Should I sell home or fix up and live there?

Do you have any storage options? I mean, pack everything that you feel is worth keeping, and the rest you could just sell for whatever you could get. But saving all the precious or valuable items until you can figure what to do. Storage seems cheaper then putting money into "rebuilding" the house. The thing for me, is always take my time, explore all the avenues, and choose what's best. If you could store things you wanted to keep, then put the house on the market, and live in a small inexpensive "temporary" place.

I'm just sort of thinking outloud here. The one thing is the economy is stinky everywhere it seems, surprised me back East is the same as out West, as far as economy. I am imagining you being overwhelmed, I sure would be. And if you could just get into a temporary "fix" for the situation, that would relieve some of your stress, and save your money. I tell you, Ebay, garage sales, Craigslist, are not making the big bucks on items. I think things are either selling for "too" cheap, or not selling. I don't know how many friends you have that are willing to help you pack and move all that stuff either. Even my sister wanting to "will" her car to me is overwhelming because I told her, it would be more of a burden then a blessing. Insurance, storage, trying to sell it. I don't want to inherit any stuff, just leave me money:lofl:
 
Where I live, people would be in line to buy that stuff. ALL of it in one fell swoop. I have a friend in San Bernadino that has a HUGE warehouse..and she buys in bulk. She would snap that stuff up in a heartbeat. Alas...its in NY.
 
I don't doubt people would snatch it up, I'm just wondering if she could get fair prices. Maybe she never could get what it's worth, that's the world we live in. I'm more suggesting she doesn't rush it. You know that desperation thing, people can smell it a mile away and take advantage. I'm thinking ways she might keep the "advantage" over the mongers (not talking about your friend by any means) . I don't know her, but I do know people around here that will take advantage of seniors, or others. Hate to see those beautiful things not bring some value to her life, especially since she already put a lot (it sounds) into the house itself. Like Kim said, it isn't a sellers market.

I could just imagine this cute, smaller place, just right for her, and being able to take her time weeding through, and decorating her place with the things her folks left her.
 
this is a thought too, maybe dumb one, but what if she could store the things she wants, and donate the house to some charity organization. I bet Kim could tell us what sort of a tax, write-off she might get? I'm just saying if selling it, or keeping it is like more of a hardship. I don't know the exact situation. Some of the things could be used with the house, so she wouldn't have to worry bout clutter, the charity would gladly clean it up to have the house for a shelter, or place to keep loaves and fishes, stuff like that. Just ideas;)

For me, I could afford to just give a house away, but if a person could, that would be one way to get rid of the headache, and the drain on the ole bank-roll!!
 
nwlady said:
I don't doubt people would snatch it up, I'm just wondering if she could get fair prices. Maybe she never could get what it's worth, that's the world we live in. I'm more suggesting she doesn't rush it. You know that desperation thing, people can smell it a mile away and take advantage. I'm thinking ways she might keep the "advantage" over the mongers (not talking about your friend by any means) . I don't know her, but I do know people around here that will take advantage of seniors, or others. Hate to see those beautiful things not bring some value to her life, especially since she already put a lot (it sounds) into the house itself. Like Kim said, it isn't a sellers market.

I could just imagine this cute, smaller place, just right for her, and being able to take her time weeding through, and decorating her place with the things her folks left her.
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That would absolutely be my concern as well, somebody taking advantage of one who doesn't know the worth of these items.
 
Debodun,

that's something I imagine you are already planning is to have it all assessed, I think that's the word. Of course we all know things are really only worth what someone is willing to pay for them, at least that is how I see it. I'll bet right about now you are thinking "why did I ask" LOL!! Well, we're here for you;) Denise
 
Can't sell in bulk what the items are worth. It's like guys that go in a pawn shop on that pawn show...find out the item is worth, for example, 1000 bucks and then say they WANT 1000 bucks. So the buyer..what does he get out of it to resell and make his own profit? Nothing. So, it won't happen. She would have to find personal collectors that don't want to resell..they want to keep it. And that isn't going to happen either. Maybe if she had a couple of things, but not the pile she has.

So if she wants to make some money and get rid of it so she can sell the house..then she needs to sell it for HALF its value so whomever does buy it, also makes a profit.

When I had my stores (2), I also did consignment. My targets were not tourists or customers from the valley. My targets were DEALERS. They are the ones with the money. And I did VERY well. I also had spaces in antique malls. I did extremely well there too. Because of targeting OTHER DEALERS...not customers off the street. Gotta go where the money is. Dealers.

She needs to do her homework on what each piece is valued at...what it sells for in the common market. That takes a lot of time. Which she may not have.
 
I've done most research on the glassware since it's easily identified and there are scads of books and Web sites available on pricing. I made a spread sheet then averaged the values I found, then halved that and that's the price I assign to these items. For instance, the Depression glass candlesticks in the 'Adam' pattern. Kovell's price is $125, Gene Florence's is $80, Luckey, Mauzy and TIAS are around $90 - average $95 and half is about $50. However, people these days aren't collecting like people were doing back in the 70s and 80s. I also think people have what I term "garage sale mentality" which is - nothing at a garage sale should be over $1, even if it's a Ming vase or Chippendale sofa.
 
Wow, debodun, you really are stuck between a rock and a hard place. I don't know what I'd do. You're sitting on a gold mine and nobody wants gold:(

Can you afford to pay the taxes/insurance on the house and bare maintenance so that it won't go to rack and ruin, upkeep on the yard so that it won't look like it's abandoned and still manage to get yourself moved out to a smaller place? That might be what you should do. The house will at least provide storage for all the collectibles/antiques until you can figure out what to do with it all.
 
GeorgiaXplant said:
You're sitting on a gold mine and nobody wants gold.
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Amen to that, sister! I had another sale yesterday since some other people were having sales nearby. Only about 10 people stopped, about half bought anything, but the items I sold were more the "quality" things. I do advertise on Craig's List, Facebook and eBay classifieds. When my family had a sale years ago, people would be lined up waiting even before the sale opened. Not like that these days.
 
debodun said:
I've done most research on the glassware since it's easily identified and there are scads of books and Web sites available on pricing. I made a spread sheet then averaged the values I found, then halved that and that's the price I assign to these items. For instance, the Depression glass candlesticks in the 'Adam' pattern. Kovell's price is $125, Gene Florence's is $80, Luckey, Mauzy and TIAS are around $90 - average $95 and half is about $50. However, people these days aren't collecting like people were doing back in the 70s and 80s. I also think people have what I term "garage sale mentality" which is - nothing at a garage sale should be over $1, even if it's a Ming vase or Chippendale sofa.
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Oh, dead-on with the garage-sale mentality. I'll go with a pocket full of change and expect to get something, but everything is out of my range. When hearing from you (the seller's side) I can understand, the prices go up because of that dang E word:( hate that word, but I'll whisper so everyone knows, economy, lol!! But you are obviously a go-getter, and have a good start on this. I don't think anyone will be able to take advantage of you;) Denise PS Keep us posted, I could just see someone buying that place and doing a bed and breakfast, something like that. We have a lot of Victorian homes in Roseburg, lovely when you have the dough you want to invest in getting them up to code!! Here's one of our historical homes downtown, love it! When I was in Junior High, a girl-friends family owned this, it was so much fun to go over and stay with her there. It's fixed up way nicer now though;)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/elijahgarcia/3289759278/

 
I don't recall where you live Kaya, but most of the States I've lived in (about 5 or 6 I think) seemed relative. For example, I paid 600 for a studio apartment in East Bay CA, but my wage was 15 an hour. Up here, the cottage probably would have been about 400, but my wage would have maybe been 10 or 11 an hour. That's not exactly relative, but probably close. So out here, the rent may be cheaper, but the wages are also lower.
 
I understand that, but you see what I was getting at. So, if you are retired, you still have a set amount right? So you would want to live where you could get the most for your money;) I think you are in the South, can't remember exactly, but I can tell you it is much different here, near where I live. I want to move from here myself, and I was raised here. I like the moderate climates of our coast, and guess what, the rents are higher for a place that is equal to the same place inland. More tourists, more retired. I guess they think all retired people have more money;)
 
I'm on the central calif coast...rents here are 1500 per month for a 2 bedroom..up to 3000 per month for 3 to 4 bedroom. Room rentals in these homes go for 600 per month. For just a room.
Hubby's and my budget on SS could cover the rent in Roseburg. It can't here.

Living in your area for those still working...yeah. It is probably hard. Same here. Can't find work when college students will take minimum wage. Probably the same everywhere there is a college.

But for those retired, the rents there are much cheaper than here.
 
I have been looking at rentals in the Chico/Paradise areas...as well as Klamath Falls and Alturas. Now I might expand that search to Oregon although I would have to start all over again with medical assistance and I am not sure I want to do that. So...on the border would suffice.
 
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