If you are a parent or grandparent of adult children, your house can be a minefield as you downsize. Value is generationally relative to the speed and changeability of life in the 21st Century. Value is defined in different terms than pure worth.

If you are moving and plan to give your treasured objects to your heirs, you’re in for a surprise.
This lecture describes the top ten objects your kids do NOT want:

Books
Steamer Trunks and Sewing Machines
Porcelain Figurines and Collectors Plates
Heavy Dark Furniture
Persian Rugs
Linens
Silver Plate Serving Pieces and Sterling Silver Flatware
Crystal Beverage Services
Formal China
Family Photos

Instead of thinking of how much these things are worth, your kids are thinking that these objects:

Do not contribute to their ease of life
Are not adaptable
Are not status-y
May not be in style
Are not utilitarian
Do not function well today
And moreover, may not lead to short term pleasure in use.

Here are some of Elizabeth’s top locations and vendors to help you in the Santa Barbara area and online resources for people living anywhere.

HELP WITH MOVING

For short distance moves in Santa Barbara, Elizabeth uses Steve’s Delivery Service 805 448 2719.

For long distant moves, she likes Hazelwood allied Moving and Storage, Casey McCann at casey@hazelwoodallied.com

For storage facilities which are cheap and secure, this organization, Move Green makes crates of your objects and stores the crates; they can also MOVE those crates to your new location (Elizabeth uses them for local moves of whole households) http://www.movegreen.com/contact

WHERE TO DONATE

Elizabeth suggests donating to thrift stores that are tax-exempt charities (you can take the donation under $2000-$5000 against your taxes by filling in the estimated amount of your contribution WITHOUT an appraisal):

Catholic Charities http://www.catholiccharities-sbc.org/donate/ is her main thrift store for donations; they have a truck and men; they resell the objects you donate.
Destined for Grace has two stores, one in Goleta and one in Carpenteria; here’s Goleta http://destinedforgrace.org/stores/destined-for-grace-thrift-store-goleta/; they have a truck and men and resell what you donate. They furnish schools in Haiti and are the only thrift store mentioned here which is local and completely volunteer.
ReStore, the selling arm of Habitat for Humanity, will take building materials but they also will accept furniture and decorative objects, tools, and appliances and odd things like carpets and good bathtubs; they have trucks and moving men; pre-qualify for a pick-up of your objects by sending photos to restore@sbhabitat.org.
If you don’t want you objects to be resold (because you want a clean tax write off) she suggest Second Story Associates http://www.2nd-story.org/donate/, a division of the Santa Barbara Housing Authority on Laguna in Santa Barbara (they do NOT sell the objects, use them for Section 8 Housing –and the great thing about them is that they need EVERYTHING to set up a household; they send a moving van and men)
This next business is a liquidator and Glen Corning at RANDOM is NOT a charity, but if you have a WHOLE storage locker and want to sell it ALL, this is the place https://www.facebook.com/randomsantabarbara/.

A tip: ALWAYS get a receipt for a donation and before you forget what you donated fill it in and give an estimated value. The value SHOULD be what you would think the charity would SELL the object for the next day, NOT the price you paid or the price you hope it will bring.

FOR ITEMS VALUED OVER $500 YOU WANT TO SELL

Elizabeth sells middle range sterling silver and middle range art and almost anything she think is worth more than $500 with Clar’s Auctions https://clars.com/selling/consignment-information/ in Oakland. If you have a painting by an artist and you are not sure of the value email Jenny there at Jenny Wilson Jenny@clars.com.

Donating Pianos and Musical Instruments
You will more than likely need an appraisal since most pianos are have significant worth, so email Elizabeth with the serial number and a photo; however, Elizabeth uses the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation Education Outreach, which accepts musical instruments on behalf of local schools’ music departments and puts them to excellent use. The foundation has a special piano mover and trucks and can hand pick a needy school for your instrument: https://sbbowl.com/outreach/education/education_outreach_overview

For Really Nice Designer Clothing and Those Really Difficult Objects to Sell (like China, Silver, and Linens from an era of long- past entertaining) Elizabeth recommends the Charity Thrift Stores that support the Music Academy of the West: The Rack and The Treasure House http://www.musicacademy.org/shop-and-rentals/on-campus-shops

SPECIALTY OUTLETS FOR ITEMS OF HIGHER VALUE

To Maximize the Proceeds from Really GOOD Mid-century Modern Furniture and Art, contact Los Angeles modern Auctions Pejman@lamodern.com

Elizabeth sells anything created in California (paintings for example) at John Moran’s Auctions in Alta Dena. https://www.johnmoran.com/consign

Elizabeth uses an eBay selling service: Henry Hamamoto hamamotodesign@cox.net, and Henry is also an expert photographer so you know your object will be shown to its best advantage.

Elizabeth uses a good estate sale gal for large or small estates: Jessica Solomon, who is young and caring jsolomonjs5@gmail.com.

If you want to spend a little more consignment dollars (this is an estate sale business which may take up to 50% of the total sales, and they are selective in the collections they represent), Elizabeth uses The Clearing House for HUGE estate sales; Elaine and Christa are local and have an amazing crowd at every sale of buyers, very classy. http://theclearinghousesb.com/services/.

The way to sell UNIQUE objects is through Clubs and Collectors ON LINE. Remember the more specific the target, the higher price you can ask. Folks that are not sure of the value of objects can always send Elizabeth a photo for a free estimate of value and guidance on those objects at elizabethappraisals@gmail.com.

If you have an elderly relative and you need customized service for the elderly, such as getting them moved into a nursing home, and help with divesting their objects, Kip Glover is your man (he also often calls elizabeth in for consultations on value) kip@kipglover.com.

If you have really great stuff Elizabeth will gladly represent you and to send things to Christies and Sotheby’s. And even if you don’t have great stuff, you can still email Elizabeth photos for free valuations on a few objects and advice.

Disclaimer

Be advised that organizations and professionals recommended on this website are those that have served this appraiser well, but the appraiser makes no guarantee that YOU will be well served with this site’s recommendations. Links from this website to third-party websites are in no way an endorsement by this appraiser of their contents or their suitability for any purpose.

This website makes no representation as to the timeliness, accuracy or suitability of any content on this website, and appraiser cannot be held liable for any irregularity or inaccuracy. Recommendations and comments on this website are solely those of experts quoted in the field of art, antiques and collectibles, which may have led to the opinions of the appraiser. They do not represent an opinion of whether to buy, sell or hold objects. The opinions of the professionals and organizations listed or quoted, directly or indirectly, are not the responsibility or necessarily the opinion of the appraiser.

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