Keep, sell or toss? Tips on sorting through a loved one's estate

The task of sorting through a loved one's belongings, or your own lifetime accumulation of "stuff," can be daunting. Local experts share their advice on how to get started, what is worth saving and what is OK to discard.

Items that have sentimental value are definitely worth keeping.

"Get family pictures, personal keepsakes and important papers, such as bank statements, out, and then leave the rest for [a professional] to go through," says Harlan Smothers, owner of Smothers Estate Liquidation in Gordonville.

Cathy Dietl, a professional organizer and owner of De-Clutterbug in Cape Girardeau, agrees.

"When I work with clients who are cleaning out a family member's home or even their own home, I ask them, 'Do you love the item? Does that item have a strong sentimental value? Is it possible that the item is worth a lot of money?' If the answer to any of these questions is 'yes,' then I would say the item is worth hanging onto," Dietl says.

Hiring a professional to go through the remaining items can pay off in the long run.

"I really prefer to go through all the items myself," says Smothers. "Jewelry, glassware, old postcards and even pens and pencils and old yardsticks with advertising on them will sell."

Laurie Everett, owner of Annie Laurie's Antiques in Cape Girardeau, does estate sales as well.

"I cringe when I see that someone has brought in a Dumpster and may have already thrown things away that are of value," she says. "My advice is to consult a professional before you start (cleaning out). Even things like paper items with local advertising on them have value."

Charles Bolden, owner of CP Capital Ventures Real Estate & Auction in Cape Girardeau, advises doing some research before you discard an item.

"Always know if something is a collectible," he says. "You can do a lot of that research online."

Some things are fine to discard with no worries.

"Throw away any personal paperwork with account numbers, etc., as well as medications and expired canned goods," says Everett.

Commonly used items and duplicates are also fine to discard.

Harlan Smothers poses for a photo at a recent estate sale in Jackson.Laura Simon

"If it's a very common item that you use every day and you already have, it's fine to discard it," Bolden says.

Dietl advises checking with other family members before discarding anything.

"First of all, I would suggest making sure that all family members have gone through the items and taken anything they may want," she says. "Aunt Cathy might want that snow globe she brought back from Europe for Grandma, and it may have been something you would have discarded or donated.

"If it is an item that you know is of no monetary value, no other family member wants the item, and it is not broken or ripped, donate the item. If the item is broken, ripped, stained, water damaged or has mold on it, discard the item."

Bolden suggests waiting to give or sell any items from an estate until all the bills are paid.

"When dealing with the loss of a loved one and your are the executor of the estate, don't immediately start giving stuff away to family members," he says. "Emotions are involved and those emotions can take over for common sense. You may need the money from the sale of some of the items to get all the bills paid if the loved one has some outstanding debts. Inventory everything of value and see what things are worth."

Getting started can be the hardest part.

"If you are having trouble getting started, whether it's because you are overwhelmed or just don't know where to start, I suggest you start small, whether it's a closet or a small room," Dietl says.

"It can be very overwhelming, and if that happens, you will just give up. Once you get that room complete, move on to the next room, and then the next. If you start with a small room or a room that doesn't need a lot of decluttering, you get a quick sense of accomplishment and will be motivated to move on to the next room. But if you are still having trouble getting started or completing the project, contact a professional organizer."

There are a variety of places you can try to sell your valuable items.

"If you sell things in a garage sale, people expect to pay a nickel or a dime, but if you do an estate liquidation sale, you will get more for the items," Smothers says.

Some consignment stores will let you sell items through them.

"We take some items on consignment and put them in Annie Laurie's Antiques," Everett says.

Selling items online or in a consignment auction are other options.

"You can use eBay, Amazon.com or Craigslist," Bolden says. "However, if you use Craigslist, I'd have the buyer meet you at the police station. Also, if you don't have enough merchandise for an entire auction, you can put things in a local consignment auction."

Many places will gladly accept good quality donated items.

"Some people have a 'church closet' that they like to donate items to, or you can donate them to the Salvation Army or the Safe House for Women," Smothers says. "We donate the leftover items (after an estate sale) anywhere they want."

Remember to ask for a tax receipt when donating items.

"The Humane Society will take old towels," Everett says. "The Safe House for Women and Teen Challenge Thrift Store are both good to donate to because they are both local. And, everything you donate (can be used) as a tax write-off."

Bolden suggests other organizations that accept donated items.

"Goodwill, the Salvation Army, Disabled American Veterans, Love INC. and the Pregnancy Resource Center in Sikeston are a few good places to donate unwanted items to," he says.

Specific items can be donated to soldiers or charities as well.

"(You can) donate your cellphones to the soldiers and your shoes to Soles4Souls or the Shoeman Water Project," Dietl says.

You can even have remaining unwanted items picked up and taken away.

"We work with other companies to haul off remaining items that you don't want," Everett says.