My beloved “Tommy” is by my side and he is dying; I know you understand when I say it is killing a part of me too. I cannot fix his heart or bring his vitality back, neither his playfulness or fun spirit. Lately, it seems I am saying goodbye far more than I’m saying hello.
The old song “Break It to Me Gently” reminds us that any time bad news is coming, we’d rather hear it gently and compassionately than point-blank and hurtful. Many times in life we will be the deliverer of, and recipient of, less than stellar news. How we deliver it, and how we receive it, is a testament to our personal and professional character.
We professionals don’t want our clients to be disappointed when they go sell these items and the prices brought don’t match the stories behind the pieces.
“Neither wanted to learn,” he said. “Now they have their fancy phones and games, but they have no way to make a living. They don’t know much.”
The siblings had reached an impasse. One long distance heir, who had little to do with mom while she was alive, was the first to get an attorney involved, then everyone else followed suit. It just gets messier from there.
I remember when you were a little girl, no more than 5 or 6, you would sneak into our bedroom, open my jewelry box, and try this ring on when you thought no one was watching.
You can’t fit 10 lbs. of flour in a 5 lb. sack, any more than you can fit 3,000 square feet of stuff into 1,000 sq. ft of house! It just isn’t going to happen, no matter which way you squish it.
Suddenly, in this big and chaotic world of ours, I found myself totally locked in a dance with her, enjoying a “moment” nature provided for this one-person audience. For a minute, we observed one another. She must have instinctively known I meant her no harm.
“Free” is never free. It just sounds good. Free can mean hasty mistakes, and free can mean costly mistakes. Sometimes free can be very expensive.
We see the dark portals in people’s lives after they leave. We will never have a clear understanding of why these people did what they did, made certain decisions, or why on earth they would ever leave those secrets behind to be found.
The voice on the phone was very shaky and distressed. Through her tears, I heard her say … Those words were truly cutting and very upsetting to those of us in the industry who put our hearts and souls into assisting our clients.
Research and find the best estate professional; the right person is very worth the effort to find! Moving forward through a challenging estate situation is paramount to your continued well-being.
THANK YOU for allowing me to share pieces of my life, and for your willingness to listen and reply.
Be especially careful if reaching under piles of stuff in estates, attics, garages, outdoor sheds and barns. Always wear blue jeans, boots, and heavy gloves!
Most people take their jewelry to jewelers, thinking this is the logical place to sell it. While that’s not a bad choice, there are other options. Try locating places closer to the refinery; you are likely to make more money.
We can easily shop globally from the confines of our desk to find comparable items, best prices, and unique finds. Our online reach can take us anywhere. Anyone can post anything online, often without knowing what the gismo is, what it’s called, with little accountability for errors or condition issues, and certainly without understanding the values.
I see many children/heirs carry a lot of baggage with them, to the point of personal detriment. I see clients feeling guilty and taking possessions they don’t really want.
NOT ONE OF THEM HAS TO DO WITH STUFF!
Because the spot price of silver is currently down, many people are collecting scrap silver or scrapping family silver pieces for quick cash. This is done by weight only, so families may think that mom’s candlesticks are very heavy and therefore must be worth a fortune!
WHY A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY WHEN CLEANING OUT AN ESTATE. For anyone walking into this home, myself included, it would be considered an overwhelming situation, let alone for an heir who has no knowledge of how to proceed.
Happy Mother’s Day to my readers! God bless all mothers everywhere.
Letting go can either be a huge struggle or a freeing experience. What a beautiful gift, if we can find the strength!
A powerful blog for those with parents who have not yet planned ahead.
Bringing in professional help is an inexpensive insurance policy that you are making the right decisions for the distribution and dissolution of a loved one’s personal property.