House Clearance Auctions Advice Please

veravera123

Thank you all so much for your comments. As you quite rightly say, its the sentimental side of it that is the hardest & it is so sad to see 53 years of marraige just being boxed up.
However, your comments have really inspired me to get moving so I have put lots of things up in my attic to sort later, ive got a few things listed on Ebay..hit & miss I know but it all helps, The Air Ambulance & Compton Hospice have both taken 2 van loads of clothes & household stuff...they were so grateful but I had a more unpleasant experience with a local charity shop. After I had spent all morning packing the car up with things, they were quite rude and I felt a nuisance for taking it ! Does anyone know of any charities that would be grateful of household & clothes ? I have taken all Dads clothes to the Good Shepherd for the homeless and they were thrilled. The other HUGE task I have is Dad was a journalist and in the sixties, he used to review books before they were published. The attic is full of boxes of books...there must be thousands. No antiques Im afraid but the books will be a massive job on its own. Any ideas folks ?
Thanks once again.

Goldiegirl

Hi, I don't know if your have an Emmaus shop in your area. They will take furniture and other household items, and will pick it up free of charge.

The charity helps people move on from homelessness, and the people being given shelter work on the donated furniture, reselling the refurbished items, to raise money for the charity.

With regard to the books, second hand book sellers could be interested. There could even be some rare books tucked away. Not sure how to find the best dealer in your area though. Might be worth visiting a few to get a feel for the type of books they stock, and whether your dad's collection would be up their street.

One thing I would say though, and I speak as someone who has experienced what you are going through now. You'll find after time, that you don't need objects to remember your parents.

I kept things for sentimental reasons and some things I did eBay. As time went on, I found that I was happy to even let some of the sentimental things go, as I find I remember my parents every day, but never look at their belongings tucked away in the loft.

In fact, this year I'm going to take a look at the remaining things that I have, with a view to letting more go. Some things I know I'll always keep, but there's others I can now let go. In fact, it is a nice thought that someone else will enjoy these items. It's much better for things to be used and enjoyed rather than hidden away.

I suppose what I'm saying is take your time if you can, and things do get better. Nine years down the line I remember my parents with happiness.

Mojisola

veravera123 wrote: »

The other HUGE task I have is Dad was a journalist and in the sixties, he used to review books before they were published. The attic is full of boxes of books...there must be thousands. No antiques Im afraid but the books will be a massive job on its own. Any ideas folks ?

Oxfam have dedicated book shops. They also have people experienced enough to know what's valuable so won't sell off something good for 50p.

getmore4less

Now the books could hold some suprises.

First editions or pre published copies of some might be valuable.

Back to the older stuff you need to seek out retro shops sellers for anything that has some character or a brand name.

madbadrob

Getmore4less beat me to it. Books are a good source of income if they are first editions etc and overlooked by many people. I would get them looked at before you give them to Oxfam. BTW a lot of charity shops send their books to one place who then auction them off for more than they paid the charity shops

Rob

veravera123

Many thanks everyone once again for your helpful replies. Did not realise that Dads pre publication may be worth something, I think he has mainly fiction but he had a lot of dealings with motor racing when he was press officer for Goodyear & I have found photos of him with Jackie Stewart & James Hunt. Also found some newspaper cuttings, photos & signature of Enoch Powell. My parents had him for a coffee morning at their house when he was a local mp many years ago. Its like Aladdins cave in the house. Now I have got most of the personal items & photos out, it is less upsetting...and thankyou Goldiegirl for your kind words. Will phone a few book dealers today & get them to have a look. Thanks once again everyone.

stephencadams

There has to be a better way in this modern age to re-cycle items which have little or no value, but are not faulty and are fully working.
I recently had a house clearance agent round who said "no one wanted any of the stuff in the house and 95% will go to the tip!"
There was some good furnature , gate legged table, sideboard, bookcase, tons of glass orniments and glassware, that normally would go through as a boxed lot in a general auction house for less than £20.
None of this can happen, because no is willing to arrange for transport or tell people whether it could be re-cycled.
What is needed is a website where charities or recyclers can contact sellers after photos of items were posted for disposal, at little or no cost, lots better than going to the tip.
Auction houses should arrange a small items service, where boxes of glassware and porcelain could be disposed of (cleared) for whatever price the auction house could make (and providing advice on what just does not sell!), most people would not want a financial return, as this would all go in commision, but there would be a guaranteed no return policy.
Anyone interested in setting up one and stop paying hundreds of pounds, just to have it dumped at a tip, becuase it is uneconomic for the house clearer!

Errata

You seem not to have heard of Freecycle.

Mojisola

stephencadams wrote: »

What is needed is a website where charities or recyclers can contact sellers after photos of items were posted for disposal, at little or no cost, lots better than going to the tip.

As Errata says - Freegle! I've got rid of loads of stuff from my parents' house to people who were really pleased to get it.

Other stuff has gone to a mixture of charity shops. Many now take furniture.

We also have a local charity which renovates old furniture and checks electrical stuff and then sells on to people who are on very low incomes.

Most things can be rehomed.

John_Pierpoint

http://healthyplanet.org/projects/books-for-free.aspx
http://www.healthyplanet.org/projects/stuff-for-free.aspx
http://www.gumtree.com/freebies

The first two have "free" shops too near me, and possibly near you too:
As a spin-off of crippling levels of business rates, it makes more sense for landlords to "rent" a shop to a charity for £0 , as that cuts the business rates tax by 75%.

In this long running recession not everyone who is desperately short of cash is work shy, some really need dirt cheap or free stuff to keep a household together.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charity_shop#Thrift_stores