I need to sell off and lighten my load.

[Zeke]

I keep saying I'm going to have a garage sale and it doesn't happen. No one wants to help, no neighbors want to do a block sale and my wife is not healthy enough to do much.

I have antiques and collectibles galore. Plus plenty of good household stuff. I've donated bags and bags of stuff the Goodwill Store can use, but I'm not giving nice antiques away. I have construction tools as well.

What I'd really like to do is put it all in a storage locker and have an auction for the lot, like on TV. Not going to happen because that's a lot of work getting it all in one place. I don't want any Craigslisters patrolling my property either. eBay with "local pick up only" invites more strangers to my house.

The local consignment place wants 50% and they won't pick up. The antique shops are mostly rent-a-space joints. Although I could fill a spot initially, I have no interest in restocking it.

It all has to go. What to do? A little cash would help. The Boxster just came back from the shop. It was 4K for 3 repairs: A/C, water pump and motor mount.

That's the real motivation to cut down on the amount of stuff I have hoarded.

[craigster59]

Ebay is easy, you can sell from the comfort of your office chair. That or find one of those Ebay stores. It's not that tough, just the boxing and shipping can be a PITA.

[fastfredracing]

Craigslist it a few pieces at a time, and just meet the potential buyers at a safe public place, like A Mcdonalds parking lot .
I would capitalize on the stuff that you know is in demand, and will sell, like the tools, and valuable antiques .
We should have a for sale thread here in the OT. for stuff other than porsche cars, and parts.

[Noah930]

Do you just need a bunch of strong backs to carry everything out onto your front lawn one weekend morning? (And then back inside at the end of the day for the stuff that doesn't sell, I suppose...) Or is stuff literally spread out over multiple locations throughout the greater Los Angeles area?

[Zeke]

I've tried a couple of needlepoint chairs on CL. Furniture sells for 10 cents on the dollar on CL. Tools are better, about 50 cents. Plus tools are objective. Not very many people want to drive out to McDonald's to see a couple of chairs and I don't want to load them up every time I have an interest.

I have a mantel I took out of a Victorian over 40 years ago and have held on to it all these years. Can't even pick that puppy up. It's all stripped and ready to refinish. In a store, it would be close to $1000.

It looks like this except the mirror is in the shape of a shield.



Sorta like this umbrella stand:



I'd take 400 in a heartbeat. Just need to find a way to market the thing along with the rest.

Originally Posted by Noah930

Do you just need a bunch of strong backs to carry everything out onto your front lawn one weekend morning? (And then back inside at the end of the day for the stuff that doesn't sell, I suppose...) Or is stuff literally spread out over multiple locations throughout the greater Los Angeles area?

Not strung out at all. But, yes, help is needed.

[Zeke]

This is the problem. There used to be a 911 in there.





The needlepoints aren't antique, but the accountant's stool is. The cained rocker is cool. There is much more.

[nota]

antique auction

they get a % but not 50 maybe 15%

[flatbutt]

Zeke, you wouldn't happen to have a gentlemans valet would you?

[syncroid]

Originally Posted by Zeke

The Boxster just came back from the shop. It was 4K for 3 repairs: A/C, water pump and motor mount.

Zeke, I wish I could help you out. I love doing that kind of stuff. But the above quote is what REALLY got my attention.
$4K for just those three things sounds outrageous! The water pump and motor mount are super easy to do. What was done to the a/c? Replace the whole system?!?
I don't mean to hijack your thread.

[Noah930]

Set a date. Ask for some help. And I'm sure some Pelicans will show up.

I've got a friend who's into that sort of furniture. He's got one of those grand (old) Spanish style places down in the Arroyo in Pasadena. Got some (better) pics of your stuff?

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by syncroid

Zeke, I wish I could help you out. I love doing that kind of stuff. But the above quote is what REALLY got my attention.
$4K for just those three things sounds outrageous! The water pump and motor mount are super easy to do. What was done to the a/c? Replace the whole system?!?
I don't mean to hijack your thread.

The A/C needed a new evaporator, hence the whole dash came out. Here's how they got the water pump price:
Coolant Water Pump (Factory Porsche) $387.50
Coolant (Factory Porsche) $84.00
Arrowhead Distilled Water $5.00
Water Pump gasket $5.00
Supplies & Other $25.00

Labor $607.50
Parts $506.50
Tax $44.32
Total $1158.32

[syncroid]

Originally Posted by Zeke

The A/C needed a new evaporator, hence the whole dash came out. Here's how they got the water pump price:
Coolant Water Pump (Factory Porsche) $387.50
Coolant (Factory Porsche) $84.00
Arrowhead Distilled Water $5.00
Water Pump gasket $5.00
Supplies & Other $25.00

Labor $607.50
Parts $506.50
Tax $44.32
Total $1158.32

Okay. That makes sense. I see now why the a/c work took up the bulk of the bill. Labor.
Once again, sorry for the hijack.

If I were a little closer to you geographically I would love to help you out with your hoard. Love the mantle. We have a pretty cool one in our house too. Just not that big.

[DanielDudley]

I got rid of a lot of stuff a few years ago Zeke. Made for a lot of space. I got rid of things in lots, sold at attractive prices, and scrapped some of it for cash when I could. I think what made it happen for me was waking up one day and deciding I had to do something or it was never going to get done.

Now I am looking at some of the cars and wondering if they eat too much. My wife's uncle has a beautiful and well set up 356, and it doesn't cost him much to keep it up, but he doesn't want to push it too hard anymore, because he couldn't afford a new engine, even in parts. OTOH, timing belt rollers, seals and water pump for a Miata are about 130 bucks.

Not in the same league, I know, but...

[MikeD930]

Originally Posted by Zeke

This is the problem. There used to be a 911 in there.



The needlepoints aren't antique, but the accountant's stool is. The cained rocker is cool. There is much more.

Zeke,
I like that chair with flowers and I know that my wife would, too! Do you have another matching one? Would you happen to have a small round table to go with the chairs? I'm not sure if you would be willing to ship them though.

[Superman]

Craigslist is not the place for that stuff, and neither is a yard sale. Ebay. You will make thousands more than other methods. Even the crappy stuff you think has no value......Ebay it. You'll probably decide to retire and sell stuff on Ebay.

[Superman]

Here's another tip: We spend decades thinking that the more stuff we have the happier we will be. And yet, the opposite turns out to be true. I LOVE getting rid of stuff. I was probably never happier than when all my stuff fit on my motorcycle.

[Hydrocket]

Zeke...you have a private message.

[aigel]

Ebay.

Go to all the shipping places close by and see who works you the best deal for turn key service. Many of them will do this for a reasonable fee. They will pack and ship for you, you only drop off the goods with a shipping address. I did a lot of ebay for a while and had a local place that helped me a lot. Yes, it costs a little, but I would charge some of it as handling and definitely got out ahead as I could sell more faster, because all I had to do is drop stuff off.

G

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by Superman

Here's another tip: We spend decades thinking that the more stuff we have the happier we will be. And yet, the opposite turns out to be true. I LOVE getting rid of stuff. I was probably never happier than when all my stuff fit on my motorcycle.

Absolutely! I discovered this deep truth about 5 years ago.

There is a magnificent little book out there called "Simplify Your Life" (by two German sounding authors whose names I forget) which is worth mentioning here. It's been a tremendous inspiration and tool in helping me to get rid of things and people that have cluttered my life in the past. Cannot recommend it highly enough.

[Zeke]

Well, OK. I came for help and I'll do it. I'm selling a welder's aide device on the bay soon, so I'll get a name that works for more than welding tools.

Still gonna be hard to ship furniture, isn't it?