I wouldn't say I am worried about, but having had to put my mom, who has Alzheimers, in assisted living, I, an only child, was saddled with another house 60 miles away. She became afraid of strangers and there was no maintenence in the 16 years since my step father died. The hot water heater was 25 years old, the water conditioner was shot, the well was contaminated, the roof leaked. Important financial papers were mixed in with coupons and recipes. Then there was all the stuff she saved, my step fathers clothes, boxes by the 100's, ashtrays from when she smoked 50 years ago, books, jewlery tools china etc. The burden of cleaning up the mess and fixing up the house was enormous and for me it started at the worst possible time: one month after open heart surgery. Most of the baby boom generation have had the same experience as I have.
Add to all that mess, our hypothesis is there was a substantial model railroad hobby (which wasn't the case here.) I've read any number of posts here where people have 50-70 engines. I see ads and people at shows who build custom layouts, so the people who have custom layouts built for them must be lurking here somewhere.
There are probably many people here who have $10,000 and more tied up in the hobby they have enjoyed for 20-40 years. It wouldn't surprise me to find out (and I don't think most people would or should admit to it on an internet forum) that they have six figures wrapped up in.
Even at fire sale prices there could be an interesting dollar amount engines, custom cars or structures and the electronic boosters, circuit breakers and signaling apparatus.
So I think making a list of the valuable stuff would be a good idea. Also a list of contacts of friends in the hobby that might be interested in purchasing or helping in dispose of the collection would be helpful.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Why would one even worry about this ??? I guess if you spend a lot of time worrying about what happens to your stuff after you die, than I agree with Rich, get rid of everything now, and sit and wait to die.
I perfer to live the way I want, and have what I want, until that time comes. After that......who cares?
Mike.
My You Tube
BigDaddy What happens to the layout when I pass on? I had to clean out my mothers house last year and I inherited her pack rat genes. My kids might salvage the layout for the grandkids, or they might order a big dumpster. Bottom line, I don't want spend a lot of dough on infrastructure that will get trashed. Yes they could take it all apart and sell it on ebay, but practically, with them living far away, it's never going to happen.
What happens to the layout when I pass on? I had to clean out my mothers house last year and I inherited her pack rat genes. My kids might salvage the layout for the grandkids, or they might order a big dumpster. Bottom line, I don't want spend a lot of dough on infrastructure that will get trashed. Yes they could take it all apart and sell it on ebay, but practically, with them living far away, it's never going to happen.
BigDaddy The subject of what happens after you die is worth another thread. It is highly situational as far as is the home empty, how far away are the heirs who are going to dispose of stuff, do they have time or even interest? Are there heirs at all? Some people out live their children, or have no children and are very much alone. I don't want this thread to morph into post mortum sibiling rivalries and appraisals. If someone wants to start that thread I'll be happy to participate.
The subject of what happens after you die is worth another thread. It is highly situational as far as is the home empty, how far away are the heirs who are going to dispose of stuff, do they have time or even interest? Are there heirs at all? Some people out live their children, or have no children and are very much alone.
I don't want this thread to morph into post mortum sibiling rivalries and appraisals. If someone wants to start that thread I'll be happy to participate.
I lost a brother-in-law several years ago, and his layout still sits in his basement, complete with electronics, locos and rolling stock.
In my own case, I have kept all of the original boxes and written a detailed memorandum to my son of how to dispose of everything. But the question remains, what does happen to your layout after you die?
It's not only your layout, but everything that you own, your furniture, your household goods, your tools, your indoor and outdoor appliances, whatever.
My suggestion is that if your children are not interested in selling stuff on eBay, then call in someone who will buy it all, lock, stock, and barrel, so to speak, even if it means a dime on the dollar.
If you spend too much time worrying about what will happen to your layout before you die, then tear it down now and you will have one less thing to worry about.
What say you?
Rich
Alton Junction