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When Furniture and Accessories Go Bad

By
Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 0225085927

Paris street sceneSo, my husband and I are in the process of packing in preparation for a move next month to a new house.

We are purging and de-cluttering like mad - and it's a great time to get rid of a lot of stuff, including stuff we did not realize we had hauled from Virginia to Alabama to Georgia back to Virginia. 

Seriously, if you didn't realize you still had it or didn't miss it after not using it for 10 years, should you really hang on to it?

We have put a lot of things on eBay and Craigslist, too, and sold quite a bit of our furniture.

One item, though, has not sold.  It's a 4' x 6' hand woven wall hanging, a Parisian street scene, that was not inexpensive when I purchased it oh-so-many years ago. 

Once a prized possession, it now lingers on Craigslist (after being ignored on eBay), even at a low, low, ridiculously low price.  A teeny, tiny fraction of what I paid for it, I can tell you.

And to think I snorted when my husband put a Kodak slide projector on eBay.  "Really?"  I scoffed.  "Who on earth would want that relic from the Dark Ages?"

Apparently 2 people did, because he ended up selling it for more than his minimum price. 

Yeah, that was a slight smirk I saw as he was preparing to ship it out.

Meanwhile, my wall hanging just...well, hangs there, apparently completely out of fashion.  At any price.  I envision the next stop for it is the community yard sale, with a tag on it that says, "free to good home."

"I cannot believe no one wants this!"  I exclaims in exasperation this afternoon.  "Seriously.  Do you know how much I paid for that thing?" 

Then it hit me.  I sound just like some of my clients who do not understand feedback about their 10 year old green kitchen countertops - "but they are Corian and were expensive" - or their 25 year old interior-decorator designed decor.  After all, they "paid a lot for this" and it looks as good to them today as it did when it was first done. 

Tastes evolve.  What was popular 20, 10 or even 5 years ago doesn't always appeal to today's buyers.

No matter how much you love it.  

And no matter how much you paid for it.

 

 

 

 

'The Diamond Group' 'A Cut Above The Rest'
The Diamond Group @ Keller Williams - Lubbock, TX
Lubbock Texas Real Estate

Now that brings it home! I have been in my new home for a little over two months now and am still moving in. it is really a process. good luck to you and have a happy fourth

Jul 04, 2011 09:12 AM
Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh
Century 21 New Millennium - Upper Marlboro, MD
A doctor who makes house calls.

I love the analogy.  I hope it sells - maybe its because no one has the wall space anymore :-)

Jul 04, 2011 10:53 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

You mean you aren't just going to GIVE it away?  :)  Sorry.  Couldn't resist.

Jul 04, 2011 11:19 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

This reminds me of the time I was feeling dismayed because I noticed a dent in my new refrigerator - and then I realized it was 16 years old!

Jul 04, 2011 11:43 AM
Jerry Murphy, CRS, SRES
Long Realty West Valley - Anthem, AZ
Anthem, Phoenix, and Scottsdale AZ Real Estate

The ONLY thing I like about moving is that you do get rid of a lot of clutter.  Best of luck to you Susan.

Jul 04, 2011 01:05 PM
Marie Graham
Owner, The Refreshed Home White Plains NY - White Plains, NY
Westchester County Interior Decorator, Home Stager

It's always interesting when we get uprooted and placed firmly in someone elses's shoes. Really good point Susan...and it will come in handy for sellers who cannot see the error of their ways...

Jul 04, 2011 02:56 PM
Sidney Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula
Realty Works Temecula - Temecula, CA
Realty Works Temecula

Susan:  Very true, and I am one to unload of things quickly, the opposite of a hoarder!

Jul 04, 2011 03:17 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Susan yep I understand completely.  Sounds like you are well on your way to cleaning out the house in preparation for the move.  Good luck.

Jul 04, 2011 03:40 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Oh don't give away that wall hanging.  Firstly, it's Paris and secondly, there must be somewhere you can hang it in your new home.

Jul 04, 2011 04:28 PM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

Oh, that is so true. I hear my customers saying that all the time, Susan. Like, those avocado appliances are so very in!

Jul 05, 2011 01:28 AM
Diane McDermott
Realtor®, GRI, Landis e2 Real Estate, LLC - Charlotte, NC
Charlotte NC Real Estate Market

Taste specific often sometimes just doesn't get better with age.  So true that we do hear the same reasoning from homeowners - nice parallel!  Good luck with the move :)

Jul 05, 2011 10:33 AM
John M. Scott
BRE # 01442690, Scott Keys Properties - San Francisco, CA
Broker / Owner San Francisco Bay Area

Susan, I'm with Jane. If that wall hanging means so much to you find a place for it :-)

Or give it to Goodwill as a tax write off donation.

Jul 05, 2011 11:03 AM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Gay:  Oh, isn't that the truth - and it happens quite often!

Sonja:  When it comes down to it, that is exactly right.

Elizabeth:  I know what you mean...it is a process, indeed.

Stacey-Ann:  Probably exactly right, especially here.  When we were in Atlanta, we had a ridiculously huge house, with 2 story ceilings and the like...what a difference!

Chris Ann:  You crack me up!  I almost spit out my coffee when I read your comment.  ROFL

Marte:  Time just flies!  I was cleaning out the medicine cabinet and found Nyquil that was 5 years old - how did that happen?  I could have sworn I just bought it!  LOL

Jerry:  These days I feel like a hoarder - had no idea!  You are so right!

Marie:  It makes me more emphathetic, to be sure.

Jane:  LOL - I wish I was! 

Cindy:  Garbage day has been quite interesting lately!  LOL

Jane:  Actually, truth be told - I am tired of it!  LOL  But I wanted someone else to like it!

Toni:  Oh, it is such a struggle, isn't it?

Diane:  Exactly right!  And I totally get it.

John:  I think Goodwill will end up with it!  LOL

Jul 06, 2011 04:22 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Susan, If I have something I paid a lot for the Greenbrier Valley Theatre Auction....and usually everything goes.  I agree, if you haven't used it or worn it  in 2 to 5 years... time to get rid of it.

Jul 08, 2011 04:32 AM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Rebecca:  I wonder if I could just ship it to the Greenbrier Valley Theatre Auction...LOL...no, just kidding..will find a worthwhile cause around here somewhere!

Jul 10, 2011 01:07 PM
Ellie Shorb
Compass Real Estate - Chevy Chase, MD
Realtor DC, MD & VA Luxury Home Expert

One of my favorite local places to donate (and write off) things, is a charity called A WIDER CIRCLE. They will come and take furniture (and furnishings) and give them to folks in our area (DC Metro area) who are transitioning out of homelessness. They are fabulous! Check em out!

Jul 16, 2011 04:10 AM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Ellie:  Thanks for the tip!  I will check 'em out!

Jul 16, 2011 05:00 AM
Lynn911.com ~ Dallas Real Estate Agent Top Team
Dallas Houses for Rent Dallas Apartment Rentals Lynn911.com - Dallas, TX

Susan great post many times the furniture and etc are sooooooooooooo dated makes a new home look horrible

 

have a great weekend ! dallas homes for rent by owner dallas houses for rent by owner lynn911.com

Jul 21, 2011 01:52 PM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

It's a timely post to read for me.  I was just looking around my house the other day thinking . . . is it going to be "relative" in the next 10 years?  I know my kitchen stilll have tile counters . . . I know, I know, call in the demolition team!  And my tastes in wall colors . . . but I'm comfortable here.  I think Martha Stewart would be pleased. LOL

Jul 22, 2011 06:35 AM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Lynn:  Oh, that is so very true!

Carla:  Hey, if you're comfortable, that's all that matters...until it's time to sell!  LOL

Jul 22, 2011 08:01 AM