How to avoid being someone else's "nice find"?

[50sBaseball]

First, a response to Tim's response to my hypothetical question as to whether or not it makes sense to buy a card for $100 now knowing it may only sell for $30-40 in the future. Maybe I should have said in the "probable near" future, not suggesting that I intend to pass on soon, but meaning that I am close to selling most of my collection. Knowing that, I do not think I would get much enjoyment with a card over the short term.
Second, the initial purpose of this thread was to brainstorm how we are thinking about divesting our collections ourselves or what steps we are taking to assist our families. Personally, I plan to start selling off my collection soon, and hopefully it will help to pay for one year of a granddaughter's college education. I will sell the most valuable first, and I will eventually keep maybe 50-100 cards to pass on to our sons, not necessarily based only on value, but based on memories. I also plan to scan and print out as many cards as possible so that one day I can enjoy looking at binders of paper copies of my cards and not worry about their value. I also agree with the comment about sorting out one's collection and getting rid of less valuable (or worthless) cards. All will help the family in the long run.
Good thread.

[Exhibitman]

The best way to avoid having your collection be a 'find' is to have friends in the hobby who are able and willing to help your family dispose of the collection. It may be as little as steering them to the right AH.

Also have to tout the benefits of TPG on the 'best' cards: it packages the information right with the card. No one is going to mistake a PSA 4 T206 Cobb for something else if it is in a PSA holder.

The best 'finds' are the products of ignorance on the part of the seller and on the part of the auctioneer. I love some AHs because I know they do not take the time to properly lot or index non-mainstream consignments. I've made really good money on that ignorance over the years. The only way to avoid that is to sell while you are alive. Otherwise, stuff will inevitably fall through the cracks. As I tell my wife, if I drop dead you will get a seven-figure life insurance payout, so don't worry about my crappy little card collection.

[Promethius88]

Originally Posted by 50sBaseball

First, a response to Tim's response to my hypothetical question as to whether or not it makes sense to buy a card for $100 now knowing it may only sell for $30-40 in the future. Maybe I should have said in the "probable near" future, not suggesting that I intend to pass on soon, but meaning that I am close to selling most of my collection. Knowing that, I do not think I would get much enjoyment with a card over the short term.
Second, the initial purpose of this thread was to brainstorm how we are thinking about divesting our collections ourselves or what steps we are taking to assist our families. Personally, I plan to start selling off my collection soon, and hopefully it will help to pay for one year of a granddaughter's college education. I will sell the most valuable first, and I will eventually keep maybe 50-100 cards to pass on to our sons, not necessarily based only on value, but based on memories. I also plan to scan and print out as many cards as possible so that one day I can enjoy looking at binders of paper copies of my cards and not worry about their value. I also agree with the comment about sorting out one's collection and getting rid of less valuable (or worthless) cards. All will help the family in the long run.
Good thread.

Love the idea about scanning the cards that you have/had so you can at least enjoy what you have now. I didn't realize that you were at the point of selling your cards now. It's a tough call but a good decision. When my father passed a year and a half ago, we had to go thru all of the stuff left from his shop that he closed a few years ago that he wouldn't part with. It was basically a lot of stuff that was valuable in bulk but would take forever to sell individually. I wish he would have gotten rid of it before but he didn't need the money and my mom doesn't now so it's not a huge deal.