Downsizing In Laws

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

It isn't trash. My FIL was very senior in the State DEpartmnet and spent a lot of time in Persia. There are dozens of rugs worth thousands each, countless woerks of art that could be worth $50 or $50,000. There are the usual boxes of magazines and records comingled with a century of family photos. My MIL has pre war Japanese china and a few crockery pieces that supposedly came from England in the 17th century. It isn't junk and it takes time t properly pack and store. DH doesn't want to part with it and wnats to keep it in the family.

Sorry, they aren't like your inlaws living in trailers on cat food.

That's pretty low class, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

It isn't trash. My FIL was very senior in the State DEpartmnet and spent a lot of time in Persia. There are dozens of rugs worth thousands each, countless woerks of art that could be worth $50 or $50,000. There are the usual boxes of magazines and records comingled with a century of family photos. My MIL has pre war Japanese china and a few crockery pieces that supposedly came from England in the 17th century. It isn't junk and it takes time t properly pack and store. DH doesn't want to part with it and wnats to keep it in the family.

Sorry, they aren't like your inlaws living in trailers on cat food.

LMFAO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

It isn't trash. My FIL was very senior in the State DEpartmnet and spent a lot of time in Persia. There are dozens of rugs worth thousands each, countless woerks of art that could be worth $50 or $50,000. There are the usual boxes of magazines and records comingled with a century of family photos. My MIL has pre war Japanese china and a few crockery pieces that supposedly came from England in the 17th century. It isn't junk and it takes time t properly pack and store. DH doesn't want to part with it and wnats to keep it in the family.

Sorry, they aren't like your inlaws living in trailers on cat food.

Well, if DH wants to keep it in the family, then he gets to do the sorting and packing. Otherwise, he has no say in the matter.

[Anonymous]

Why is this taking so long? Instead of going through every single item, do it from the opposite end - make a list of everything you want/need (same for the in-laws), then go in and grab that. Grab all photo albums of people, and donate/trash most everything else.

This can be done in one weekend.

[Anonymous]

Sell the home to a developer. They will throw everything out for you. Why do you need to go through anything? Let it all go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

It isn't trash. My FIL was very senior in the State DEpartmnet and spent a lot of time in Persia. There are dozens of rugs worth thousands each, countless woerks of art that could be worth $50 or $50,000. There are the usual boxes of magazines and records comingled with a century of family photos. My MIL has pre war Japanese china and a few crockery pieces that supposedly came from England in the 17th century. It isn't junk and it takes time t properly pack and store. DH doesn't want to part with it and wnats to keep it in the family.

Sorry, they aren't like your inlaws living in trailers on cat food.

DP. Your folks sound like mine, down to the Persian rugs and pre-war Japanese china. Interview estate liquidation companies. They will tell you whether the stuff is worth enough for them to take the job. You will get much much less than you think it's worth but it will save you much aggravation and your valuable time.

[Anonymous]

There are dozens of rugs worth thousands each, countless woerks of art that could be worth $50 or $50,000.

Ok so you sell this stuff and keep the money and then you don’t have to feel butthurt about your husband’s brothers who “aren’t helping”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is this taking so long? Instead of going through every single item, do it from the opposite end - make a list of everything you want/need (same for the in-laws), then go in and grab that. Grab all photo albums of people, and donate/trash most everything else.

This can be done in one weekend.

Didn’t you read the update? They have Persian rugs and China that is worth thousands of dollars in the attic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

It isn't trash. My FIL was very senior in the State DEpartmnet and spent a lot of time in Persia. There are dozens of rugs worth thousands each, countless woerks of art that could be worth $50 or $50,000. There are the usual boxes of magazines and records comingled with a century of family photos. My MIL has pre war Japanese china and a few crockery pieces that supposedly came from England in the 17th century. It isn't junk and it takes time t properly pack and store. DH doesn't want to part with it and wnats to keep it in the family.

Sorry, they aren't like your inlaws living in trailers on cat food.

OP perhaps you're not quite as sharp as you think you are, and your FIL is not quite as important as he thinks he was. But Persia hasn't been Persia for a century; the country was renamed Iran. And no USG personnel have been in Iran for 45 years.

If your husband wants to hang onto all the family's acquired treasures, then he is going to have to do the packing and sorting - not his brothers. Otherwise, many estate companies will do all the work for you, with their time paid for by the sale of the stuff. Take your pick. And take a look at a map while you're at it.

[Anonymous]

I know you said you don't have the money to hire someone but it sounds like there is quite a bit of money in items that can be sold. Sell 1 or 2 and then hire help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

It isn't trash. My FIL was very senior in the State DEpartmnet and spent a lot of time in Persia. There are dozens of rugs worth thousands each, countless woerks of art that could be worth $50 or $50,000. There are the usual boxes of magazines and records comingled with a century of family photos. My MIL has pre war Japanese china and a few crockery pieces that supposedly came from England in the 17th century. It isn't junk and it takes time t properly pack and store. DH doesn't want to part with it and wnats to keep it in the family.

Sorry, they aren't like your inlaws living in trailers on cat food.

Newsflash. Nobody wants that old dusty crap. Or find one rug, sell for thousands to fund this "clean out" and quit yer yapping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

It isn't trash. My FIL was very senior in the State DEpartmnet and spent a lot of time in Persia. There are dozens of rugs worth thousands each, countless woerks of art that could be worth $50 or $50,000. There are the usual boxes of magazines and records comingled with a century of family photos. My MIL has pre war Japanese china and a few crockery pieces that supposedly came from England in the 17th century. It isn't junk and it takes time t properly pack and store. DH doesn't want to part with it and wnats to keep it in the family.

Sorry, they aren't like your inlaws living in trailers on cat food.

Aaaaand that "woosh" is all the fuxx and sympathy that anyone had to give for you and your situation.

[Anonymous]

PP who suggested hiring a Realtor ™️- I will say that it is shocking how much you’ll end up donating to a thrift store and or trashing - even my now-deceased parent who was generally highly organized and had eschewed collections/kept an impeccably clean but huge family home for over 35 years-had a major clean out.

This whole experience along with my parents recent death has made me double down on my own home organization and had me in a downsizing mode right now. I’m dealing with multiple boxes of papers, photos, letters, bills all stacked in my living room where I’m slowly sorting thru, trashing, shredding. It’s a mess. My parent died suddenly so my sibling and I met up after the funeral to clear out the apartment. More trashed, more donations and now we are each sorting thru these boxes. We also are storing furniture for 6 months until my niece takes it all to her new home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

It isn't trash. My FIL was very senior in the State DEpartmnet and spent a lot of time in Persia. There are dozens of rugs worth thousands each, countless woerks of art that could be worth $50 or $50,000. There are the usual boxes of magazines and records comingled with a century of family photos. My MIL has pre war Japanese china and a few crockery pieces that supposedly came from England in the 17th century. It isn't junk and it takes time t properly pack and store. DH doesn't want to part with it and wnats to keep it in the family.

Sorry, they aren't like your inlaws living in trailers on cat food.

OP perhaps you're not quite as sharp as you think you are, and your FIL is not quite as important as he thinks he was. But Persia hasn't been Persia for a century; the country was renamed Iran. And no USG personnel have been in Iran for 45 years.

If your husband wants to hang onto all the family's acquired treasures, then he is going to have to do the packing and sorting - not his brothers. Otherwise, many estate companies will do all the work for you, with their time paid for by the sale of the stuff. Take your pick. And take a look at a map while you're at it.

DP here. They are still referred to as "Persian rugs" by the trade. However, as you have noted, if acquired while in Iran by USG personnel, they are at least 45 years old. I asked my mother about the rugs she brought back from Tehran while they were stationed there pre-Revolution, as she said they weren't in great shape. Perhaps your ILs kept them in perfect condition but, otherwise, they are not as valuable as you think. They are also very heavy and take a lot of room to store. Ask yourself how much your time is worth. The last thing I want to do is spend my free time going through a lot of musty papers, decorative items and furnishings.

[Anonymous]

Storing it for what?!