I am in the first year of down-sizing. My wife have given ourselves 5 years to do this. And it is a good thing. I have (had) more than 5,000 books to dispose of. Less than 100 have gone to a national auction house, a few hundred have gone to a local bookstore at a fair price for each of us. They will be back for more.
What has been difficult is what to keep. Maybe about a thousand. I have divided the books into three ever-shifting categories. Those I will sell, those I will keep, and those I am unsure about. The unsures are the largest pile, and the pile that gives me the most trouble. Also, some of the books I want to keep are the most attractive to the auction house.
I have also given books to friends, and my children have spoken up for others.
That's a really great way of handling it. It gives you a chance to spend quality time with each book, even if it is to say goodbye. Don't worry about keeping the books the auction houses want - those will be easiest to sell in the future. Have fun diving into the "unsure" pile - at the end of the day, however, if it isn't a keeper, you know what you need to do.
So helpful! Thank you. I've been carrying around books from my father and mother not knowing what to do. What a relief. And as for myself well... new hobby time.
I am in the first year of down-sizing. My wife have given ourselves 5 years to do this. And it is a good thing. I have (had) more than 5,000 books to dispose of. Less than 100 have gone to a national auction house, a few hundred have gone to a local bookstore at a fair price for each of us. They will be back for more.
What has been difficult is what to keep. Maybe about a thousand. I have divided the books into three ever-shifting categories. Those I will sell, those I will keep, and those I am unsure about. The unsures are the largest pile, and the pile that gives me the most trouble. Also, some of the books I want to keep are the most attractive to the auction house.
I have also given books to friends, and my children have spoken up for others.
That's a really great way of handling it. It gives you a chance to spend quality time with each book, even if it is to say goodbye. Don't worry about keeping the books the auction houses want - those will be easiest to sell in the future. Have fun diving into the "unsure" pile - at the end of the day, however, if it isn't a keeper, you know what you need to do.
Thanks Scott. My wife has your contact information. 👍
As I have been telling everyone who has told me that, those are calls I definitely don't look forward to getting!! Live long and prosper!!
So helpful! Thank you. I've been carrying around books from my father and mother not knowing what to do. What a relief. And as for myself well... new hobby time.