# Help me unhoard! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 4, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571 "2011-10-04T16:46:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/1 "2011-10-04T16:46:57Z")
I’ve been slowly getting better and better about decluttering over the years but I still have a pile of stuff accumulated from before I knew better. What’s the best way to get rid of it? If it comes down to it, I’ll just throw stuff in the garbage. But I really need money right now, so I’d like to squeeze as much cash from this stuff as possible. There’s a bunch of options I can think of - yard sale (going to get cold soon though), craigslist, eBay, Amazon, pawn shop. What’s the optimal match for each type of item to each type of service? Any suggestions and anecdotes are appreciated. Also, what things have zero chance of getting money out of? I imagine knick knacks, used clothes, old books, old software and videogames, and VHS movies will be hard to move. Is there any hope for these? ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/2 "2011-10-04T17:00:47Z")
I’ll also be clearing out my Dad’s estate, so I guess I should ask about things like furniture, music instruments, vinyl albums, and vehicles (new car, old car, junk car, and motorcycle). I remember on Ghost Whisperer her buying entire estate remains. Are there people that really do that, or is that only for antiques? ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/3 "2011-10-04T17:06:35Z")
You don’t want to dump junk on them, but thrift stores will take a bunch of stuff. You can even take a tax deduction. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/4 "2011-10-04T17:26:46Z")
In less you’re really in need of cash I’d throw most of it away. You might be able to get away with a couple of them and make some cash depending on what it was. I don’t think you’ll get anything for the VHS unless they are movies that never made their way to DVD so toss/recycle them. The same for records, they really aren’t worth all that much unless you have some rare stuff. Furniture you can get rid of on Craigslist, but don’t expect much for it. I tried to get rid of a nice couch for $100 and only one person asked about it. It took me 4-5 times of putting a $1000 crib on there to get rid of it for cheap. The cars you can probably sell pretty easy, except maybe the junker, that you can donate, but if you expect to write it off on your taxes they now send you a paper for how much it sold for. The junker I got rid of netted me $50. You might be able to sell the instruments, especially now that they are starting band soon. If you were only looking at $50-100 they would probably go as that’s cheaper then the rental for the year. Clothing and books you can donate, the rest I would just junk/recycle. I went through this when my mother died, she had a house full of stuff, it took 4 truck loads of stuff to the selling area. They got $8000 for a 3 room house full of ‘good’ stuff. Most of that went to the auctioneer. I’d have been better off throwing it away really. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/5 "2011-10-04T17:28:36Z")
Old books should be checked on [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) - as a non-professional seller only list ones with the lowest used price greater than $5 or you won’t see any profit (and remember to ship via Media Mail). VHS tapes that are not homemade seem to sell at garage sales, you just have to sell them cheap - 10/$1.00 or something. I laugh at the idiots selling Windows 95 software or Word 97 for idiots type books. Craigslist for stuff with value but that is too heavy for shipping - Amazon or Ebay tends to produce better return for me on stuff that is light enough to ship easily like camera equipment, electronics, etc. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/6 "2011-10-04T18:19:02Z")
If it were me and I had the space for it I’d have a yard sale this Saturday. Set up some tables in the yard or driveway, label all books/VHS/records a quarter for simplicity purposes and then sit down and figure out about what you’d like to get for everything else. Take 4 hours and hang out in your yard on a weekend and have people haul the junk away for you! As for the vehicles you can drive them up to CarMax or put for sale signs in the window. Anything that doesn’t sell that is still usable should go to Goodwill or Salvation Army. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/7 "2011-10-04T18:40:39Z")
What kind of musical instruments? ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/8 "2011-10-04T19:25:29Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > What kind of musical instruments? some guitars, keyboards, amps, and other related accessories ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/9 "2011-10-04T19:46:28Z")
Freecycle can also be useful in getting rid of stuff; I’m not as familiar with using Craigslist for that but if it’s stuff you don’t expect to get money for (e.g. the VHS tapes), that’s an alternative. If you donate stuff: try to make a fairly detailed list of what you’re donating. I don’t mean itemizing every single item, but lists like Shirts, men’s dress, condition excellent, qty 12 Shorts, boys’, condition fair, qty 3 Books, hardback, adult, qty 120 Books, picture, children’s, qty 12 At tax time there are resources that will help you put a fair market value on this sort of thing (Turbo Tax desktop does, anyway), you can also document what they’re selling for at thrift stores, used book stores, ebay etc. Obviously depending on whether you itemize, it may or may not do you any good. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/10 "2011-10-05T03:05:30Z")
I think this way, whatever you make will take hours, days, months of your time. Depending on what your salary might be ask yourself, is it really worth it? How much more valuable is your own time? Throw it away. ---
**Author:** ![surrounded\_by\_literalists](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8baadc/32.png) [@surrounded\_by\_literalists](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/surrounded_by_literalists)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/11 "2011-10-05T03:55:47Z")
If you are feeling generous, don’t forget the local women’s shelter. Many times they need basic household stuff to help women set up in a new place. Sheets, blankets, sleeping bags, towels, coats, clothes, dishes, furniture, toys, canned food etc. Even mens old clothes; baggy and with long sleeves can help cover marks and be able to get on and off without too much discomfort. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/12 "2011-10-05T04:03:37Z")
I just filed for a permit to build a garage addition. My house is full, but they’ll have to pry my junk out of my cold dead hands. I’m making more space, and I’m going to get more stuff. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/13 "2011-10-05T17:01:09Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I just filed for a permit to build a garage addition. My house is full, but they’ll have to pry my junk out of my cold dead hands. I’m making more space, and I’m going to get more stuff. I’m sorry to hear that. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/14 "2011-10-05T17:03:27Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’m sorry to hear that. Fool! I’m going to die with more junk than you have. I win! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/15 "2011-10-05T17:03:29Z")
Another vote for throw most of it away, period. Take a couple hours to identify the 10 things with the greatest obvious value. Any true antiques (ie 1910 and before in decent shape), fully functioning cars, etc. Work to sell those for a decent return. Pitch the rest of the crap; it’s won’t fetch $2/hour for your labors. ---
**Author:** ![Kingspades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecae2f/32.png) [@Kingspades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kingspades)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/16 "2011-10-05T19:35:45Z")
I would encourage you to recycle or donate as much as you reasonably can rather than just sending things to a landfill. Our local recycling center takes VHS tapes, computer equipment, and a lot more than you’d generally think. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unhoard/598571/17 "2011-10-05T20:16:01Z")
Our local Federation of the Blind and also the Purple Hearts Veterans make FREQUENT stops in my neighborhood. They always call to see if I’ll have something, or they will send a tag in the mail that you use to put on stuff that you leave for them to take. They will take anything that one person can carry themselves. So no rear projection TVs or clothes dryers, but lamps and toasters and rugs and clothes. You can call to request a pickup in some places or call to have them put you on their list.