Insider’s Look at What It Means to Clean Out an Estate

Last week while out walking my dog, I ran into a neighbor. As usual, we started chatting, and 20 minutes later my dog had given up and laid down realizing the walk was on pause.

My neighbor had just returned from a trip to see her son, daughter-in-law, and grandbabies out in Utah. During her visit, she updated her family on some remodeling and upgrades at the family home in Austin. As a part of this process, she’d been required to relocate items around the house to make room for the contractors to do their thing.

By actually picking up and taking stock of items she hadn’t even thought about in years, and being an avid fan of Artifcts, she paused to think, “What is all this? Why am I holding onto it? What am I going to do with it next?”

She told her son she planned to donate the family china sets—yes, plural—and probably even old leaded crystal glasses and bowls that had fallen into disuse. “I know you don’t want my stuff. I read about it in the paper every day. I get it.”

Except, she was wrong.  

Her daughter-in-law did not see it as sentimental clutter, as many her age tend to do. She intsead chimed in, "Didn't one of the sets belong to Alex's great grandmother?“ It had, and her daughter-in-law said, "In that case, I want it. It’s family. Same goes for the crystal.”

Future Options for Your China Set

The irony, according to my neighbor, is that while her daughter-in-law may want her china and crystal, shipping it will be expensive, and it will almost certainly sit in their storage unit in Utah. They live in an adorable bungalow where there’s no space for china.

“I hope I can take it to them myself the next time I take a road trip out to see them. Somehow it makes her feel good to hold onto it. That’s fine by me as long as I don’t have to!”

If your china set has fallen into disuse, think carefully through your options:

Sell

We think that for you to make the best decision, you need all the facts. If you intend to sell your china, do not expect it to be a major money maker. Better to be okay with “something is better than nothing” even if we all know there are wild exceptions out there in the world, like these ceramic plates that sold for over $25,000 at auction.

A simple online search can give you an idea of what your set is selling for in the current market. Because of shipping costs, you’re likely constrained, but for some china (because of the designer, pattern, or quality) shipping may not a barrier. You might discover a single plate will sell for $85 or $3. Check around with sites like liveauctioneers.com, eBay, Etsy, and 1stDibs.

Some online marketplaces, such as Replacements.com, buy china to then sell it off piece by piece to people who are looking for replacements for their set. But read the fine print. Some sites make quotes pending receipt of the items, and then once they receive the items, they could reduce their offer. And the price a piece sells for is going to be substantially different from what they pay you. Know this and be okay letting it go.

Family and Friends 

You really do have to ask!

Do not assume that no one wants it.

Ignore those news headlines.

You might have a friend, neighbor, or loved one with a desire for your china. But avoid attaching strings to that gift. If you give away your china, and they then turn around and break up the set, transform it, or eventually get rid of it, no harm, no foul!

Keep a Few Pieces 

If you’re feeling sentimental or even guilty about letting go of something that was a part of so many family occasions or was originally expensive to purchase, holding onto a few pieces of the set might help you let go of the rest. Perhaps you keep only the tea cups, only the dessert plates, or a platter and/or serving bowl. That can sometimes be enough.

For others of you, you may decide that you need still less. A single cup can become a decoration on a shelf. Or you can use it bedside to float a candle or a single flower.

Donate

Donations can be difficult for china. They take up a lot of space and are naturally delicate. Call your local charities and thrift stores to see what they are interested in before you pack it up and haul it over.

Create

If you are the crafty type, we’ve seen creative options for smashing china and setting it into paver stones for gardens and pathways. Others carefully break, arrange, and 3D frame pieces for stunning and creative textual art. 

Artifct That 

You might decide you’re keeping your china, because you’re enjoying using it or simply looking at it. You might decide it’s out of here, tomorrow!

Either way, Artifct that to record its history, like our co-founder Heather did for the china set inherited from her mother-in-law.

Artifcting your china, or any piece of it that you are partial to, and sharing that Artifct can open up conversations you never expected. Sharing might also help you complete the “In the future” field in your Artifct.

Here are some tips for making future plans for your china:

• • • If you want that china to “Stay in the family,” make sure they understand why through the story you provide in the Artifct.  
    • If you plan to sell it, great, choose “Sell,” and set a reminder for yourself and Artifcts will email you to help keep you on schedule.  

• • • If a loved one sees the Artifct and is in love with the china set, fabulous. You can indicate “Bequeath” and to whom. 
    • Selling it tomorrow? Mark, “Too late! Already gone. Enjoy the memory.” to save your loved ones from a frustrating scavenger hunt. 

No matter your plans for your china, make them known to your loved ones, and prepare yourself to let it go to a new home.

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© 2025 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

They do say, "The proof is in the pudding," and this weekend my sons found out that Artifcts is the way to get through the 'stuff' and out the other side to the lives they want to be living.

Our mission on Saturday was to clear out a corner of our garage so we could create a small gym for our family. Standing in our way was a bunch of clutter, almost exclusively the sentimental type, and some of which belonged to each member of our family.

I do this for a living, clearing out homes, and knew a few strategies to help us get the job done, and done better. Chief among them is using the Artifcts app to keep track of what goes, what stays, and why it mattered to us.

I kicked off our cleanout effort by Artifcting my old skateboard. My Lance Mountain, Powell Peralta skateboard from 1988. This board was more important to me than most. I saved my money for it, I purchased it, and it was my only means of transportation for two summers.

That board has been with me for 35 years. Odds of me riding it again and avoiding serious injury or sudden death are slim. It was time for it to go. Even though I’ve been downsizing other people’s homes for decades, it’s always special when it’s my items, with my kids. I still get excited when they ask me questions about my childhood.

Then it came to boxes belonging to my boys with childhood 'stuff' in it. You know the stuff - ribbons, artwork, school papers. Someone thought it was special and hung onto it but now even my boys only got a laugh out of it and wanted to recycle it. My son Temple was totally into recording the story behind some of his more creative efforts, and photographing it all, before tossing it.

What could have been a fast, let's ditch everything, so sorry we can't keep it all effort, turned into a great morning together. Beyond great. Did you listen to what he said in his Artifct? Pure gold to this dad.

And we're left with a clear garage space and a collection of new Artifcts to remember it by. In the end, my youngest son said, “This is cool! We should Artifct more ‘stuff’,” and I said, “Yes, Temple. We should.” And we will… 

Bottom line: Artifcts works. Try it for you. Try it for them. Try it free today at Artficts.com. Let them know Matt Paxton sent you.

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© 2025 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

When I went away to college, my parents converted my bedroom into a meditation room for my father. I was the youngest of three, the last to leave, and the only one who had their bedroom immediately transformed into something else entirely. Ironically, mine was also the smallest and had no heating or air conditioning, which you might think would make it the least desirable bedroom of the three to transform. So then, why my room? Simple: I was organized. (Okay, and yes, it was less desirable for company. But play along with us.)

When I went off to school I had “binned-up” all my stuff and donated or otherwise disposed of a lot of stuff I thought I didn’t need anymore. Admittedly I have a bit of regret about that decluttering experience. My whole life I’ve pushed myself and my family to shed stuff, but in doing so, sometimes I was too rash. I didn’t even have a digital camera back then to take a dose of that terrible advice, “Take a picture, and let it go.” The memories vanished.

Today we're sharing three conversations you'll want to have with your kiddos before any extreme makeovers to keep the peace and the memories.

One Conversation: All that 'stuff'

Parents, if you have not done so recently, open the door to your kid’s room, and just take in the 360 view. Do you see their personality blinking at you like neon lights of Las Vegas?

From the papers, posters, paint colors, and collections, you can see their interests, old and new, hobbies, achievements, and more. And all that they love now will get tested and turned on its head as they step into their new lives, whether they are going off to college or entering the labor force. What was cool or amazing or their passion now, may not be in a few short months.  

Here are a few questions you could ask to help you start a discussion about all the ‘stuff.’ It's all about understanding what's what:

• • 1. What do you plan to take with you? TIP! Keep a notepad handy because in this process you might also turn up new items that they need to buy before they go.
    2. Is there anything you aren’t taking that you wish you could?  
    3. Are there things we could put into storage or rehome? I may have company stay in here now and then when you’re away, I’d like to make room for them to feel more comfortable.
    4. These {items} are actually quite valuable. I’d recommend you leave them here. Not great for a dorm room.  
    5. If we had a fire or a flood, and we needed to grab and go with just a few things, what of your belongings would you want us to take out?

Avoid these common pitfalls as you get started: 

Rushing it. The reason we're publishing this article now is because we want to save you from this pitfall. It happens when you either waited until the last minute or allowed only one week in the whole summer to get this done. Either way, rushed decisions are fraught with stress and increase the risk of conflict. Plan ahead. 

Ignoring or dismissing sentimental attachments. Are you SURE they do not have a sentimental attachment to things x, y, z, that they are getting rid of? Regret can be so painful. You know your kid. If they are suddenly tossing aside items they have loved, maybe put them into a box you’ll hold for 6 months. Then they can check back in on that box with a different mindset from a different moment in time to ensure they are truly ready to part with its contents. 

Ignoring YOUR sentimental attachments. Yes, your turn. If your kid is ready to let go and you are not, that’s on you. Let them know you want to save those items for your own memories and take responsibility for finding a safe place to store them until you are ready to let them go.  

Missing out on opportunities to digitize. Digitization is your friend. It cuts down on clutter, provides a backup in case of fire or flood, and makes items accessible 24/7 from anywhere. What can this apply to? Printed photos, certificates, artwork, class notes, posters, projects, greetings cards, yearbooks (and the notes friends leave), and the like.

Losing context. Will your kid ever wear those clothes again? Do they need that sports gear anymore? Life is changing in a big way. Some stuff will no longer be needed in this new life. Let it go to someone who can use it.

‘Disappearing’ things. Resist going through their room after they are gone and make decisions about what goes and what stays. Instead, at most, sort the items, and when they next come home (and after they have caught their breath), ask them to go through the boxes and verify what should go where. No parent wants to ruin a visit by pestering their kid to go through their stuff, so you might also consider taking it in doses. One box per visit? In all likelihood, they are still adjusting to their new life. Cut them a break unless you are in a situation that absolutely compels downsizing.

A Second Conversation: It’s About the Space

This conversation is about love and respect in equal measure, and in both directions – two-way street!  And in the process of discussing how you plan to repurpose their room once they move out, you will avoid the surprise factor as well as learn if they have any redlines you can accommodate so they do not feel overwhelmed by change. Here’s one flow that worked for an Arti community member who was launching child number 4 into the wild and that you can adapt to your circumstances: 

• • • I love you and you’ll always have a home here and a bed to sleep on.  
    • But I am going to convert your room into a dual-use space. I’ve always wanted to have a place for {whatever purpose}.  
    • When you are home, I’ll happily turn it back over to you. You’ll always have room for your clothes and ‘stuff’ {in this dresser/closet/space}. 
    • This does not mean all your ‘stuff’ has to go. We just need to make room. What can we pack up and: 
      • • Send with you? 
        • Store in the closet/attic/basement?
        • Donate? 
        • Sell? 
    • Are you comfortable if we redecorate or paint the room? 
    • Do want to take any furniture with you, or do want us to keep certain pieces for you in the future?

The Penultimate Conversation: The Joy of Connection Through Artifcting 

It’s nearly impossible to wander through a room so full of life as a kid’s room and not find yourself tumbling down memory lane. The stories and memories come unbidden. And that’s when you grab your phone, open the Artifcts app, and click record. When the story’s done, add a pic of the relevant object that triggered the memory, and save that Artifct. Now whether that object made the “keep” list or not, the memory is saved, in their own words, and maybe with your side commentary, too! 

This is for them 

This is for you. 

The moments behind everything in their rooms will begin to get fuzzy and fade as they make room for this whole new world they are walking into. Save them now. And besides, as much as they may love Winnie the Pooh, what if he does not make the cut for the dorm room?

Your digital Artifcts provide the memories and comfort of home no matter where you or those physical artifacts are in the world. Feeling connected and grounded when there is so much change is the gift you give them through Artifcting together. 

And remember, you can always Artifct for them, too, when they are not around. No two people hold the same memories. You may remember things that they were too young to recall or for which they only remember part of the story. Your memory about an event can be a gift. For example, they know what they experienced when they were in the school musical, the fun they had with friends, the stage fright, and more. YOU know what it was to be in the audience, seeing them on stage for the first time, laughing when they used improv to cover forgotten lines. Let them see it through your eyes too as you Artifct for them.

Happy Artifcting!

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© 2025 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.