What would you do?

[mrmaggit]

My Dad died a month ago, and I'm just about to start clearing out and tidying up his garage. Some of you may remember that he built three 3" Traction Engines a few years ago, two were sold and I still have the other one. He made numerous other steam locos of various types over the years, the chap that bought the two engines is interested in the Koppel rack-and-pinion engine that my Dad finished just as he bought the engines.

The point of the thread is this. One of my mums friends sons has said if I want to sell any of my dads old stuff and engines, give him a call. Now I've a good idea what they are all worth, and I'm keeping the other Traction Engine, should I see what he's after, or tell him to do one? I've no intention of letting anybody into the garage just to "look around", and already have homes found for most of his tools and stuff (the lathe and miller were sold years ago), what do the PH massive think?

Oh and before HMRC get interested, his estate is well under the threshold; my Solicitor, Accountant and me checked that out while Dad was still here to be asked the values, which he OK'd, and checking against Auctions/adverts of similar items, are about right.

[mojitomax]

surely if you want to sell it, just tell him you'll sell it for £X and no less. if he wants it fine, if not he's not wasted your time coming round.

am i missing something?

[Zad]

I guess the OP thinks that the person concerned wants something for nothing? I would treat it at face value. Say you are thinking of selling X, Y and Z, and the approximate prices. He may be after a bargain, or he might just be after some work done by a person he thought well of, and will appreciate in the years to come.

[mrmaggit]

I think he's seen American Pickers and thinks he can have a rummage and get something for nothing.

He never met Dad as far as I know, and only knows he's just died through his mum knowing my mum.

[mojitomax]

I suppose it depends on whether you want to let someone have a rummage through your dads stuff or not and how attached you are to it all

[lufbramatt]

Personally I think I'd leave it a few months to let things settle down a bit before you start doing deals with people on this sort of thing. Projects like this are incredibly personal and you don't know what this guys intentions are.

[mrmaggit]

lufbramatt said:

Personally I think I'd leave it a few months to let things settle down a bit before you start doing deals with people on this sort of thing. Projects like this are incredibly personal and you don't know what this guys intentions are.

Pretty much what I intend to do. I have to clean the garage out of sawdust etc first, and that's going to take a couple of months, minimum. I doubt my Dad knew exactly what was in the garage.

The race team have first dibs on the steel/aluminium stuff, files, saws etc I may just jumble off.