What to do with stuff you inherit?

DaveH

DaveH

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
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So a ihave a few items I have inherited that are worth some money. Unfortunately they items that are not in line with my interests. I'm torn, I could keep them of course, but on the other hand I think that if I had the money from them, I could do some things.

Ever been in that dilima? What did you do?
 
If things get really needy then maybe I will sell them but I kept them with an eye toward passing them on to my son or daughter or grandson.
 
Check with the rest of the family to see if anyone else has an emotion tie with the stuff. You may not need great grampa's wristwatch; but, if your sister gave it to him decades ago, she just may like to have it. The last thing you want to do is to create a family squabble over something like this.

Beyond that, we all carry a lot of material junk through our lives, so do whatever makes the most sense to you.

n2s
 
not2sharp, that's a good idea, I should have thought of that. Though I have some family members that are the reason those self storage wharehouses are so popular and do so well...
 
Give it away, throw it away, or sell it. I keep stuff I have a use for, and find a home(whether that's someone else's garage or the landfill) for the rest.
I inherited all of my grandfather's gear, including a bunch of machinist tools, guages, levels, etc. I probably could have sold quite a bit of it, lots of Starrett stuff, many items spares that were NIB. Got a buddy who's done me some favors who is also a machinist, so I gave them to him.
He was speechless, and I'll probably never run out of favors ;)
..and my grandfather would much prefer that someone get some use out of his stuff, than have it just taking up space and slowly rusting to death out in my garage.
 
Tough question. Depends on the item I suppose. If it's something modern and mass-produced, like grandma's last vacuum cleaner, it doesn't matter. If it's an long-held antique, something personal, or something that's meaningful to your family (photos, etc.) I'd be a lot more careful about keeping it in the family.

That should be a lesson to all of us, about hoarding crap that our decendant don't want and can't use. My Grandmother gave things away little by little to people who were interested in them. And when she passed, everything left in the house had a piece of tape with a name on it. She had tried to give me a beautiful antique clock over and over. I felt bad about stripping the home while she was still alive, so I always turned it down. Sure enough, in the end there was a piece of tape on the bottom with my name on it.

If wife's parents croak, the only reasonable solution will be a warehouse fire...

Best Wishes,
Bob
 
If it has meaning, then keep it. If it has meaning to someone else in the family, let them have it. If it's something like Grandpa's old ladder that means nothing, get rid of it. Turn a buck if you can.

A cautionary tale, if I may...

Some years ago, when my Great-grandfather died, he specified that all his Masonic gear (his ring, Past Master's apron, etc...) would go to my father. Since we live a fair bit away, it was given in trust to my great-aunt, and dad would get it whenever he was in town. Last year, my great-aunt died, after a long illness. Going through the house, he found that all that stuff had been sold. A Mason's ring (at least a simple one as this) would sell for maybe $40, but my uncle who had POA sold everything of any value, including many family heirlooms.

If there is something of value, or just something of sentimental value, it needs given before the person dies. Otherwise, who knows what may happen?
 
It was left to you, it's your stuff. If you have no sentimental attachment to them, sell em and use the money for what you want.:eek:
 
I'll have to check with others in the family. Just to put it into perspective:

Red colored Vases - supposed to be valuable but I'm not into glass vases

Hummel Lamps - The little boy climbing the tree is cute, but to cute for use, IMO.

Leica Camera - I can appreciate what it is, but I'm not into photography, unless it's it's an electronic camera that I can take good close up with.
 
Well here's what I'd do:
- ask around to see if anyone else wanted the vases
- hummel lamps to the dumpster or eBay
- keep the camera. Display? Learn to use it?

Good Luck,
Bob
 
How much you want for the Leica? ;)

Seriously, stuff is stuff. I would ask other family members, otherwise it's not too special when it's stuck in a trunk or under 6 inches of dust somewhere.
 
You should give me the Leica because, uh...it has great sentimental value to me.

Actually the three things you listed could possibly bring a pretty penny, depending on a lot of factors. A Leica in good shape should hold its value. Some ruby glass is very desirable to collectors. Other red glass is practically worthless. Suprisingly to me a lot of Hummel stuff is quite valuable. Just make sure you do a little research if you decide to sell it.
 
The red vases things where a couple of hundred, the hummels around $500 each, Someone offered my Dad $600 for the leica, but I don't know if it is really worth that.
 
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