[Hidden-tech] Can someone recommend a house/estate clean out person?

[Rob Laporte]

Hi Deborah,

A hobbyist auction goer, I’ve been repeatedly stunned at how low the prices are for all kinds of stuff. I’ve often seen beautiful antique oak furniture go for less than the equivalent Walmart particle board junk. Many people now go to auctions to resell on eBay and craigslist, at a 100% to 200% mark-up, and I suspect even the best of them barely make a living. Fact is, the supply of used stuff (and new) in the world is enormous, so the price of good old items are dismaying low.

Getting to the end buyer as opposed to resellers gets much better prices, but of course there’s great cost in time getting in front of end buyers via the likes of eBay. I’ve long had on my todo list to find an eBay reseller who would just take a bunch of stuff I don’t need, and if I earn a little while decluttering my storage, fine. A few years ago there was a small chain of stores where one can drop off stuff, and they eBay it for a percentage. I think they are out of business now, and I would be curious what went wrong. If anyone knows about such stores in this area, please reply. I suspect just too many little actions were needed per item given the fees. 

That all said, I suspect there is a start-up opportunity for such a store, but it would have to take big percentages, especially of items under $25 estimated sale. 

I did find a person on Craigslist offering this service: http://westernmass.craigslist.org/hss/5200375437.html. 

Best Regards,

Rob Laporte
President and CEO
DISC, Inc. - "Making Web Sites Make Money"
413-584-6500
Rob at 2disc.com
www.linkedin.com/in/2disc
www.2disc.com

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> On Sep 25, 2015, at 5:01 PM, Deborah Chandler <debchandler411 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Hi everyone,
> 
> Could you recommend someone who can come into my mom's house in
> Greenfield (near GCC) and make an offer for a lot of her things?
> Someone ethical and sensitive to work with as we oversee this huge
> transition for an elderly person? (She moved into an assisted living
> residence this month)
> 
> There aren't any truly valuable antiques but there are vintage items,
> books, furniture, dishes, kitchen items, music CDs, clothes, fabric
> and miscellanous. Things are in good to very good condition, and my
> sister has it all organized. We don't need anyone to do housework,
> just the items cleared out. The house will be rented.
> 
> My sister is planning on having a tagsale on Columbus Day weekend, but
> she is so busy in her life, I suggested she may find a house-clearer
> to be quicker, easier and maybe get similar money for things.
> 
> I hope to hear back soon and hope to find someone who can do this work
> in the next few weeks.
> 
> Thanks,
> Deb
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