As you begin to downsize or prepare for an estate sale, one of the most meaningful questions you can ask yourself is this: Did I have this because I loved it, or because I needed it to live?

This simple distinction can guide your decisions with clarity and care. Items you needed to live—like cookware, linens, office supplies, or furniture—served a purpose in your daily life. These are typically perfect candidates for an estate sale. Shoppers are often looking for exactly these practical, well-cared-for items.

But then there are the things you loved. The painting from your honeymoon, Grandma’s china, your favorite books, or a cherished quilt. These pieces often hold emotional weight. Before deciding what to sell, take a moment to have a conversation with your children or heirs. They may want to carry forward those memories. Or, they may lovingly decline—acknowledging the sentiment but recognizing the limitations of their own space or style.

That’s okay, too.

At Time & Place Estate Sales, we’re here for both kinds of items. The practical and the personal. When loved pieces don’t find a home with family, we take great care in helping them move forward—to someone who will treasure them anew.

After all, your belongings tell a story. Our job is to help honor it—whether by preserving it with family or passing it on with dignity and purpose.