Declutter for Fun and Profit

Dear Lee: We get calls from friends and readers all the time asking what to do with items that their families don’t want or need any longer. The good news is that decluttering can present an opportunity for profit.  Remember, when you go to sell household goods, time is money. The more time you are […]

Stop! Read This Before Cleaning Out Adult Children’s Rooms

It’s graduation time and parents are proud, but they are also probably looking forward to “moving out” day. As they ponder the potential of the extra rooms, the purging bug takes hold. But as collectors, we know how dangerous “a purge” can be. So before loading up the car and going to a donation center, […]

Spring Cleaning Tips

Dear Lee, The weather is warming and there are more sunny days than cloudy ones. That means: time for spring cleaning. As a collector, I always worry when I see people downsizing and doing big spring cleanings. Without caution and research, they could be getting rid of valuable collectibles and heirlooms. They may donate an […]

How to Settle an Estate

“What do I do now? I have to settle an estate and have a collector’s house full of furnishings, paintings, collectibles, old computers, phones, and the everyday dishes. Plus, I have questions about insurance and taxes. Do I have to get a legal appraisal? What records do I need? Can I do it alone or […]

Reflections on a Cleaning Binge

Dear Lee, A cleaning, sorting and filing frenzy hit me right after I got over the flu. I started going from pile to pile of papers in my office. We built our house in the 1950s, added office space, attic storage space and built cabinets in the garage, but have never moved and discarded old […]