For the first time in history, two generations are downsizing at the same time: the Baby Boomers and their parents. As these two generations are in the throes of downsizing, they are taking a close look at the things they have spent their entire life collecting and figuring out what to do with it all.
I am a Baby Boomer and I also help my clients with downsizing everyday in my capacity as a Professional Organizer. So, I can speak to the challenges firsthand.
Even though it is a pleasure for parents and grandparents to pass things on to their children and grandchildren, most of them don’t want their parents or grandparents’ stuff. Sure, most would accept a momento or chotchke as a rememberance. But, for the most part, at this point in their adult lives, most of them already have fully furnished homes of their own and their kids and/or grandkids don’t want or need more stuff.
The younger generations are more mobile and more minimalistic. Millennials prefer to live simpler lives with less stuff. Young couples starting out don’t want the same things people used to have. They’re not picking out formal China anymore. If it can’t go in the dishwasher, they’re just not interested. Also, they don’t have the emotional connection to things that earlier generations did. So, if you’re thinking your grown children or grandchildren will want your furniture or collections, if only for sentimental reasons, you’re in for an unpleasant surprise.
As a sidenote…it can be a lot of fun going down memory lane with your family. Going through family heirlooms, photographs and recalling stories of your childhood and theirs is an amazing thing to do. Just don’t be upset that they may not want to keep their baby shoes, sports trophies or artwork from kindergarten or your coin collection.
Another sad but true reality is that most antiques dealers and auction houses have little interest in your parents’ or grandparents’ stuff either. Large dining room tables and chairs, entertainment centers and armoires and old, but not antique, sewing machines, are no longer desirable. Nobody wants the big brown furniture, rocking chairs or silver-plated tea sets anymore. Unfortunately, these items were taking up valuable real estate in auction houses, consignment stores and thrift shops and people just weren’t buying these kinds of furnishings and/or decor anymore. So, they stopped accepting these items.
And, to add insult to injury, even charities like Salvation Army and Goodwill frequently reject donations of older home furnishings. Remember, donation companies accept items that they can easily sell and the older home furnishings just aren’t selling anymore.
At this point, you’re probably thinking that if your kids or grandkids don’t want your hand-me-downs, donation centers are no longer taking some of the furnishings and décor you no longer want and auction houses or thrift stores don’t want it either, what will you do with all of it? Well, there’s no way to sugar coat this! Some of it will indeed wind up landfill. I know! It’s a hard pill to swallow but it’s something that you will eventually have to come to terms with if you want or need to downsize. Even worse, you’ll have to pay a hauler to have them remove the larger items for you. Again, I know!
There are, however, many ways you can sell many of these items. It takes time and effort, but there are options. If you are so inclined, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of apps where you can list items for sale: Facebook Market Place, OfferUp and Craig’s List to name a few. Garage sales are another option. Some other ideas to consider: liquidators, prop houses, thrift stores. Just don’t expect a big payout.
There is some good news though. There are a few kinds of home furnishings that still attract interest from buyers and collectors. Midcentury Modern furniture is still on trend (think Eames chairs and Knoll tables). High-end furniture, jewelry (silver, gold and even costume), artwork and Oriental rugs are also still and probably always will be, of interest to buyers.
So, let me help you manage your expectations with these words of downsizing wisdom… if your kids decide that they don’t want your furniture or things that you’ve collected over the years, please understand that it’s not that they don’t love you.. they don’t love your stuff.
In closing, If you’re lucky enough to still have one or more parents or grandparents, it would be a good idea to start figuring out what you’ll do with their furniture, china, crystal, flatware, jewelry, artwork and tchotchkes when “the time” comes.
My parents are in their late eighties and although it’s not pleasant to think of these things, I’m a realist and I do think about it. True, this is also my business but, again, I do think about it. Perhaps you should too!