DaBabs

The Great Estate Sale

What do you do with 40 plus years of...stuff?? We had contacted a few estate sale companies when I was still in town after mom's funeral. A couple came out to meet with my siblings and we learned two things -

• We weren't really "worth" their time since we didn't have a ton of antiques (One guy actually wanted me to "pitch" him on our stuff - which was awkward)
  

• We wouldn't make much since they would take most of the profit...I know, you're thinking, heartless, but we also have a 40 year old house we have to sell that frankly, needs some updates before it can be sold and if we do sell some items, that can help us out
  

So we decided to hold a sale ourselves. For two months, my siblings have been going through boxes and determining who should get what, what would go to the sale and what would go to the two dumpsters they rented. (By the way, they filled both dumpsters!). They also removed the living room carpet and found some beautiful hardwood we'll have to sand.

I came back this weekend to help with the sale. It was incredibly exhausting - both mentally and physically. We all felt bad that people were going through the house - BUT - we think it was a good thing in some respects because we got a ton of compliments and when they found out it was for sale, some folks began to be even more interested.

But you know what? I liked the sale. I didn't think I would - but it felt so good, cathartic even, to know that these items were going to some cool people. The college girls who took the aprons for their first apartment. The young couple - USAA members (yay!) and the wife who was an oncology nurse who took the couch, Dave's dining room set and two sets of chairs. A young couple with three kids who took mom's entire bedroom set - including the curtains. And of course - our awesome family members who took the things that were really fun and some with meaning. Cousin Tim getting the Andersen Fire Equipment sign. Aunt Rosemary getting the stool her Dad had made and mine refinished. Cousin Amy getting the fire truck music box/decanter (!) and cousin Mindy getting the "B" for her yard.

There were funny and weird ones too - one guy came in with hoop earrings. He picked up mom's 60 wig and "Is the Pope Catholic" book. Hmm. Another older man came in, went though the whole house and left with a $.25 screwdriver - we saw his truck was piled with a lot of other stuff.

Of course, not everyone was cool. Some jerks came in and some people made rude comments (I sure hope you didn't know the people who owned this house!). I was also distressed by some of the older people who came in. I kept thinking - please don't buy anything - save your kids from this!

But overall, it was a lot of work but I think it was worth it. We made enough to fix up the floors and probably some paint. We didn't get rid of everything, but made a really great dent and don't have as much to haul out now.

But it was sad too. That's probably the last time I'll ever be in that house. After 34 years, I went through each room and just said goodbye and thanks. It was a great house to grow up in and I have so many great memories. I've lived in four houses - this one, Wauconda, Barrington and San Antonio. Each house had something special about it. But it's just a house. And that was just stuff. We still have family and friends and that's the most important thing.

posted by DaBabs @ 4:36 PM