Unwinding an estate: furniture and decorative items

[Anonymous]

Would love suggestions on the best ways to distribute my mother's furniture and household items to various family members, many of them long distance. Has anyone used a shipping company that did a good job and didn't cost a fortune? (The alternative is renting a truck and driving two days, which we may resort to, but ugh.) Also interested in experiences with estate sales or taking furniture and household items to a consignment store. Tips and warnings are appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Make sure people have a chance to say no to furniture before you ship anything.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't drive anything to anyone. If they want it, they can come get it.

With my relative's furniture, we posted it on facebook marketplace and it was all gone in a week. We got pretty good money for it as well and didn't have to split it with an estate company (who takes 50%)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't drive anything to anyone. If they want it, they can come get it.

With my relative's furniture, we posted it on facebook marketplace and it was all gone in a week. We got pretty good money for it as well and didn't have to split it with an estate company (who takes 50%)

Interesting. I haven't used Facebook marketplace. It's local? Better than Craigslist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't drive anything to anyone. If they want it, they can come get it.

With my relative's furniture, we posted it on facebook marketplace and it was all gone in a week. We got pretty good money for it as well and didn't have to split it with an estate company (who takes 50%)

Interesting. I haven't used Facebook marketplace. It's local? Better than Craigslist?

I don’t know anyone who uses Craigslist. Craigslist is sketchy and doesn’t use real names. I’m a frequent buyer of antiques and furniture and only use Facebook marketplace. Some areas of the country are hot- like the dc area. Stuff here goes so quick if priced right.

But also- price it correctly. You’d only get half if you sold it with an estate company

[Anonymous]

My brother (lived local to my parents, whereas my other brother and I live across the country) sent a mass email to family members basically describing a few key items and saying "if you want it let me know."
No one really wanted anything, especially when they realized they'd be responsible for shipping (Parents were in California, most family was in New England.)

My brother took anything "leftover" and listed it as free on facebook market place.
Most older furniture just has sentimental value, so there was no point in listing it for money. We just wanted it gone without having to pay for removal.

[Anonymous]

Used furniture is not worth a lot of trouble and effort. Household items even less so.

My experience after dealing with two parental estates:
- Most of the used furniture should simply be picked up by the Junk Army. (For example, my FILs ratty old bed, couch and bookshelves that were ~40 years old)
- Used furniture that is not too beat up, give to Goodwill, along with household linens, clothes, dishes, silverware, books, etc.
- I took some of my mom's furniture to a consignment store that sold it for me. They were pretty picky about what they took to resell. Had to be "like new". It was barely worth the effort.
- I took a few items of furniture for myself because I did all the work. Wasn't going to ship furniture, no way. Come and get it if you want. The cost of shipping > value of the furniture.
- Facebook and Craigslist are not worth it. Any listing will immediately attract scam artists (the cashier's check scam) and jerks who want to bargain you down.