How to Downsize a Collection

Thinking about downsizing a collection? Here are some tips to help get you started.

Keep your favorites

Downsizing doesn’t mean you have to get rid of every single item in your entire collection. While deciding which pieces to get rid of, identify your favorite items and keep those. Instead of keeping them in storage with everything else in the collection, dust them off and find a nice way to display them. If you collect plates, for instance, you could purchase some stands and give them some prominent space on your fireplace mantle. Think of how special it will feel to be able to glance up at a shelf and see your favorite parts of your collection smiling back at you.

Talk to your family

You love your vintage spoon collection, but is it something that your children will want at some point down the road? It might be a good idea to ask them what pieces they’d like to keep and which ones they might not be interested in. “Some children will want one thing from your collection as it will always remind them of you, while others might want several pieces as it fits into their collecting interests or aesthetics,” explains Reyne Hirsch, co-owner of Dallas Auction Gallery. This can help you to figure out which items you can part ways with and which ones you should hold onto.

Sell your collection

“Selling the items can be as simple as posting photos on Facebook Marketplace (think more affordable, collected items) while more uncommon or rare items should be consigned to an auction,” suggests Hirsch. The right auction, she says, will usually photograph, catalog and market your collection to buyers around the world to help you maximize your investment. For more common collectibles, you can often find collectors clubs online for that genre of collecting. You might also consider selling things on platforms like eBay, Craigslist or Offer Up. Before selling your items through any auctions or on any online platforms, however, be sure to check the authenticity of the auction or potential buyer.

Join social media groups

There are many online forums and groups on social media that are dedicated to collecting certain items. Facebook, for instance, has a vintage Typewriter Collectors group where people talk about, buy, and sell typewriters. Those could be a great place to hop on and ask fellow collectors about the value of what you have and see if they have any tips on selling items. You may even be able to sell your pieces right there in the forum. 

Donate your items

“For collectors with unique or rare items, it might be worth a conversation with a museum curator,” says Hirsch. While most museums do not pay for items, she notes that there are some exceptions. You may also get a tax break from donating. “Consult your CPA for how a donation would work when filing your tax return,” Hirsch explains. You can also donate things to local shelters, charities, or thrift stores.

Visit your local antique store or collectibles shop

If you are in a larger city, there are possibly numerous local antique malls, stores and collectible shops that could be interested in acquiring your items,” says Hirsch. “If you are willing to accept a wholesale price for your collection, this would be a fast way to sell off your items.”

Work with an estate sale agent

“[Estate sale agents] can host a sale of your items in your home, or at a mutually agreed upon location,” says Hirsch. Keep in mind that an estate agent usually takes a larger percentage of the proceeds, but also typically handles everything from pricing, advertising, payments, and overseeing the sale - start to finish.

Go digital

Before parting with your items, snap some photos of them and keep them in a little digital album. This way you will still be able to look at your collection from time to time but won’t have to store and maintain the physical collection that was once taking up space in your home. It can be a fun way to take a trip down memory lane without having to pull out boxes and dust off items.

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