up to sell, listed it on Friday and had an offer on Monday. Lucky as all get out I think.
This Michael Reno Harrell story should hit home....
http://storylabx.tumblr.com/post/512542526/mamashouse
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