Selling and Giving Your Belongings with Care

What gets lost in a hurry

A haul-away, a clean-out crew or a one-day sale all promise the same thing: an empty house, fast. The cost is less obvious. Pieces go to whoever is there that day at whatever they'll pay, and much of the rest is simply carted off. Things that would have meant a great deal to the right person are lost to everyone.

Family first

Before anything is sold or given, the people closest to you should have the chance to choose what they'd like to keep, and to hear why it mattered. Our guide to giving during your lifetime has more on doing this fairly.

Selling where things are valued

Most good pieces have a buyer who will appreciate them. That buyer just may not be in town this weekend. Offering things patiently gives each one the chance to find the person who values it most, and keeps far more of its worth for you or the estate.

For antiques, art and collections, it's worth getting an informed opinion before anything is priced. A piece that looks ordinary can be anything but.

Giving where it does the most good

Not everything should be sold. Some things are better given: to a church, a school, a local charity, or a cause your family has long supported. Placed thoughtfully, they go on being useful, and a lifetime of belongings keeps doing good close to home.

When it's a loved one's estate

Settling the home of a parent or loved one is rarely only practical. It's a chance to honor the life they lived and the things they cared for. Taking a little more time respects that, and very often leaves the family, and the community, better off than a quick clean-out would.

Or begin while it's your choice

The easiest time to do all of this is well before anyone has to. The Swedish practice of döstädning is simply that: sorting your own belongings in the later stages of life, and passing them on while you can tell their story.