They say that “worth” is the price that people are willing to pay for something. And that “value” is the satisfaction you get from it.

These two definitions are key when you are getting ready to downsize a home in anticipation for a move. Some things are worth more than others while certain people get value out of pieces that are special to them.

Need help downsizing? WayForth’s professional organizers are here to help. Contact us today!

What sells?

Boomers and their parents built and furnished their homes for big families requiring lots of space. Today’s buyers are mostly millennials, younger families just starting out, or people who are downsizing. They want smaller houses, loft apartments, minimal furniture and less “stuff.”

That being said, we’ve found that the smaller the items, the more the public is often willing to pay for them. That includes dishes and jewelry. Even costume jewelry does very well at auction and estate sales.

Vintage and collectibles

Collectibles, such as stamps and coins, are making a comeback because of their rarity. Most stamps and coins that are coming on the market these days are from our grandparents’ and even our great-grandparents’ collections, dating back to the 1800s. To find out going prices, you can research on eBay or other buy and sell sites.

Old books can also be very valuable, but, again, you have to consider the market. First editions and books that had a limited print run are valuable because of their scarcity. Vinyl albums are coming back, but you may have to dig through a lot to find something truly valuable.

Vintage toys sell really well, too, along with baseball cards issued before the 1980s. It might seem odd, but vintage lunch boxes fly off the shelf. And, if you have any mid-century modern furniture in good shape, people love to collect the smaller pieces. Use Google to find what’s selling and prices in your area.

Find the right place to sell

It’s important to know that not everything is going to sell. But, you can use these tips to help move things along:

• Do your best to find the right audience for your things. If you’ve got a collection of quilts, you might target sewing Facebook groups or a local quilting guild.
• Plan ahead if you’re going to do a yard/garage sale. Proper planning and organization will help you sell as much as you can.
• Look into auction houses. Make sure you understand that auction houses have minimum volume requirements for a sale of estate property, and the auctioneer can take as much as 40-50% of the cut. In our experience, auctions tend to get a much higher price for items than you could get by yourself (so the higher sales may pay the commission).

Be creative

There are a few other ways to move some stuff out other than donating:

• Repurpose things – Create a new wall hanging with an old quilt. Use an old bookcase as a shoe rack.
• Join a “buy nothing” group on Facebook – There are several groups that swap items or give them away as “gifts” to people who want them.
• Get crafty – Spraypaint an old lamp in a fun color and use it in a new room. Take an used candlestick and a pretty plate and glue them together for a decorative cake holder. To get inspired, check out sites like http://www.recyclart.org/.

Whatever you sell, swap or repurpose, make sure it’s something that has real value to you so you can enjoy it in your new home.

Enjoy your home quicker with WayForth’s complete move solutions. Learn more by contacting our professionals today for a consultation!