Today was a total bust tying to pick estate sales.
$20 in gas and $15 at a food truck......came home with nothing.

Plan was to hit three but were so bad went out of my way to others.
Prices were high and really not much there.   Good deals if you were looking to get almost new kitchen stuff and home decor items for personal use.  But way to high of prices for resale.

Ran into one of the thrift store guys and he was buying just because he needs inventory.  Said everything he's gotten in past month is smalls with a $1-$5 markup.



One estate company was actually apologizing.   Said they spent a week going thru and cleaning and organizing the house.  Left on Tuesday and when they showed up Friday the house was half empty!
Family came in and took everything of value.  All the tools, 90% of kitchen, antiques and art.....

They had negotiated a full clean out. So on top of paying 3 people a weeks pay to clean/organize/price, 4 people to work sale.....they still have to empty and clean the house, donate goods and pay dump fee's.

Said there isn't even enough left to sell to cover cost.  The home owners came today and they were trying to figure out a flat fee but to no resolve.

I don't know how you would even sue?   How do you figure your losses in something like that?

Me?   I have everything on a set of shelves.   Tho, it's starting to be piled.   Not as organized as it once was.

My roommate on the other hand.  He filled the downstairs living room "to sort and organize" about six months ago......hasn't been touched since.  He is a hoarder I thinking.  He loves to buy.....doesn't sell.

I have to admit I have two wrecked cars waiting to be parted and a row of appliances on the side of the house.   But can't see them from street.  In fact, he way he house is built on a hill you can't see them from any place.   Why its all still there.  Out of sight, out of mind......

Vinyl is hard to value.   Not only condition of vinyl but sleeve and jacket can raise/drop price significantly.

And wht press it was and where.   I had a few that a quick search showed they were in the $150-$300 range.
Further research reveled it was worth about $2 since it was pressed by the American label and not the British label. 

I know a guy that buys thousands of LP's bulk.  Out of all he buys in a year only a handful are worth much.  Rest are sold off in the $1-$5 range....and he has a record shop as well as online store.

I'd google something like 'most valuable albums'  or 'artist' something.  Get a list of most wanted and then search thru your pile.    Or start entering each on eBay, at least older ones.....or just take $100 and call it a day.

Oh yeah!

I went picking this weekend and cut out some stops when I put in $20 and got less than 1/4 tank.....

Considering I have to rent a truck my auctions get closer to home as gas prices go up.  They tend not to let you rent at one location then return at another if its "local".    Means drive to auction, drive home, drive truck to facility, dive home.....could be 200-300miles.  Truck and gas adds another $100-$150?

Ill jut stay local and pay more for a unit.  Save myself the hassle.

So say I donate goods ten times this year to goodwill. Each donation is $100 of goods.  Total=$1000.

Do I need to keep records of where I got items and cost?   Or is $500+ in ONE donation trip.




And can I write off donations made in my name?   

Didnt really know the value of knives.  An estate had a ton of knives and people were lined up just to get in for them.   First 20 or so people walked out with bags of knives!   

Maybe next garage sale I will order some knives in bulk.  Even if not marked up much I can advertise and use them to draw a crowd......

Nope.  But that would be awesome.   I'd so sleep in it.....

Ahhh, I see.

Yeah, if it was all donated goods you might have some flags.

The 50% is total donations.   Like campaign contributions.  Even then, your right.  50% is high for your average person. 


You and I might get away with it if it was only every few years.   We build up items, then donate.
Do it every year? Might raise an eyebrow or two. 


The tough deduction is medical mileage.   You have to be so diligent on your record keeping.  Where, when, why, how far, cross referenced with bill.....
Only reason I like co-pays.   Can write all the info on back of receipt.