I am interested in this home

Don M. said:
Just as numerous sites exist where consumers can register their Feedback, there are also several sites where businesses can give their opinions on customers. If a person winds up on such a Blacklist, they can kiss any chance of hiring someone goodbye.
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Pray tell, where are these sites? Give a link or two.
 

Any contractors we have ever had have been treated respectfully and kindly. In fact, we help as much as we can and usually do whatever they ask. My husband actually goes out and helps with the well work and septic clean out and they are always grateful. We also tip well even though we aren’t supposed to. Contractors remember customers who give them a hard time and they definitely can get ‘black listed.’
 
Nearly always made big batches of Macadamia triple chocolate chip cookies!!! These guys often do jobs we just don't want to do and work hard. They deserve to be treated like we would want to be treated!
 

It's almost impossible to get rid of antiques these days. Almost all of the antique stores in my area have closed; a big one in town that's been in business since Noah landed is hanging on by the skin of their teeth. I stopped in after a doctor's appointment last week. Lots of booths were empty; no one was in the store. The lady I've known there for years said nobody wants to pay to rent a booth when nothing's selling.

People our age are downsizing or they have all the antiques they want. As many people have said, the "youngsters" are not at all interested; they want utilitarian items.

If you want to sell your antiques (which, Deb, I'm not sure you really do), you have to do what it takes to do it. If that means shipping them off, that's what you have to do. If you have a garage sale, you're going to have to lower your prices. You may be having bad luck at the garage sales because you may have a reputation for asking too much for your stuff. I've passed up garage sales in the past because I knew the seller from previous sales and she would always have her stuff overpriced and wasn't inclined to bargain.

As far as getting someone to work on a historic house...… Just look at the home improvement and home buying shows; every time they start renovations, they find many things wrong that couldn't be seen in the original inspection. In the shows, it's always "oh, well, we have to replace all those joists...rafters...pipes...wires..." or "We have to totally re-do all that because it's not up to code", but there's very little mention where the extra money to do that is going to come from. In real life, the contractor quotes $25,000 for doing what needs to be done, but when he rips out the floor and all the joists are bad, he's going to come to you with his hand out and want another $10,000. He's not going to replace those joists out of the good of his heart. So you're going to scream bloody murder over the cost......which is why contractors don't like old, old houses. Too many surprises. Too many unhappy customers.
 
I've had contractors tell me my house was "a can of worms". Well, I want them to be honest. I don't want them to start jobs and then get in over their heads. One plumber shuddered at the galvanized iron intake pipes. He remarked that he'd start working one section and it would crumble and effect the next section, like dominoes. What he did was put a clamp on the leak with minimum movement.

I try to get the trim painted and they discover dry rot in the soffits. Well, they're painters, not carpenters, so what started as a simple paint job would turn into another project trying to find someone to do carpentry. I feel like the Little Red Hen - you have to do one thing before the next step, so it snowballs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Red_Hen

Also, I never know whether they are taking advantage of me because I'm a single older woman and not quoting a fair price for work.
 
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@debodun

From what I've learned about you since joining this site, I know you will make the right decision when the right time comes along. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.
 
debodun said:
I am almost in tears. No matter who I've asked to help me has refused. I am beginning to think I am on a universal blacklist. I sent emails to local antique dealers and estate liquidators. One dealer replied:

Thank you for your inquiry and for sending images of your items. Unfortunately, it is not something we can help you with currently.
This is the type of thing that there is much less demand for today. Lifestyles have changed, people do not entertain or keep house the way that they did traditionally and they no longer collect things the way they did 20 years ago and before.
We recommend that you try an estate sale.

Which is the consensus of other's dealer's opinions. I didn't fare any better with estate sellers. Some were even harsh in there refusals. One said "No way!" with no other explanation.

I am stymied no matter where I turn. Can't even get contractors to fix up the place so I can continue to live here.
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Well, people are just not buying that stuff any more. I don't think it has anything to do with a blacklist, it is just that the world has changed. You can't expect a dealer to take stuff he can't sell. I think the truth is staring you in the face -- your stuff just has no market any more.
 
debodun said:
Pray tell, where are these sites? Give a link or two.
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Do a search on "consumer blacklist"...you will find several. They require joining the site, and some even charge a fee for doing a search. Unlike normal business sites for consumers, these sites allow businesses and contractors, etc., to list consumers who have caused them problems in the past, and joining these sites is the only way to find the names of the people in these lists.

https://www.consumerblacklist.org/
 
debodun said:
I am almost in tears. No matter who I've asked to help me has refused. I am beginning to think I am on a universal blacklist. I sent emails to local antique dealers and estate liquidators. One dealer replied:

Thank you for your inquiry and for sending images of your items. Unfortunately, it is not something we can help you with currently.
This is the type of thing that there is much less demand for today. Lifestyles have changed, people do not entertain or keep house the way that they did traditionally and they no longer collect things the way they did 20 years ago and before.
We recommend that you try an estate sale.

Which is the consensus of other's dealer's opinions. I didn't fare any better with estate sellers. Some were even harsh in there refusals. One said "No way!" with no other explanation.

I am stymied no matter where I turn. Can't even get contractors to fix up the place so I can continue to live here.
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Awwww..... I didn’t see this before.
I’m sorry you are feeling this way.
Why not just follow through on your plans with this house. You have a low ball offer on it. Maybe if you increase your offer and pay cash, you’d have a clean dry place. No there’s no big trees like your place has but there’s no leaves to rake, no branches to have to cut, no vines to pull/cut so they don’t ruin your siding. Also too much shade causes moss and mould to grow. With the way your house is, those trees aren’t helping.

Maybe contractors know the condition of your house better than you do so would prefer to stay away. Black mould is a serious issue and with this pandemic and all the requirements that need to be implemented , people are probably just wanting to protect themselves.

It’s difficult letting go of a place that truly is home to you but for your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health and well being, you are best off getting out of there. I don’t think you realize how unhealthy your living conditions have gotten. It appears that you’ve gotten used to it.

Your house needs to be properly appraised by an expert who knows houses. There’s a good chance that your house would need more money to fix than it’s worth and you might be best just selling it as is.

There are services that can help you organize your stuff if you donate most of it. They usually ask you to pick out a LIMIT of your most valuable items and allow them to take the rest away. Estate planners are something you might want to look into. If you allow these people to do their magic, they can help you declutter your house cause somebody’s got to do it and you definitely can’t do this on your own.

If you did purchase this house you could have a clean safe haven to organize your thoughts and plan to organize your other house. After a while you’ll start checking all these things off your list and prioritize your life. YOUR LIFE MATTERS. Your life is a priority. All your stuff isn’t. Don’t make the mistake of over investing in stuff that has no value. You can’t keep everything and nor should you.

I really hope you work this out and start trusting others to help you. If you start trusting others you can start a fresh new life for yourself. You’ve got an incredible opportunity here to live your life completely different. Plus if they are putting up those family units then the property value of your new house will probably go up substantially. This has great potential. I just hope you see it. I really do.
 
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My mother's sister-in-law used to collect Hummels and she paid top prices. They were her pride and joy. Now, as with my possessions, you can't give them away.

https://www.thestreet.com/investing/stocks/15-collectibles-that-are-completely-worthless-13162897

Another aunt bought up Beanie Babies when they were popular. Now she's stuck with them.

Same goes for those "collector" plates. My mom had the whole 6-piece "Wizard of Oz" plate series. She paid $25 apiece for them. I sent them to an auction - got $2 for the whole set.
 
Thanks, Deb...notice the sold amounts are 3 years ago too! Bet the covid crisis sure hasn't helped any of them either. Had heard crystal like Waterford was way down.

One thing, found a beautiful red box when I was cleaning out cabinets. It contained a gift - bottle of cognac from a previous vendor for our company - looked it up, and it was $3500!

Go figure, some booze just gets better in the jar I guess...lol.
 
I looked up estate liquidators in my area. Most are closed right now (I surmise because of COVID) and the one I emailed said, in effect, "not interested". What do thay expect - that everyone has Louis XIV or Chippendale furniture?
 
debodun said:
I looked up estate liquidators in my area. Most are closed right now (I surmise because of COVID) and the one I emailed said, in effect, "not interested". What do thay expect - that everyone has Louis XIV or Chippendale furniture?
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Unfortunately your things have become junk just like everyone else’s stuff-that’s what’s changed. Since my stuff was junk when I bought it 😂, I am fine with tossing it. Not even worth a garage sale. IKEA furniture, walmart clothes, thrift store knickknacks, and clearance everything else. The price of having no money. 🤪

When I die, son can just bulldoze it all, including this old house 😱😂
 
debodun said:
I always wondered why when I have an item, it's a piece of worthless junk. When an antique dealer has the same thing, it is a priceless relic.
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Simple, because he's the "expert" 🤣 🤣 Seriously though, a lot of times your item may be close to the same, but not quite. Or, the condition of said item may determine it's value.
Then again, there's my old friend Bill's statement when selling restored classic cars.... "There's an ass for every seat". 😂
 
RadishRose said:
But who's going to buy it for $3500.? That's the problem. Some mysterious people decide how much something is "worth" and people follow.

However, I'll be glad to bring over my two Waterford crystal goblets and share it with you, LOL
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Guess what...with booze that is rare and the seal isn't broken, you can sell it outright to a big booze warehouse. They normally buy this kind of item so if you offer it to them a bit cheaper, they usually snap it up. This one isn't even near the top of their Champagne Cognacs, either! Son said the same thing you did...we're waiting for a wonderful happening, like a vaccine or something, to get the crystal out and drink up - here it is from a wine dealer:

https://www.wallywine.com/remy-mart...erm=4584207581202349&utm_content=All Products
 

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