RECORD IT

The first step is to free everyone of guilt, says Matt Paxton, a downsizing expert and author of Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff. Heirs have no moral obligation to maintain someone else’s collection. Whether you’re the collector or an inheritor, “give yourself permission to let it go,” he says. If you want to acknowledge the collection for posterity, keep one cherished piece, photograph the rest of the collection, or film yourself telling its story. Then move on.

SELL IT

The ultimate question is this: Should you sell the collection as a whole or individually by piece? The answer depends on which is more important to you: money or time. Selling by individual piece will likely net you more profit. Other collectors may pay good money to fill holes in their collection, says Ed Kindle of Five Katz Antiques. But if you want to rid yourself of the collection quickly, sell it all as a lot.

To assess the collection’s value, research similar items to see what they sold for on marketplace websites, Kindle says. If you opt to sell it yourself, eBay and Etsy are popular for collectors. You can also find collectors clubs online. Or contract with a dealer or an auctioneer, who’ll take a cut of the sales.

DONATE IT

Collections are rarely worth what you think, Paxton says. So you might want to avoid the mental fatigue of selling. An alternative is to donate the collection to a charity or find an organization that would appreciate the items, such as a library or museum. —Niamh Rowe