Community Chat

[sunshine45]

in our area we have a local used book store that accepts donations of all books. we have also donated books to the VVA.

i agree with those who mentioned the NEXTDOOR website/app. if you dont already belong, join your neighbors. people are giving away and selling items all the time. it is a great way to unload items that you just do not want anymore.

it is a task, but getting rid of "stuff" is such a good feeling. i have been donating monthly since they began accepting donations again.

also check out the site GIVE BACK BOX.

Give Back Box® provides vendor services to retailers and charities, giving each and every cardboard box a second life to help people in need. So it is also a 'green' solution! Reuse your online shipping boxes in which you received your purchases, or any other cardboard box you may have, to donate your unwanted household items: such as gently used clothing, shoes etc., to make a major difference in the life of another person.

[Mom2Dogs]

@Jordan2 ..You do have a large project ahead of you.  For me it's easier to take a room at a time and to gather like items in a pile/box.

I  have a facebook account for selling only...I use marketplace.  I have only sold two items but have only listed 4 things in a year!

If you have any family that might want something ask they might take a few things off your hands.

Possibly a church in your area has a rummage sale and will take your things to sell for charity. I also take things to Goodwill and a local consignment store.

Good luck....

[candyagain]

My sympathy on the loss of your mother. My mother passed away a few years ago and I miss her every day.  My brothers and I cleaned out and sold her large home. It took months but we got it done. I'm now in the same situation with my smaller home as I'll want to retire and sell.

With my mom's home the realtor was a good help. They had a professional clean-up crew that was paid for by a percentage of the realtor's fee. Not a perfect solution but another set of helping hands for the clean out. My brother and one great crew member did most of the clean out using dumpsters and donations.

Your local waste management company will rent all sizes of dumpsters and will trash most anything except hazardous substances. Call your town hall for info on getting rid of them responsibly.

Things we wanted to keep went into a rental pod which we didn't clear out for a year. (Threw most of that stuff away, so think carefully.)

Call every donation place and ask ahead of time what they'll take. Make a list for future use. Most will pick up if there's enough.

Auction houses will come, look and give you a free estimate. One good source was a local second-hand store and they came over and took a bunch that they paid us for. Local consignment stores are a possibility. We found that most would come look or tell us specifically what they would and would not take. (Add them to the list for future use.)

Habitat for Humanity took the last furniture (a formal dining set) that no one else would take. They came and picked it up. We didn't think of them until last. I think they would've taken more if called earlier. They not only build and repair homes they sometimes also help the new homeowners furnish and some have Re-Stores like Goodwill. Big Brothers and Sisters is another donation site that picks up.

Yard sales are a lot of work but surprisingly make a lot of money and get rid of lots of stuff. What is left over can be picked up later that day or the next by a donation source or a Got Junk-like business by appointment. No need to take it back in the house.

Local disaster specialists will clear out a basement or attic for mold remediation or natural disaster/pest control problems if present. Costs a bit but they dispose of junk and debris in the process.

Good luck with the task, it's daunting but do--able.

[Roscoe the Rascal]

I am going through this right now with my sisters things.  I am also.going through my things.  We plan on a sale this spring and I have been donating lots of items too.  Clothes I took to Catholic Worker House.  Check places in your area and lots are taking donations again.

It is a big task and not first one I  have had to do either.  Overwhelming and depressing so take your time and just do so much at a time.  One day do clothes, do books one day and etc.  

My sister has a ton of stuff.  Got through her clothes, shoes and purses, bedding and towels.  Some things tossed in dumpster too. There are 4 of us working but not easy for any of us.  

Good luck to you.  Be kind to yourself.

[ALRATIBA]

It's tough when you were living there too!

In one instance - a relative's house we inherited - we invited family and friends to come over and take whatever they wanted.

Anything that remained - we called 1-800-got-junk.  They recycle - they are quick and efficient.  

[jackthebear]

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@Jordan2 wrote:

Since my mother passed away I feel ready now to get her things and mine in order. I will eventually move to a smaller place and unfortunately have to part with many beloved belongings. I know I can donate clothes, I have books, hardcover and paperbacks that are in mint condition but it seems libraries, nursing homes, and hospitals don't want them. I have cds, way too many to take with me. I have collectibles (bobblehead,figurines, dolls, plates, etc), I am looking to see if I can sell them. I know of eBay but don't know much about it. Can anyone offer help of what to do with everything, I feel overwhelmed by it all.

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what about an estate sale?  they will take care of everything

[Ainhisg]

People here have estate sales.  They can give you advice on what to do with the remaining items.  Another option is Facebook Marketplace.  Until Covid, I sold things easily there!

[SunValley]

I have sympathy for anyone going through this process. One has to get past the sentiment in order to make it bearable. Once that happens it is still difficult finding ways to distribute everything. The thrift stores are saturated with collectibles. You may have to resign yourself to donating.

We donated all of my parent’s good kitchen ware and living room furniture and dining set to a charity that helps victims of domestic violence set up new homes. No one wanted my dad’s professional library. We tried local libraries, his college, peers, used book stores...no luck. The majority of it was recycled. 

A garage sale might be an option but with Covid I’m not sure they are even happening. Personally, I’ll never have one again. Haggling to pay 5 cents instead of 10 cents is ridiculous. My gullible friend had her home robbed during a garage sale. A mother pleaded with my friend to let her toddler use the bathroom. It was a ploy to ransack the house looking for medicine and jewelry. I’d rather donate or discard. 

[amyb]

@Jordan2 I'm so sorry for your loss.

I haven't read all the responses maybe this has all been covered but here's my input...

I sold mom's home in 2017, after she moved to an assisted living, did my first round then...and unfortunately, she passed last April...so I had some more things to sort and do things with.

(some that others advised I can concur with)

* Our Goodwill is open so double check your area for them or Salvation Army, or other local charity organizations.

* I have a local Consignment shop that is open, I just consigned a lot of her clothing there, and it sold. (I also donated some to another resident and friend of mom's at her Assisted Living facility, that one of mom's aid had mentioned to me was desperately in need of clothing, shoes....I washed everything, met with the aid and gave her what she needed. We arranged this safely together...but I'm sure places have rules on currently to accept things.)

* Most places don't care about glassware, old tchotchkes and collectibles, in terms of any real value...but my consignment place takes them, also donation places will take them. Antique stores were not interested in any of that.

* Furniture was mostly donated, Goodwill, Salvation Army...no one will take a mattress, but anything else in good condition, they will.

* Was able to consign some furniture locally...only one piece sold.

As for Ebay...have not tried it myself, but have friends who have done it for years. Their recent feedback is it's gotten less lucrative, more "tricky"...and people who go to Ebay are usually looking for a "real deal." So, it's a lot of work, could sit there a long time, and sell for very little. Unless you are looking for a hobby to make a little side income, and don't mind this taking time...it's a lot of work...most people want to just pass the stuff on and be DONE.  

Interesting about the books/tapes/movies/dvds....our library does take those donations, (they have about 3 book sales a year they use these for)...and mom's assisted living place also took these things for their library. Maybe check around to more than one.

Hope that helps...it does take some research and calls...

Some people prefer the "1-800-Got-Junk" route...that wasn't for me. I mean I threw out bags of "junk" stored in the garage, basement too, shredded tons of old documents...but the sentimental things etc, clothing, furniture got sorted through, and went to people in need we knew, donated or consigned. Of course I kept precious items too.

Oh on that...we also had friends, friends' kids, grandkids, who we gave a lot of things they needed, kitchen utensils, furniture, appliances etc for their start up places. Do you have any friend's who know anyone who may need thiings?

[amyb]

ps. and I know my last post was long but I hope somewhat helpful..

Just wanted to say...as support...it IS overwhelming...added to the fact it can be emotional too.

Like any other big job...break it down, by categories of things, one step at a time. Take one area of things and try to find a place for those. And it can be frustrating...we got a lot of "not interesteds" too...and when you are in the thick of it, it can just be discouraging...but plug away...a little at a time. Do only what "feels right" for you...such as when I knew mom's friend would be helped out, that made me feel good that mom would have felt good about that. I know that's unique, you may not get that opportunity...but I'm just saying....do it your way, and honor your feelings along the way.

You WILL get to the other end....good luck and take care!