My parents have no concept of a "market," despite holding degrees. I've been trying to help them get rid of their crap. They are spending money on a storage unit to keep 25 year old department store furniture because they want to sell it for what they paid for it, and can't find a buyer.
I've resigned myself to making a huge pyre of their worldly goods after they die.
Boomers are not only unaware of depreciation, most of them also cannot wrap their heads around a sunken cost fallacy.
Or opportunity cost. They would've been further ahead giving the furniture away, rather than paying monthly rent on a storage unit waiting for a unicorn to buy that shit at MSRP (in 2025 dollars, not 2000 dollars) just to "break even."
I've explicitly laid that out. Even appealed to their selfishness with a vague "if you donate enough in one year, it might be worth some kind of tax write-off." No luck. Dad understands depreciation just fine when it comes to vehicles. But when it comes to indoor things, they have this child-like notion of an objective, true value.
They need to spend a couple weeks watching an MMO's auction house.
Some of the most painful parts are the repetitive pointless stories about the purchase of said items that are triggered whenever the possessions are mentioned, thwarting any attempts at being pragmatic.
It's a good lesson on why value is subjective. No one will buy his parents' shitty furniture, especially not at MSRP, because there's no emotional connection.
Happens all the time where I live. Really nice, vintage stuff just being left to rot. Well made, solid wood pieces that could probably survive another 500 years. Nobody wants it. Everyone wants Ikea shit that's gonna fall apart in ten years because they don't have to do anything crazy like leave their houses to acquire it.
Half my house is furnished for free out of things that cost someone $1500 30 years ago but is now worth nothing.
They are spending money on a storage unit to keep 25 year old department store furniture because they want to sell it for what they paid for it, and can't find a buyer.
I'm halfway surprised by that. I figured the dollar would depreciate more in value over 25 years than the furniture would. Is it in half decent shape?
Furniture is literally given away regularly, or at bargain bin prices at every thrift store or even landfill if you catch it right. It might be worse quality but its also probably a difference of 50$ versus their emotionally attached value of hundreds to thousands.
It's in fine condition, but it's not even moderately high end. The only value is in the fact that it's real wood. And it looks like department store furniture.
My parents have no concept of a "market," despite holding degrees. I've been trying to help them get rid of their crap. They are spending money on a storage unit to keep 25 year old department store furniture because they want to sell it for what they paid for it, and can't find a buyer.
I've resigned myself to making a huge pyre of their worldly goods after they die.
Are they unaware of depreciation? Not everything is an investment, least of all furniture that goes out of style.
Boomers are not only unaware of depreciation, most of them also cannot wrap their heads around a sunken cost fallacy.
They are somehow the perfect intersection of wasteful cheapskates.
Or opportunity cost. They would've been further ahead giving the furniture away, rather than paying monthly rent on a storage unit waiting for a unicorn to buy that shit at MSRP (in 2025 dollars, not 2000 dollars) just to "break even."
I've explicitly laid that out. Even appealed to their selfishness with a vague "if you donate enough in one year, it might be worth some kind of tax write-off." No luck. Dad understands depreciation just fine when it comes to vehicles. But when it comes to indoor things, they have this child-like notion of an objective, true value.
They need to spend a couple weeks watching an MMO's auction house.
Some of the most painful parts are the repetitive pointless stories about the purchase of said items that are triggered whenever the possessions are mentioned, thwarting any attempts at being pragmatic.
It's a good lesson on why value is subjective. No one will buy his parents' shitty furniture, especially not at MSRP, because there's no emotional connection.
This past weekend I drove by a frontyard with a collection of estate furniture as OP described left out & being ruined by the rain.
Valued so little by everyone that even the thousands of cars driving passed couldn't be bothered to stop & vulture any of the pieces.
Happens all the time where I live. Really nice, vintage stuff just being left to rot. Well made, solid wood pieces that could probably survive another 500 years. Nobody wants it. Everyone wants Ikea shit that's gonna fall apart in ten years because they don't have to do anything crazy like leave their houses to acquire it.
Half my house is furnished for free out of things that cost someone $1500 30 years ago but is now worth nothing.
I'm halfway surprised by that. I figured the dollar would depreciate more in value over 25 years than the furniture would. Is it in half decent shape?
Furniture is literally given away regularly, or at bargain bin prices at every thrift store or even landfill if you catch it right. It might be worse quality but its also probably a difference of 50$ versus their emotionally attached value of hundreds to thousands.
It's in fine condition, but it's not even moderately high end. The only value is in the fact that it's real wood. And it looks like department store furniture.
a little diy might help.
strip the old varnish/veneer and refinish, give it a new look. if the bed's a four-poster (not likely, but who knows?) maybe get/make new post tops.
You could at least make it into something worth a second glance.
I would assume it's out of style.
What kind of furniture? Pics or gtfo
You don't want this, brother. An unholy bed frame / dresser combo.
i'm afraid to ask, but are we talking real wood stuff or particle board crap?
Most of it is real wood pieces, just kind of tasteless and utilitarian looking.
Ah. Needs a little style added to it then lol