Do businesses exist to purchase the contents of homes?

[no_hypocrisy]

My attorney is pressing me to bypass an estate sale and put all the furniture into a dumpster on March 7.

First, I'm offended by disposing of good furniture simply because it can't stay in a house. It shouldn't go into a landfill unless it were broken, ripped, etc.

Second, I need the money from the proceeds of the sale. Since my father died in April last year, I've had to cover the expenses of two homes and without employment.

I would have asked this question earlier, but this came out of the blue. Even my realtor had planned for an estate sale after a sales contact would be signed and to have even a modicum of furniture out for showing the house. Plus I've spent 10 months cleaning out the clutter in 14 rooms including the attic and donating/disposing of stuff like an upright piano, stairlift, etc.

If you can't think of anything, it's OK. I'll have a charity with a big truck pick up the stuff. I really can't stand the idea of a couch in a dumpster, etc.

Thanks in advance.

[Renew Deal]

1. There are services that will come in, photograph, tag, and advertise

And depending on where you live you will probably get a nice long line. I'll try to find the name of a service. But there is a cost.

Antiques draw extra attention.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. I don't mind the service fee.

At least I would be getting SOMETHING instead of paying for a dumpster and throwing away stuff. I *wish* we had antiques unless the 1960s is now the new "antique".

THANK YOU ! ! ! !

BTW, the home is in New Jersey.

[Renew Deal]

3. I'm waiting for someone to send me the names

I'm in NY. So hopefully the list will be relevant.

[Renew Deal]

7. I was told you should search on this site

http://www.estatesales.net/estate-sale-companies/NJ.aspx

It looks like you might have to look manually.

If it ends up you will have to throw stuff out, just put it on the sidewalk a couple days before garbage day and I bet someone will take it.

[Mopar151]

4. In New England, you call an auctioneer!

Or you advertise an "Estate Sale" in the newspaper - same section as yard sales. Sounds like your realtor has a handle on things, your attourney not so much. Give the house buyers first shot at the estate furniture? Or hold an open house/estate sale! (The atty may be seeing a situation - like troublesome heirs - that does not exist in your case) We had a big yard sale to clean out before renting the old house on the "family farm" - The thing that amazes me are the antique dealers that show up at the crack of dawn, hoping to get the best stuff - thus the line "early birds pay double!" seen in many yard sale ads.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. I would prefer your alternative,

but my attorney is threatening to walk away from representation if I don't go with him on this. And if he walks, repairs won't be made as he's dealing with the Executor who ignored my pleas before I hired my attorney.

And I have an auctioneer but he's taking only choice pieces, leaving me with a decent set of furniture that doesn't deserve disposal/the dumpster. It's like throwing away 2/3 of a roast because the meal's over. It can be salvaged.

[Mopar151]

6. I'd hafta ask why????

There has to be some used furniture dealer, consignment store, thrift store, etc who'll take the stuff, even for pennies on the dollar. But I'd have to hear a lot more than threats, and I really wonder about the quality of the representation you're getting.