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Collectors...

By
Real Estate Agent with Fathom Realty Washington LLC

 

I get back into town only to find a client wanting me to come over and give them a listing presentation, now.

I get to the house and talk to the elderly couple for close to an hour and a half before we tour the spotless dated three bedroom house.

The man tells me I should see the attic space so I go up to a packrats collector's dream come true. The man had collected model train magazines since the late 1940s and they were piled as tall as me from one end of the attic in the house to the other. I had thought some small cracks in ceilings downstairs were from settling but now I am concerned about the weight. I also saw some exposed wires that made me cringe at the thought, Fire Hazard.

The wife was gloating when I said we'll have to clean out that attic space.

The man says well take a look here, Paul, in this spare bedroom, this is my wife's collection of recipes from every book and magazine since we moved into this house. This bedroom was half full of recipes about 3 to 4 feet high.

I've been on the phone with model train clubs trying to alleviate the attic mess but the recipes I am really raking my brain about...

Some of these older homes are full all sorts of relics that have no value except to the person who started the collection...

How do you handle packrats collectors?

 

 

Authored by Paul S. Henderson, Realtor ®,  RE/MAX Professionals, Lacey, WA.

(http://phenderson.net) or http://www.lacey-washington.com

©2009 Paul S. Henderson, Collectors, All Rights Reserved

Posted by

 and courtesy of 

Paul S. Henderson, Residential Real Estate Broker 

Tacoma Washington 

Realtor ® BPOR, CRS, GRI, CDPE

Fathom Realty WA LLC

Serving

South Puget Sound in Washington State

 

 

 

 

Paul's Service Area


 

 

As a Residential Broker and Relocation Specialist, I sell homes in or around ,Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Steilacoom,  University Place, DuPont and Hartstene Pointe in Washington State.
Please visit my website at http://www.hartstenepointe.com to search for information 
(all information is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed or warranted in any way)

Referrals are always welcomed and appreciated, Thank-you!

(As a member of the NWMLS, this blog post is intended to comply with NWMLS rules as pertaining to blogging.)

isspfmtysmily

iaa

 

Comments(15)

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Tony & Darcy Cannon
Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT
The C Team

Paul, I can't help you.  You should see our basement, we're as bad as some of the people that have been in homes for years.  If you find a way to change these people's perspective, please get in touch with us.  We too need help with this problem!

Jan 21, 2009 04:54 PM
Barbara Delaney
Park Place REALTORS, Inc. - Roanoke, VA

Hi Paul,

This is a toughie! Maybe there are cooking clubs in your area. Do you have a newspaper food columnist in town? These things could be treasures for some!

And then there is Craig's List!

Hope you are doing well!

Barbara

Jan 21, 2009 04:54 PM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Tony and Darcy, I'm working on it. I'll let you know...

Jan 21, 2009 05:30 PM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Barbara, Collections such as these have been replaced by the Internet and the value is in the eye of the beholder. Have you ever smelled 50 year old magazines?

Jan 21, 2009 05:33 PM
Richard Dolbeare
Inactive - Wailuku, HI
Living the Hawaii Lifestyle

I haven't had to handle such a severe case yet but I'm sure it's somewhere in my future.

Jan 21, 2009 06:02 PM
Jason Neumann
Century 21 Assurance Realty Ltd. - Kelowna, BC
Realtor - www.KelownaRealEstateNews.com

Paul, sounds like you are thinking in the right direction.  I guess there is always donating the cookbooks if there are no takers for them otherwise.  I look forward to hearing how you got the job done.  Take care and happy blogging!

Jan 21, 2009 06:04 PM
Randall Sandin
Carolina One Real Estate - Charleston, SC
843-209-9667 - Search for Charleston SC Real Estate

the line I use is that "you sell you house a lot differentl than you live in your house" and then I explain how I would have to change my place and then ask if they see anything they think they will need to chance - sometimes they figure it out on their own

Jan 21, 2009 08:37 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

I always recommended that they rent a temperature controlled storage unit close by to store their collectibles and then move them to the new location when ready.

Collections can be important to folks.

Jan 21, 2009 08:41 PM
Richard Iarossi
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD
Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Paul,

Delicate situation. One person's "collection" is another person's "junk." I'm sure WA has more than it's share of storage facilities available until the house sells.

Rich

Jan 21, 2009 09:48 PM
Chip Jefferson
Gibbs Realty and Auction Company - Columbia, SC

This is the hardest one of all. Memories that have been collected for years are hard to part with. I suggest storage and make it known that its not an option.

Jan 21, 2009 10:31 PM
Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate
M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hi Paul, You are, indeed, in a tough situation. Hmmmm, it's difficult when someone loves their collection but it will hinder the sale of their overstuffed home.  It all MUST go! Otherwise the house won't go.  Are they agreeable to part with everything? If not then they are going to have to get it in storage! Good luck on this one!  Been there, done that!

Jan 22, 2009 12:14 AM
John Cannata
214-728-0449 http://TexasLoanGuy.com - Frisco, TX
Texas Home Mortgage - Purchase or Refinance

Thats crazy Paul.  There are many collectors out there though.  Its great to have a hobby, but when is it too much?  My guess is when the room is full and not a moment sooner.

Jan 22, 2009 03:59 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

I am seeing a lot of road blocks. I've decided to call in reinforcements namely the son and daughter. I explained the circumstances and I appear to have allies in my cause...

Jan 22, 2009 03:31 PM
Chris Olsen
Olsen Ziegler Realty - Cleveland, OH
Broker Owner Cleveland Ohio Real Estate

As a home stager as well as realtor, I encourage sellers to get a head start on packing, as they will have to when the home sells, they are just front-loading the process, and pack these things in a portion of the basement or garage or even a nearby relative's home (preference is outside the property). 

I tell them the benefits of when their home does sell, their stress will be greatly reduced.

It works most of the time.

I even will bring in an organizer to do it if they can't do it themselves.

Jan 23, 2009 02:11 AM
Dinah Lee Griffey
Windermere Peninsula Properties - Allyn, WA
Managing Broker Windermere Peninsula Properties

I am a pack rat, but I am not married to one.He keeps me balanced on keep and throw away. Put it on EBay-Dinah Lee

Jan 24, 2009 02:30 PM
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