Ha! I wondered where you went that time of night Dolly. Sometimes I’m awake those hours and end up playing video games. Too bad there’s not a strong guy you could charm or bribe with a good meal that could help you plant.
Were you able to find stuff you want to keep in your house?
I decided to sell a few things that have value, I’ve enjoyed them long enough and when I kick the bucket my kids would probably give them away. I started to research free online appraisers but it gets complicated fast. Plus I’ve never sold anything online except a fish and tank I sold locally on Craigslist, a long time ago. Having secure payment and mailing seems like a lot of work.
Any suggestions from anyone would be appreciated.
I’ve never had anything of value (still don’t) but you might want to check with the kids just to make sure they don’t want it. If they do, then they gotta take it right now!
My mom didn’t have anything but a few inexpensive dishes; she tried giving a platter away one time and I said ‘hey, that’s my inheritance you’re giving away!’. LOL
Anyway, I don’t do any selling online, whether it be Facebook Marketplace, ebay, craigslist, whatever. Nothing I have is valuable enough to make the hassle worth to me. But I’ve heard people researching what things will sell for by going to ebay and searching the section of SOLD items for your item. Don’t look in the current open bids; just because someone lists something for sale at $75 doesn’t mean they’ll get that. There might be 5 recently sold items that only brought $20-$30; that’s your true value.
I recall seeing people set up a business where they list and ship items for other people on ebay and they take a cut of whatever it brings. Might be another option.
If it’s specialty items like books, designer clothes, china, etc., I might be able to find some pricing websites for ya.
We have sold things through Facebook Marketplace.
Also, if you join a private FB group that is interested in your items (like a type of collectible), you will be selling to a motivated pool of buyers.
For shipping we use PirateShip.com, has reduced rates through the USPS (up to 30%). You would need a small scale, like a digital kitchen scale, you measure the box, put in the zipcode of the buyer, and the weight, and it calculates the rate. Keeps a record also. PirateShip links to your credit card and bills it when you print out the shipping label.
For larger boxes, I put a mixing bowl on the scale, reset the weight to zero and put the box atop the bowl to get the weight.
Buyer pays you through Paypal, and you give the buyer an invoice that includes shipping and they send the money to your Paypal account. Then you ship. We give the buyer the USPS tracking number.
We ship via USPS Priority Mail as that is the most cost effective and fast way—Parcel post is like ten cents less (yes, 10 cents!) With Pirate Ship, the box is insured to $100, whereas regular USPS Priority Mail is only $50.00.
Best part is, since you have prepaid the shipping and it has a label, you just drop off the box at the post office—no waiting in line!
I just go to the counter, and put my box there and walk away. The looks I get from people on line are priceless!
Anyone can sign up for PirateShip, you don’t have to be a business.