Featured Completely lost

Just don't sink too much into redoing these pieces since you might not see it back. I go to lots of estate auctions and really nice curved glass curio cabinets are selling for $60 and an antique library table sold for $45. Both in excellent ready to use condition.

 

Hi and WELCOME, @One Step Closer Away. I'm so sorry for your loss. I too have been down the same road you are embarking on. It's VERY hard to try to take SOME of the emotion out of what you have to do, but to get it done in today's times, we REALLY had to try. Myself and my siblings had to work EXTREMELY hard to only keep what REALLY meant a LOT to us that had belonged to either of our parents.....unbearably difficult at times....but we don't live in unlimited space, AND didn't want to be passing the same problem on to those that one day will inherit from US!! So you DO have your work cut out for you. Take as much time as you can! Think about passing along what you can to family or someone who knew your father well, if there's something you think they might like.....it will ease your burden. God Bless you, and wishing you well in the most difficult of endeavors!! AND you've gotten a boatload of great suggestions here to ponder.....

 

would probably sell for $200-$300

maybe...after you put $200 worth of work into it.....

Alberta ???
Not a big used furniture market that I'm aware of....

 

I like the idea of passing some things to others that cared for my dad. When you said that, I realized that there are probably a lot of people that cared for and respected him that would be happy to have something that belonged to him. My dad was one of the people that knew someone no matter where he went. He was a jack of all trades and had friends and acquaintances everywhere.
One idea is to take some of the things that might not bring in much money and ask some of his friends if they would like anything. That would make me feel so much better than worrying about it what might happen to his things. Thank you very much for your response.

 

I guess it depends on if there is someone that wants it. For example, today we sold an old wagon wheel for $150. I had checked the local listings and saw a few selling for between $100-$200.

 

well...the wheel is decoration....not really furniture.
but....point taken !!

Before my Mom passed , I gave some of her jewelry to her nieces ..... they were thrilled !!

 

Certainly. And in the case of musical instruments, you could consider what was done for a musician friend of mine who died suddenly; they had his musical instruments - about a dozen - appraised by a local music store, to be sure what they were dealing with (these were mostly in the $500 - $1,000 range); then they made a list of the relatives and others who loved him; and of course he had lots of musician friends. Then they went down the list and asked the first to pick an instrument they'd like; then on to the next person to give them their pick of the remaining ones. They stipulated these were not for resale; you should accept one only if you intended to keep it.
I've got one of his banjos, and it means a great deal to me.

 

well said Komo.

 

So much good advice here! I have not gone through this yet. But my siblings and I will, and it's good to read the advice. This also leads me to realize that I'll need to do more to ensure that my own estate doesn't fall into this situation for somebody else.

 

Oh , I'm so thinking about this too.
While cleaning up , my wife grabs my string of dug up antique Russian Blues and inquires as to what these pretty glass beads are.

I go full art dealer and give her a lecture on NWC trade beads......but when I tell her what I paid for them & why they reside on my night table ....her eyes POP !!

Then she picks up a little basket with some tarnished silver items in it....as if there's nothing really there..!
Again I give her full disclosure that the ' stuff ' her husband has laying around is not to be taken lightly.
The basket....woven by one of our own members , holds...
an early Susan Point silver pendant
a 14 K gold Haida earring
2 late 1800's silver NWC thin cuff bracelets
2 cast silver Russel Smith pendants...one made specially for the cast and crew of the X-Files !!
There's well over $1300 worth of art there.....so again with the POPPING eyes !!!

So , ya....it's high time I get hold on what I've got and where I've got it and what it is...... so someone else doesn't end up selling a little basket of tarnished metal items for $25 at an estate sale !!!!

 

But if she does, I want to be first in line!