We've moved a lot, but never before into a MH to fulltime, which means we have to get rid of a lot of "stuff".  Our kids are all across the country and don't need any of our furniture.  Ideally, a buyer for our house would want the furniture too, but we can't count on that.  I just have this awful feeling that a buyer is going to show up & want to close in 30 days and we're going to be in a panic.  I could start trying to sell smaller stuff on eBay, but don't have a clue how to do that.  Any tips??  We could have a garage sale for some stuff and I was thinking of possibly using an estate salesperson for the bigger things like furniture.  Either that or advertise in the major newspapers 50 miles away.  As you can see, I'm confused and don't know where to start.  HELP!!

We listed our home in May and had our 1st looker the other night, but at least they're looking for a log home and there aren't too many for sale in our area.  We live on Smith Lake near Cullman, AL if any of you know anyone who'd love to live in a beautiful log home on a gorgeous, deep lake (500 miles of shoreline) with low taxes and low utilities.

I'd appreciate any advice on ebay and also estate sales, esp. for some antique items.  Thanks all.

Before going to eBay do Craigslist. www.craigslist.com Follow their directions. Does not cost you a penny. We listed four months ago, 3 couples looked, no takers yet. Best of luck for a quick sale.

For simplicity, sanity and to allow you to get on with your new life, I would recommend putting your "stuff" with and estate sale or auctioneer and be done with it. Selling individual items with ebay or Craigs list is a lot of work for not much more return. We separated the donation items and put the rest to auction, and a month or so later got a check. We were out on the road within 6 months of when we got the idea - and haven't looked back with one regret. Good luck, Fred

We had two garage sales which were a waste of time and the rest was sold by an estate agent. In my opinion, that's the way to go! Ours even came to the house and packed everything up and took it to their auction site, did everything with the preparation of the stuff for sale and only charged 10%! Such a deal!

We listed our home in March of this year and just sold it here last week. We had the same delima but as things worked out we got everything sold (furniture) before the final papers. All the small stuff we are selling in a garage sale and what does not sale there will be donated to Goodwill. We have a small barn that we stored our stuff in vs renting a storage unit. I hope by the end of August we should have all the STUFF sold or donated and we should be down to the STUFF we need in the RV. You may have enough time to sale your things before you sell the house??? What ever you do don't panic it will work itself out. I guess the real key to selling all your STUFF is don't get too greedy by asking too large of a price for things. We made good money but did not overprice our STUFF as to run people off. Good luck to you and welcome to the good life. Sherri and Joe

Thanks everyone for the tips.  Those of you who went through an estate sales agent...were you pleased with the $$$ you received and did you think you got fair prices for your things?  Is 10% about normal for the commission?  I've never even been to an estate sale so I really don't know what to expect.

BTW, Speedy, congratulations on the sale of your home!!  How long before you plan to be on the road?  Hope to see you all out there before long!

We, too, had just a short time to vacate when our house sold.  We turned it all over to an auction house.....it was very simple, quick and easily handled - but I can't say it was an "easy thing to do."  Your own ideas of what is valuable is not the same as everyone else's.  Our aution was held on the weekend after
4th of July (in 2002). It was 98* with matching humidty and because of short notice, advertising wasn't the greatest.  But, in four hours it was all over!!!  We were somewhat disappointed in the $$$ we got, and I think the auctioneers were as well...it wasn't what even they said we would probably get.  When the check came, they hadn't taken out a fee.  We "took the money and ran," never looking back!  It was hard at the time to give it all up (a 5000 sq ft. house) but now I absolutely don't regret it, and wouldn't want that "stuff" in any new house I might buy/build in the future.   Good luck!

Mary