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Ad Rates / Articles / Classified Ads / Editorial / Home / Links / Showtime   Collectors: Get your paperwork done    List Mike Bryan Next   How to Avoid the Collector's Pride and Joy Becoming a Family Burden   By Mike Bryan You have to admit that collecting antiques is quite a specialized activity, whether it's furniture, porcelain, lamps, phonographs or clocks.   Each field of collecting can require years of experience to become knowledgeable and be able to tell the good stuff from the junk.   Most non-collectors have little idea about value, rarity and desirability, let alone are able to correctly name each item. Under normal circumstances, that doesn't matter too much.   But what if the collector passes on, leaving the collection in the hands of a now not-so-blissfully ignorant family member or friend?   Let's look at why we must face up to our mortality and how we can make life a little easier for those we leave behind. I accept that there are more important things than antiques and collectibles to worry about when a loved one passes away. However, at the risk of sounding over-dramatic, I am suggesting that your collection could become a far larger burden than you might ever imagine.   The Collector's Responsibilities If you have a collection, however small you may think it is, put aside your modesty and ask yourself:   Do you keep a detailed inventory list of every item and does it show current values, i.e. what you could realistically sell each item for today?   What is the total value of your collection?   Have you consulted your insurance broker to make sure your items are adequately insured?   What does your nearest and dearest know about your collection and its value?   If this sounds like a chore to you, just imagine the challenge it would be for a non-collector to inventory, value and dispose of your collection?   Sooner or later, we are all going to pass on and a family member will have to face the emotional decision of what to do with your collection.   It could become a major burden, as they weigh whether to keep all or part of it, because they know it meant so much to you, or free them of it and move on with their life.   Your family will love you for providing the information and instructions that will save them unnecessary stress in their time of grief.   A Sad Story with a Valuable Lesson All of this came home to me one day when I received a call from the widow of a recently deceased member of the Canadian Antique Phonograph Society (CAPS).   She was seeking advice on disposing of her deceased husband's collection after wrestling with what to do with the phonographs and related paraphernalia for several months.   The collection had clearly become a burden, both emotionally and physically. In less stressful circumstances, the disposal would have still been a chore, but not to the same degree.   The lady's husband had left no instructions regarding disposal, so she had struggled with what he would have wanted, as well as deciding what she wanted to do with the collection.   Now, having made the decision to dispose of it, I sensed her need get fair value and do justice to the years her husband had spent in building his collection.   Of all the options she had considered, she agreed on an auction to give fellow CAPS members equal and fair access to her late husband's collection.   Although the collection was quite small, it was deceptive. It would have been easy to dismiss items of little apparent value and quite difficult to describe.   For a non-collector, even the task of properly naming all the items would be a major challenge.   Anyway, my list that started with about a dozen main items soon grew to well over 100. . In fact, this collection, initially perceived as small because there were only four phonographs, yielded 60 lots, including spare parts, records, needle tins etc. Properly organized, the collection realized a dollar value 50% higher than the guesstimate I'd made at first sight.   There were several positive aspects to all this:   The widow was relieved of the daunting task of disposing of her husband's collection.   The "true" value of the collection was realized through the transparent auction process and delivered in full to the widow;   The collection of a Canadian Antique Phonograph Society member was disbursed in the fairest way among fellow members. His widow believed he would have wanted it so;   Society members benefitted from the recycling of the deceased member's collection.;   At a time of need, the Society was able to provide a solution beneficial to all parties.   Although there were positive outcomes, it could have been very different if the lady had not called the Canadian Antique Phonograph Society and made the right contact. With no inventory list and no idea of values, she was vulnerable to those who would take advantage of her situation.   Sometimes we can be aware that our own ignorance leaves us vulnerable, but we still feel unable to do anything about it. That can leave us with resentment and a bitter taste. Fortunately, in this case, the right choices were made for the best possible outcome.   Options and Steps To Prevent Your Collection Becoming a Burden The key message in this story is to make your wishes known to someone and empower them with the information they need to handle the disposal of your treasures.   Don't assume friends and family are psychic or mistake their polite interest for knowledge. So here are some suggested steps and options on how to avoid your collection becoming a burden to your family:   Make a detailed inventory of every single object, using full descriptions that will identify each item to fellow collectors. Include layman's descriptions of items that do not carry identifying words. There are several ways to identify them, such as photographs with full names and descriptions, or a simple numbered list corresponding to the number stickers placed on the bottom of your treasures.   Indicate the approximate realistic value at which you could sell each item today. Write a note with contact details of collectors, clubs or professionals who you believe to be trustworthy, knowledgeable and potentially helpful in the event of your passing. You may even choose to consult them about this.   In the same note, and in your Will, state exactly what you would like to happen with your collection. Don't assume your family will wish to keep it and please don't consider that "no instructions" is a viable option.   Common disposal options are: Ask, and get a clear answer from family and friends, if they would like to have any particular item from your collection as a bequest. Or   If you want your collection sold through a professional auction house, state the name of the auction house if you have one in mind. Or   Provide the names of fellow collectors who you know would be interested in acquiring all or part of your collection. Or   If you live within driving distance of your antique collectors' society or club, provide the name of a contact there, with a request that they take your collection for auction to fellow members. Or   State you would like your collection to remain untouched in memory of you. Or State that you would like your collection to be advertised for sale in your antique collectors' society newsletter or a newspaper that collectors read, like Wayback Times.   No excuses, no more procrastination. Do it now.   Once you have considered your options, decided on your disposal choice and compiled your inventory list, you'll only have to make the occasional addition or deletion to keep the list current - for as long as you live.   Photo: Mike Bryan, collector and president of the Canadian Antique Phonograph Society.     Return to top of page   This Is Livin' Publishing © 2010 581 8th Line West, RR1 Hastings, ON, K0L 1Y0 Phone/Fax: 705-696-1833   webmaster