What if you died today?

[Randybee1]

My brother died last month with just a rudimentary will, he was 57. It was left to us, his remaining brothers and sister to figure out what do with his stuff such as tools, coin collection etc. That got me thinking.. alot. What would happen to all of your stuff if you died today? Even if you have a will do you think anyone would know that weird looking thing in the back of your garage is actually a pop tester for testing diesel injectors? and that it was worth a few hundred?

After the funeral I went home, grabbed a big notebook and started in the corner of my basement. I wrote down EVERYTHING I saw.. band saw, jointer planer wood lathe etc. I went around the entire basement like this and then out to the garage and down to the shed. I now have about 5 pages of my possessions written down. Next to most of them I put a name down as to who I would like it to go to when I die. The other thing I was cognizant of was this: If you have, say an entire tool set, don't give it to your buddy that also has an entire tool set, maybe give it to the young couple down the road that's always trying to work on their own car because money's tight. Same with the diesel engines everyone has accumulated.. think hard and try to get them to someone that would appreciate them AND use them, don't leave them to your buddy that already has 5 engines. And if you do make a list,, show it to your wife/kids and let them know about it. I think, in the end, this is a much better way of dealing with your stuff instead of the standard will that says " I leave everything to my wife"... One more advantage to making a list. Let's say you die and have a nice shiny completely rebuilt diesel (insert name brand here) your dead and here comes some slime ball telling your wife that piece of crap isn't worth anything but they'll take it her hands for a hundred bucks! you wife/kids probably don't know the value of it so they say ok!.. food for thought! Randy B


ps oh, and feel free to PM me if you want to put me on your list

[rcavictim]

That's a pretty good idea!  Only five pages of stuff Randy?  You have a long way to go on accumulating before you die. 

In my case I have so much that it might be more practical for me to do this sort of thing with a video camcorder.

BTW, a record like this is very useful for insurance purposes as well, especially the video record.

[Chris]

Great idea. We know the grim reaper cometh.
I will work on my list.

[mobile_bob]

even if the wife got scrap value for my stuff, she would be set for a while



point well taken though

btw, sorry to hear of your loss, i know that must have been tough.

now to start my list,, crap!

what do we call this list, we can't call it the "bucket list"

how about "the end list"

bob g

[BioHazard]

Honestly I think my family would be afraid to enter my shop without me. I can see it being boarded up and abandoned as is...

Throw the rest of the stuff in the hole with me. I already have it in writing that I am to be buried in my Chevy. 

[Apogee]

Randy,

I'm very sorry to hear about your brother.

Thanks for the tip regarding the list. 

Several years ago, my house was burglarized while I working out of town.  The meth heads wiped out the majority of my shop, took my truck, trailer, etc...  It was a HUGE financial loss.  Anyway, the insurance told me afterward that the best record is one made with a video camera because you can talk about each item while you're filming it.  Make sure to mention model and serial numbers as well.

Did me a lot of good to be told that AFTER....

Again, sorry to hear about your brother.

Thanks for the tip!

Best regards,

Steve

[TimSR2]

Like the Ham Radio club members rip off the widows and sell it all off on ebay.........just sayin'

[RogerAS]

Like the Ham Radio club members rip off the widows and sell it all off on ebay.........just sayin'

What are you talking about here? Clarity matters when you're "just sayin' ".

RS

[cognos]

I know what he's sayin... 

I fly radio controlled aircraft. Often, when a member passes, other club members will approach the family and offer to purchase the former member's supplies/airplanes/radios/engines/etc... - sometimes a member will make a shamefully low offer... sometimes it will be accepted by a family that has no idea of the true value of the stuff... it happens, and some people, such as myself, find this a bit slimy... especially the guys that would brag about it...

I ran a home-based hobby supply business for a while. I saw this happen a few times, and I started to offer my best-estimate services, and how and where to sell advice, for free to members families. I still do it. I have helped put large collections on eBay for people. I don't ever buy anything except on the open-bidding market on eBay, where my chance at getting something was equal to anyone elses, it wouldn't be ethical otherwise. Believe it or not, some members were pissed at me for this... I wonder why?

Leave your specialist "hobby" stuff to someone who will appreciate it - or leave instructions for the family as to what auction house (that you have previously made arrangements with) will be selling it for their benefit.

Just my opinion...

[rcavictim]

Hey guys guess what!  I died today.







........just kidding!      Is that what is known as dark humour?

[wagspe208]

I am sorry for your loss.

If I died today I don't give 2 hoots in hell as long as the govt don't get it. I do not have a will, a living will, a trust, etc so the govt will take big chunk. I will fix that soon.
I have my sister as benefactor on insurance, etc. but as far as assets... there will be close to 1/2 million to dispute. But... I still wont' care as I will be dead, in a better place. My dogs will be taken care of. I have no wife, no kids, etc. Hence the toys. LOL
It is a good idea, though.
Wags