Make an inventory of collectibles so your family does not undersell them

Start with what you actually own

Walk through the house with a notebook and write down every collection you keep. The album in the closet, the box in the garage, the folder in the desk. Include the things you stopped caring about years ago, because your family will not know the difference between a shoebox of junk and a shoebox of value.

For each collection, write one line about what it is and roughly where it lives. That alone saves hours of searching.

What to write for each piece

You do not need to catalog every stamp. Focus on the pieces that carry real value or a story, and describe them well enough that a stranger could pick them out. A short entry for each one works better than a long essay.

• What it is: the name, year, maker, mint or publisher, as best you know it
• Condition: mint, used, framed, torn, faded, still sealed
• What you paid or what you think it is worth, and when you last checked
• Where you got it, if that matters to the story or the value
• Any paperwork: certificates, receipts, appraisal notes, original boxes
• Where it is stored right now

For art and records, add the size, the artist or label, and whether it is signed or numbered. For cards, note the set and whether any are graded or still in the pack.

Say what you know and what you do not

If you are unsure of a value, say so. Write "I think this is worth checking" next to the pieces that might be special. That sentence tells your family to slow down before they sell a box for a few dollars.

If you have had something looked at before, note the rough figure and the year. Prices move, so add a line that the figure is old and worth checking again.

Point to the paperwork

Certificates, receipts and old appraisals are often worth as much as the item to a buyer. Note where they are kept, even if that is a different folder or a different room. If the papers are in a safe, say so, and see home safe combination for how to leave the code in a way your family can use.

If a piece came with a story, such as a gift from a grandparent or something bought on a trip, write a sentence about it. Provenance helps a buyer trust what they are looking at.

Keep a photo with each entry

A photo of the item, the signature, the hallmark or the certificate does more than a paragraph of description. Take them on your phone and store them with the inventory. If you keep the inventory in your envelope, note where the photos live.

Where this goes in your envelope

Put the inventory in the Hidden and valuable things section. That is the part your family will read when they are clearing a house or opening a closet, and it is where they will look first. Keep a copy with the collection itself if you can, so the two are found together.

If the collection is large, put a short summary in the envelope and note where the full list lives. A one page summary beats a folder nobody can find.

Tell one person it exists

An inventory nobody knows about does not help. Tell the person who will handle your affairs that the list is in the envelope and roughly what it covers. See legacy contacts for how to name the people who should know.

Keep it current

Add new pieces as you buy them and cross out what you sell. Once a year, open the list and fix anything that has moved, been given away or changed in condition. A dated line at the top, such as "updated this spring," tells your family how fresh it is.

If you use SuddenGone, you can update the envelope whenever you like and your family will see the latest version. Start with how it works if you have not set one up yet.

The goal is simple. When someone opens that closet, they will know what they are holding, what to check, and who to ask. That is often the difference between a fair sale and a box sold for pocket change.