Show Me the Money II

Written by Karen Jessee

Purging?  Need money?  Done with garage sales? There are other avenues of revenue for those household items that need to move on, but where you sell those goodies depends on their value and the time you have to invest.

Antique Stores and Dealers:  Try www.worthpoint.com. For something of great value, this is a path worth exploring.  You can go the way of on-line, or pick up a copy of "Antiques and Auction News"....a free publication that can be found at any antique store.  Also check into “appraisals” in the phone book. 

Auctions:  Some people make their living selling household items at flea markets; others run high end antique stores.  Both get many of their items  at auctions. For baby boomers downsizing their parents or those with years of accumulated gifts, I recommend an auction.  It begins with a phone call or a web search.  Ask auction houses near you how they work and what they’re looking for.  All houses have a list of what they do and don’t take and will want to know what you’re selling.  The auction house takes a percentage of the sale. There’s a fee if a truck has to come out.

I’ve heard both good stories ($40 for a broken clock) and bad ($10 for the end table worth $110) as you are at the mercy of who shows up to bid. However, there’s minimal effort on your part, a cleaner house, and a check in the mail.  You don’t have to attend the auction, but if you do, be ready for a good time.  They’re fun.   

Buy Outs:  A buy out and a clean out are different services.  In a buy out, someone is looking for more high end furniture and decorative items and will hand you a check for those items of interest. In  a clean out, you are paying for a service, harshly known as junk removal, to empty a space,. A number of companies offer both services, giving the customer a deal between the price of what they want to buy and the price of the clean out itself.  Check “garbage, rubbish and trash removal” in the yellow pages and find the service that does both.  Look for the words, “estate buyouts.”  However, if you are moving and can’t take it all with you, some will buy out those few “good” leftovers.

Consignment Shops:  Whether clothing, furniture or household items, everything being sold should be clean and in good condition.  You should get a contract listing the items you’ve left; read it carefully. At the end of 30 days, items may go on sale or be donated to a charity.  Also keep the contract handy so that you can check at the end of 30 days as to when you might expect your check.  Some consignment shops are better than others with their paperwork. There are some consignment shops that will do immediate buyouts of a few dollars for high quality clothing if they think they can sell it quickly.

Craig’s List:  This is a central network of online communities, featuring a variety of free listings of everything! Look into  http://delaware.craigslist.org/ to see if this is for you.

E-Bay:. E-bay has become glutted with everything from junk to the retail stores and warehouses wedging themselves into this market. My licensed E-Bay seller has advised my clients not to show up with anything worth less than $50. She charges a percentage of the sales plus the on-line posting fees. But for those with the time and technical know- how to do it themselves, E-bay is an interesting and fun way to move items.

Estate Sales, Tag Sales:  These take place upon the property of the deceased or a person moving to dispose of the majority of household contents from attic to garage.  They are usually conducted by professionals in this field for a percentage of the revenues.  Professionals bring their knowledge of displaying and tagging items, their experience with pricing antiques, and their following of customers. Estate sales are typically 1 to 3 days long, often with a price reduction toward the end.   Check the papers for estate sale listings or get on the mailing list of a professional (Carolyn Kleinpeter 610-388-6503) to see how this is done. 

Everything has value, but be realistic about what is worth selling, what can be given away, and how much time you have to invest in the process.   If you’re serious about purging and selling,  isn’t it better to move it along and make some profit than to hang onto it and make nothing? 

Contact Karen at her new website later this month at  www.nowsimplyorganized.com,  e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call 655-4637