Selling items today is tough. As years evolve, the “wants” from the public change. Currently most people are still buying the “mid-century modern” type items. The period of the 1960’s that are sleek lines, lighter brown woods, chrome, glass and “modern” looking. The heavy wood furniture from the 70’s to 90’s is now called the “brown furniture” even if it is the “real wood”. The boomers did like the American or Victorian, or English antiques but most of them are changing and moving to the look of “modern” or “contemporary”. You never know what will sell or when it will sell because where are the buyers and where do they look to go buy it? As an experienced senior move manager and professional organizer, we evaluate homes and their contents on a daily basis.
The following are a few places to sell items, but you have to mark your items at the right price. The dollar value is all over the board. But please consider, if you had something for 10 years or longer and it brought you great pleasure and you and your family spent holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions with those items, then how can you replace the “value” of those joyous occasions? Let the piece go …..re-purpose it….let someone else enjoy it….and make a few bucks.
Auction Houses– Most in the area, if you have over $3,000 in value, they will pick up and take back to the warehouse and sell to a live bidding and a local city audience. Most auctioneers take 35 to 50% commission, based on the value of what is to be sold. Online Auction sites might take 40 to 50% commission and it is conducted online for the world to see. In both situations, they group items that are not selling and make it a very affordable deal to purchase so all goes.
Estate Sales– This method is set up in the home and the public comes into the home usually for two to three days of showing. The estate sale company may take 35 to 50% commission plus charge advertising and staffing costs to run the sale. There are always items left over and those are usually donated. Security is something to keep in mind. If the family is still living in the home it becomes a challenge with everything out and on tables, plus it jeopardizes home security.
Facebook and Nextdoor Neighborhood- These are websites that have become very active and popular if you want to sell and do this selling process by yourself. But, if you want to have a good response from buyers, your Facebook profile or website must be featured on the internet. Thanks to The Marketing Heaven services you can easily achieve that and then buyers will come to the home and pick up items. Security is always an issue and ask for cash rather than personal checks. Many times you have people who say they want the item but never show up.
Consignment Shops – More and more have been popping up but these stores are picky on what they will accept or not. Many times you have to send in pictures via e-mail and if they are interested, you can deliver it yourself or if they pick up there is a fee. The split is usually 40% to owner, 60% to the shop. They have the items for 90 days and if the item doesn’t sell in the first 30 days, the price is reduced. If the item hasn’t sold in 90 days, the owner can pick up or give to donate.
Who wants it, how to reach out to the public, and how to move it out of your house……The MILLION $ question.