[beaversmom]

Photos by Kristen Tomkowid

[Oratam]

I've cleaned out two houses as the executor and the one thing it taught me was "nobody wants your stuff."

"Hi, I'm calling about your cleanout service."

"Any antiques, gold or silver?"

"I don't know. Nothing in particular."

"Sorry, I need antique jewelry or furniture or sterling silver or gold to make it worth my while."

"But this is quality, American-made furniture in excellent condition."

"Yeah, but there's no market for that style anymore."

It's destined for the landfill.

"This is all mid-century modern bought when my parents got married in '58. Will it find a buyer?"

"The kids today LOVE mid-century modern but the new stuff made to look like old stuff. You know, like West Elm."

This stuff ended up in the landfill, too.

"Nobody wants your stuff."

[Rebelbase]

I quit going to estate sales after watching the vultures pick through the remains of a military man’s possessions. Memorabilia that should have been honored were heaped and piled like trash.

Very disheartening to watch.

[BudgieRamone]

when dad passed, he left a lot of stuff, lots of junk for sure, but his toy and electric train collection filled top to bottom front to back a Penske moving truck, it was a husband wife team from an auction house that came with expectations of an easy day and a half load out, what they found was was 3 days with mom myself, sister and 3 other family members helping to pack and load. Very little went to the dump. other than dad’s hoard of metamucil jars and boxes. I suspect my dad’s collections were the exception and not the rule.

[tbw2]

I’ve helped clean out two hoarder houses upon the person’s death. I have a list of these services in our area, but I haven’t been able to get family to be willing to use them.

[P.O.E.]

Thanks for posting. Bittersweet.

I’m on year three of my “year of throwing things out”.

Amazing how much stuff accumulates, and I’m paring down duplicates upon duplicates of stuff.

10 boxes of flower pots. 6 drawers of bed linen. 8 sets of table placemats. 40+ coffee cups. Pot lids for pots we don’t have anymore. Clothes, clothes and clothes.

I’ve been recycling as much as possible - 400 pounds of metal to the scrap dealer alone. But most of the stuff I put out gets picked up before the garbage man gets there. I figure if someone else wants it or needs it or scavenges it, God bless them and welcome to it. Saves trips to Goodwill.