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My family is considering a move, but do I sell or do I hold?

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty LLC 200311024

 

Iwas 14 when I bought myfirst one, though it was many years earlier when I received my firstrecord. Overthe next 25 years, I proceed to buy some 15,000 morealbums of some ofthegreatest artists of all time, but do I really want to move them again?

Ifyou have ever taken awooden crate full of records from room to another, you know thesethings areheavy! But, the thing is that crate only holds abut 120records! Nowtrying toimagine moving 125 of those boxes every time you move!

You see, these boxesreally aren’t movable when you think about howmuch theyweigh. It takes me 4 truck loads of just records everytime I move. Ican payto move these records or I can hold a garage sale and sell them. Evenat anaverage of $1 each, that could get me about $15,000, but the questionis do Iwant to sell them or move them?

I’mreally thinking I want tomove them so my kids can enjoy them as I did, but at the same time,they don’tunderstand records, they think MP3s and CDs only. But, there is justsomethingabout a record that they can’t compete with.

Whatwould you do if you were in my position?

Comments(19)

Ray Logan
Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors - Stacy Mathews - Houston, TX

Move them you can always sell them later if you like if that is what you truly want to do or when you are ready to let them go. But for now I think you want to keep them.

Apr 28, 2009 07:47 PM
Steve Loynd
Alpine Lakes Real Estate Inc., - Lincoln, NH
800-926-5653, White Mountains NH

Todd, If you are saying the emotional value to you is much more than the actual value these records represent to the public, you have just uncovered the dilemma facing many sellers today. Can you separate yourself from the reality of holding on to an outdated technology,and the fact that your kids wouldn't appreciate what it took to collect this "wealth"?

market them to the people that will pay the most for your collection and replace the technology with something easier to move next-time (down scale or update).

Apr 28, 2009 10:24 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I got rid  of many of my records when we moved. I gave them to Goodwill.

Apr 28, 2009 11:08 PM
Barb Szabo, CRS
RE/MAX Above & Beyond - Cleveland, OH
E-pro Realtor, Cleveland Ohio Homes

Todd, We tried to sell a bunch at a garage sale and the most we could get was .25 and we were only trying to sell the "best" of my husband's collection. See what you can sell on E-bay or craig's and I don't know what you should do with the rest.

Apr 28, 2009 11:13 PM
Zane Coffin
Century-21 Homestar - Geneva, OH
(Geneva Ohio Real Estate Agent)

Todd we moved into our new house in 2007 and I have a book collection of around 2000 books and magazines...I packed them up and moved them to the new house about 75-80 boxes 90% are car books that I love ....like your records that you love I'm sure....I say if you move pack them up and take them with you...I am glad I did and after all the work and heavy lifting and hassle to move them is over ....you can sit back and listen to the music that you love with the ones you love.... peace zane

Apr 28, 2009 11:52 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

They can only enjoy them if you have a turntable.  So, if they don't have one, or, you're not including one, I would just sell them to collectors.

Apr 28, 2009 11:55 PM
Elizabeth Bolton
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor

Hi Todd ~ I vote for moving them for sure. Sounds like (no pun intended!) an awesome collection.  Digital music is OK for convenience but with a good system I think that vinyl is better and *nothing* compares to the album covers.  That's 15,000 bursts of  enjoyment - worth the hassle. 

Liz

Apr 29, 2009 12:05 AM
John Combs
Alan Deblat Real Estate Corp. - Oceanside, NY

I vote for selling them. If you can bear to part with them. It is hard to imagine future generations playing and enjoying them as much  as you did.

Apr 29, 2009 12:12 AM
Sally Dunbar
Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area) - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks Realtor - Fair Oaks Homes for Sale

The grasshopper in me says get rid of the entrapment they are.  Our possessions can become lead weights in our lives, cluttering up the space we should reserve for other things.

But the rockstar in me says... what are you thinking?  Get rid of them after all these years collecting them?  You're nuts. They are priceless jewels.

Truth is your kids may or may not want them.  When my brother died, his huge collection of albums went into the garage until his son finally dumped them, since they got wet and moldy.  They became an emotional anchor that was hard for him to get rid of.  But the mold took care of that. But he felt guilt.

The joy from them was in the collecting of them.  A lifetime of joy.  Having them is probably not as much fun.

good luck.....

Apr 29, 2009 01:29 AM
Terry & Bonnie Westbrook
Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner - Grand Rapids, MI
Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re

I'm into getting rid of things if I haven't touched it in a year then it will be on the block.

Apr 29, 2009 01:45 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Todd, I am purposely not reading the other comments before answering. I saved several things for my kids and moved them only to have my kids say why did you bother to save this. If you want them save them for you, no one will appreciate them as much as you...

Apr 29, 2009 01:48 AM
Shirley Parks
Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX
Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

That's a heck of a lot of records, Todd.  I have moved a lot and have discarded things along the way and later wished I had not done so.  If it isn't too expensive to move them and you have plenty room to keep them at your new place without them being exposed to moisture, etc., I would probably keep them.  Probably, but maybe not.

It's interesting that we spend time and money accumulating things and then at a certain point, we start getting rid of things.  I would like to do a major downsizing of possessions at my house.

Apr 29, 2009 01:59 AM
Tom Braatz Waukesha County Real Estate 262-377-1459
Coldwell Banker - Oconomowoc, WI
Waukesha County Realtor Real Estate agent. SOLD!

Todd

I had a large collection of records and eight tracks ( yeah I know I am dating things) and after I got rid of them I discovered that they were worth a lot of money to people. Perhaps sell the whole collection to someone that will pay top dollar and get into them.

Apr 29, 2009 03:40 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Ray - I've always loved them, but that is just a heck of a lot of weight to be moving again!

Steve - You are probably right about the kids not appreciating the time took to collect them.

Apr 29, 2009 05:07 AM
George & Arlene Paukert
Road to Wealth, Inc. - West Palm Beach, FL

Todd, this is the perfect chance for your wife to start an ebay business. Have her sell the records online and see what you can get.

Apr 29, 2009 07:53 AM
Liz Loadholt
Liz Loadholt- AgentOwned Realty- Covering SC - Mount Pleasant, SC
Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC

Todd --- this is very strange --- I wrote a comment, but I see it is not here.  Maybe I'm dreaming, but don't think so --- anyway, I vote for you to sell the record.

mama Liz Signature

Apr 29, 2009 08:10 AM
Fran Gaspari
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

TC,

Here is a stupid suggestion: Keep the collection intact, but try to find a partner to buy into the collection agreeing to store them in an accessible and safe place, while providing each partner access to enjoy them...kida like a lease purchase...!!! :) Thanks,   Fran

Apr 29, 2009 11:26 AM
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed

Todd, a true dilemma....food for thought though. I'm at a stage in my life where I want to downsize...and get rid of all of that "stuff."  I could give it to my kids, and much will go to them....but you may be right about your records....I have a ton too....Maybe selling them would be a thought! ;-)

Apr 29, 2009 12:54 PM
Bob Volanti
Keller Williams Realty Fresno - Clovis, CA
Fresno and Clovis, CA Realtor

Todd,

Move them while you're young. Donate or sell them when you're old!

We moved about 15 boxes of my late father-inlaws records. For me I would of dumped them. For my wife, they are a connection to her father.

I know how much room ours take up, so yours may need their own house!

Good luck

Apr 29, 2009 05:53 PM