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News.com.au
31 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Super valuable items Aussies are mistakenly throwing away
Families tasked with clearing out the homes of an elderly loved one have been warned against rushing to throw away certain items, which often have a hidden value. Bob Morton, the founder of removalist group The Property Clearance Company, said valuable antiques and irreplaceable family heirlooms were often ending up in landfill because of hurried house clearances following a death or once an aging parent needed to downsize or move into assisted care. 'We've seen people unknowingly throw away tens of thousands of dollars' worth of items and we've seen families break down over preventable misunderstandings,' he said. It's become a problem common across Sydney, where the high cost of buying and selling homes has often led eldery residents to stay in their homes longer - often leading to a larger amount of items int he home. Retirees and families in a hurry to clear household items may dump old furniture, crockery, books, clothes, tools or artwork without realising the (value). 'We've seen people toss out antique clocks, first-edition books and signed artworks thinking they were worthless,' Mr Morton said. 'One family threw out a set of vintage tools that later sold for more than $4,000.' According to Mr Morton, retro decor from the 60s, 70s and 80s is in huge demand along with things like pyrex, biscuit tins, vinyl records, original radios and even pantry goods with nostalgic branding. 'People don't always know what they're holding onto, but once it's gone, it's gone for good,' he said. 'We once found a signed painting under a bed that was worth over $8,000.' Mr Morton said the clearance process can be a very emotional time due to bereavement, family challenges and dynamics leading many retirees or families to push through the process quickly to avoid dealing with grief or guilt. However, he highlighted the importance of taking time to thoughtfully sort through a home as this is the only way to ensure nothing important is lost. 'Done right, it can be a respectful and even healing process,' he said. 'Done wrong, it's a source of lifelong regret.' Mr Morton said downsizers who are typically retired people, making their own decisions and their own transition are often a lot more aware of what is in their home, the history and can typically determine the things that matter most. 'Where it becomes more challenging is when families are managing perhaps a deceased estate or the parents' home after they've moved into aged care and they're obviously one step, maybe two steps removed from the home,' he said. According to Mr Morton, there is additionally sentimental value of items. 'Handwritten recipes, love letters and holiday souvenirs may be deeply meaningful for future generations,' he said. 'Letters or personal documents, part of the family story or that family legacy. 'We found a telegram from the Second World War – that was a bit of family legend and something really important to them.' Another warning was against untrustworthy offers, as 'desperate to offload items'. Mr Morton said many retirees and families accept quick-cash offers without knowing the real value of what they are selling. 'We've seen mid-century designer furniture, valuable art and antique tools snapped up for next to nothing,' he said. 'If someone offers to take a houseful of goods off your hands in one day, chances are you're being taken for a ride.' Co-founder of The Demographics Group Simon Kuestenmacher said factors such as social network, friends and frequently visited shops may encourage downsizers to try and stay local. 'We have research that suggests downsizing is good for your mental health, we know this is less stressful for many people and also assuming that the new house works out and so forth,' he said. Mr Kuestenmacher said it is not necessarily the downsizing that helps but the reduced work and stress associated with the upkeep of a large property. 'The place, the location of your downsizing home is very important,' he said. According to Mr Kuestenmacher, those downsizing today overwhelmingly live in the middle suburbs of big cities, which tend to be the most extreme NIMY suburbs blocking development. 'There are no longer any suitable downsizer options available the next street down so to speak,' he said. 'If you want to or you chose to downsize, you are almost certainly switching neighbourhood so you probably also need to reinvent your social network and so forth. 'Yes, people downsize, but ultimately Australians want to stay put in their home because they don't want to give up on their current neighbourhood setting.' Mr Kustenmacher said huge rises in prices across popular downsizer markets in Queensland had narrowed the options for NSW residents wanting to move in retirement. Mr Kuestenmacher said those still active and part of the workforce may also procrastinate with downsizing. 'We know if you downsize you tend to downsize later in life now because we live longer and because we work longer,' he said. 'If you are a baby boomer in a middle suburban home, who still occasionally works nearby – why would you then downsize and move further away?' Common valuable items • Vehicles (e.g. Property Clearance Company sold an old motorhome for $30,000+) • Jewellery (often worth $3,000+) • Artwork • Old coin collections ($500+) • LPs/Vinyls ($500+) • Machinery (e.g. Property Clearancy Company sold a workshop lathe for $2,300) • Certain liquor (Bundaberg limited edition rum recently sold for $800) • Antique music players (German polyphon music box sold for $600) • Shell collection Items not worth as much as you would think • Books (unless first editions) • General household furniture such as dining tables and lounge suites • Cameras (certain makes and models excepted)
Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
- Daily Telegraph
Domestic violence suppot in free ‘Escape Bags'
Don't miss out on the headlines from Bush Summit. Followed categories will be added to My News. Living with an abusive and controlling partner is sadly an experience Stacey Jane knows all too well. The founder and CEO of charity Escabags finally fled her violent partner for the last time in 2019 and moved from the UK to Australia. 'When I fled domestic abuse in England, I had no family here in Australia, yet complete strangers stepped in with kindness, giving me safety, dignity, and the chance to start again,' Ms Jane said. 'That support didn't just rebuild my life – it inspired me to create Escabags so others could have that same chance.' Stacey Jane founded Escabags to help adults and children fleeing domestic violence. Picture: Sam Ruttyn. The charity's mission is to relieve the initial trauma of domestic abuse by providing free and easy access to Escape Bags for adults or adults and children containing a range of necessities such as toiletries, tampons, baby essentials and information to help victims make the next steps to safety. The bags themselves are sewn by volunteers. Sadly the need for support is even greater in regional areas than metropolitan areas, with women living outside major cities one and a half times more likely to have experienced partner violence than women living in major cities, according to Australian government statistics from 2024. Ms Jane said rural and remote areas often have the least access to support services. 'In these regions, there may be limited public transport, fewer crisis accommodation options, and longer travel times to reach help,' she said. 'By making Escape Bags available in these communities, we aim to bridge some of that gap, offering a discreet, immediate source of essentials for someone leaving an unsafe situation, preventing them from re-entering the family home or those essential items at the most lethal time.' Escabags are discreet, hand sewn by volunteers and contain some of the essentials to help those fleeing a violent home. Picture: Supplied. The bags are stocked throughout police station and various retailers including some Optus stores. Optus has also provided SIM cards in each bag to help victims to communicate freely without being tracked by their abuser. 'From my experience, my phone was both my safety line and my greatest risk,' Jane said.' It had software installed that tracked my every move, monitored my conversations, and left me feeling completely exposed. 'I understood just how critical it was to change my number quickly and safely, and to have a way to connect with loved ones without being watched. Jane said people experiencing domestic and family violence in rural and regional areas can often be more vulnerable than those in cities, largely because of isolation and limited resources. In smaller communities support services such as crisis centres, counsellors, or safe accommodation can be hours away and public transport options can be scarce or non-existent. 'There can also be added challenges around privacy,' she said. Stacy Jane has teamed with Optus to provide free SIM cards in all of her Escabags for those escaping a violent home. Picture: Supplied 'In a close-knit town, it's harder to reach out for help without others noticing, which can deter someone from seeking support. Police or emergency responders may take longer to arrive, and access to phones, internet, or even a private vehicle can be limited.' She said discreet bags are a practical and tangible solution for people everywhere but especially in rural communities. 'The best thing about running Escabags is knowing that, somewhere, someone is receiving the same lifeline that once saved me,' she said. 'What keeps me going is hearing the stories from survivors who've used a bag to take their first step to freedom. Every time I'm reminded that our work has helped someone feel less alone, I think of those strangers who helped me – and I know I have to keep paying that kindness forward. Escape Bags are widely available throughout Australia, at many police stations, hospitals. schools, banks and other privately owned businesses such as Optus stores but, Jane said, the easiest way for a victim-survivor to find their nearest stockist is by entering their suburb or postcode into the interactive map on the website:
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
INTERVIEW: What next, following the Ukraine talks at the White House?
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