FOR THE LOVE OF STUFF

: KRISTI BIXBY

PHOTOGRAPHY : Constantinos Panagopoulos on unsplash.com

We cherish things handed down for generations, enjoy new things fresh out of the box and see a new use in the bones of something old.

There can be times in life that the stu we love becomes a burden either to ourselves or the people we love — who are more important than the stu itself. Downsizing, combining households, relocating or a death in the family are situations that happen in everyone’s life. When those circumstances arise, we sometimes are faced with a house full of stu that is overwhelming at best.

Garage sales, estate sales or auctions are always options but can be time consuming and inconvenient, and rarely liquidate completely. For several years, I have been assisting people in dealing with the stu that was loved but has become a burden. Taking a few simple steps before attempting a clean out can help make the whole process easier.

1.

Make sure everyone involved is in the loop regarding the plans to liquidate the items. This is especially important after the death of a family member. If there is a will, be sure to follow any instructions included for disposal of property.

2.

Give everyone an opportunity, when appropriate and possible, to claim items that may belong to them or to which they have an attachment. Make sure everyone’s clear about who is responsible for removing the items they’ve claimed and when.

If you’re dealing with an entire household, setting up one room as the “keep” room, then going room by room can simplify the process and keep it from becoming overwhelming. This process is crucial to insure nothing gets missed or forgotten. Tape and post-it notes tend to fall off or get removed.

When you’re faced with an overwhelming conglomeration, it can be enormously helpful to have an outsider help. Having someone with no attachment to any of the items involved can help defuse the emotions that can run high. We’ll start with a meeting and consultation, which is free of charge. I will assess the contents, o er a price for the entire contents, and, when an agreement is reached, a contract will be put in place.

For the average house, the complete cleanout takes approximately two days. For large or very full homes, or a hoarding situation, it can take up to a week. We bring our own equipment and are fully insured. What isn’t repurposed or resold in the Fargo Antiques & Repurposed Market is donated to charities such as the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch and HERO. We keep as much out of the land ll as possible.

Through this process, I have met some wonderful families and made some life-long friends. It has become my passion to help families re-home their stu for the next person to love. Please call The FARM any time to see if I can help you too.

Best regards, Kristi