We are a year from moving to Italy? How to decide what to keep, leave? MG, Co.

[CHIP_774 0]

*Right sizing is an important step in any successful transistion to another country whether we are talking about Italy or anywhere else.

Rule #1 is "if you haven't seen it, touched it or used it in the last year, it goes! Be tough on yourself. The porcelain statue that Aunt Elsa gave you two decades ago that you stored away a week after you got it may have sentimental value but no one really wants it... that's a garage sale item maybe.
Here are the six categories of rightsizing a home.

1. Throw away - no one will want it or pay for it. You will be surprised how much of this you have!
2. Give away - there are two categories here
   a Give to a friend who has admired something or commented on it. I would add that often that wonderful table you love may or may not be a hand-me-down for the kids. I was shocked to find my daughter didn't even want a 150 year old, clawfoot, multi-leaf oak table that had been in the family since the 1800s. What you love they may or may not see value in!
   b. Give to Goodwill - remember you can get a dedution within IRS guidelines.
3. Garage sale - these are generally low end items that people can use for resale, manay people who attend garage sales buy things they think they can resale themselves. (Records, old utensiles, tools, knicknacks, etc.)
4. Consignment Shop - these are high end items -furniture paintings, etc = that would look good in other peoples homes. You can do this yourself on Craigs list or other on line places that takes time, effort and a certain amount of expertise. In addition you will have mailing costs or the problems of deliver with personal information in places you may not want it. Be prepared to get 50% of the sale price in a Consignment Shop.
5. Estate Sale - they do the work, you open your home and people come in any buy your goods. Sometimes this is hard to watch but it is less work and you will get less for it as the company that does the set up and the advertising, who also has a clientele will take a percentage of the return.
6. Auction - generally you will get 10% of the value of the goods but there is almost no work involved and your home is left out of the equation as the auction house does all the work,

We got rid of a housefull of items and put some things in the garage of our rental and left with four suitcases, two carry-ons and our dog Frankie. One of the bigger mistakes we make was shipping a pallet of boxes full of books. It took six months, and over $4500 with the shipping charges and the charges for the time in customs while we fillled out and mailed forms back and forth. The less you bring, the better. I hope this helps answer your question. Chip