Well I don't know what to tell you but from those pictures I think you've only got a couple hundred bucks there. Last year I finally got off my *** the sell the last of a huge collection of misc contracting tools that I just would never need. We're talking a half dozen each of saw-zalls, hammer drills, drills, powder actuated fasteners, EMT benders, ladders, tons of stuff.
I was trying to get $40 for hammer drills that cost a couple hundred and worked just fine as an example. I finally gave up and sold just about everything except the ladders for $10-$20 each just to get it over and done with. I think by the time the weekend was done I pocketed like $600.
Point being if you are diligent and take your time you might get 25-40% of its retail value, but how long will that take. Weeks, months?? And how many tire kickers will you need to fend off?
Or do you just get it all gone for what you can get over the course of s 2-3 day garage sale and call it good.
Well good luck bud you're a damn good friend for doing this for his kids, I just hope none of you have any expectations this will tally up to a sizable return.
I agree. I deal in buy/sell used tools all the time. There are several issues. One of course is how much time you want to devote to it, which has already been mentioned several times. Just researching all this stuff to find some idea of value will take many hours.
If you never sold used tools before, you're in for an experience. I see you have a lot of power tools. Everyone wants to see if they work. Anything battery-powered is probably totaled because new batteries cost more than the darned tool, and you KNOW you're going to need replacement batteries on anything used. The other thing to consider is your competition = yard sales! Most people shopping around for these bargains don't need it NOW (they'd be at the store buying it instead of at your place!). They give this stuff away at yard sales....because they want to move them quick. That's what such shoppers are looking for, and they can wait it out until they find the deal. The only exception is if you have something very unusual or very high quality that costs a LOT of money new, but even then, you'll have to find the buyer whose looking for the exact "brand, model, accessories, size, etc." Another competition is Harbor Freight where the bargain hunter can buy brand new for peanuts. Even the guy just starting out and needs all these kinds of tools usually has no money. Remember too that all this bargain hunting includes haggling--everyone will haggle you. I've seen tool chests bigger than what you have sell for $35-50. No kidding. I don't know where yo are, but if you're in a highly populated area, the market is awash in used tools.
Not trying to be negative, just trying to bring reality in to dispel any possible unrealistic expectations. If you're going to try getting as much as you can for everything, accept taking a ton of time with constant advertising efforts and lots of people coming over. (think about the time just listing each item individually!) Doing a favor is one thing--carving out a huge chunk of your life-substance is another. Also, beware of the CL guys who are casing your joint--I used to be in the computer biz, and when I tried CL, I found less than one in ten to be legitimate.
Here's what I'd do: If you want to move it quickly, post on all the online sites for yard sales (including CL) for a three-day TOOL ESTATE sale Friday-Sunday. Ask your top price on Friday, drop it 25% on Saturday, then another 25% for sunday. This is all dependent of course if you don't mind hundreds of people milling around your place all day, or the 6AM trolls who want you to sell them what you have before anyone else shows up. Whatever is left, give it away to a charity store like Habitat or Salvation Army, Goodwill, so on. If you have too much left, your prices were too high.
Plan #2: call a few pawn shops. Drive around and find the ones with large tool inventories (not the ones primarily loaded with guns and electronics only)--they'll love it, because they have an established client base who knows to go to them for tools. Have them come over and give you a bid. Sell to the highest bidder. They will send someone to hall it all away. You'll get some cash in hand, and you'll have your life back.
Reality: Unless you want to go into the tool business part-time, you are in LIQUIDATION MODE. Those are the two options.
That's where I've been at, especially with contractor tools. Picked up a Dewalt miter saw and table saw years ago for around $300. Paid for themselves first job, and if I wanted to sell them tomorrow I could blow the sawdust off and get my $300 back.