Sell
Estate Settlement - Selling Books & Media
Guide to respectful estate dissolution: evaluate and sell books, CDs, DVDs step by step.
Settling an estate is emotionally and practically challenging. This guide helps you approach the sale of books and media in a structured way.
Step-by-Step Approach
Phase 1: Overview (Day 1)
- Get a sense of the collection’s scope
- Separate obvious categories (books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl)
- Set aside anything that might have sentimental or collector value
Phase 2: Sort & Scan (Days 2-3)
- Scan items with Bonavendi using the barcode scanner
- Items with ISBN/EAN get instant price quotes
- Keep a “check manually” pile for items without barcodes
Phase 3: Decide & Ship
- Review Bonavendi’s optimized allocation
- Ship to buyers
- Handle remaining items through other channels
What Typically Has Value
| Category | Value Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Modern books (post-1970) | $0.50-15 | Most common, steady demand |
| Video games | $1-30+ | Retro games can be valuable |
| Vinyl records | $0.50-50+ | Condition is everything |
| DVDs/Blu-rays | $0.20-8 | Box sets worth more |
| CDs | $0.10-3 | Classical and jazz hold value |
Handling Items Without Value
Not everything can be sold. For remaining items:
- Donate: Local libraries, thrift stores, community centers
- Give away: Facebook Marketplace (free listings), Freecycle
- Recycle: Paper recycling for damaged books
Tips for Large Collections
- Work in batches of 50-100 items
- Use Bonavendi’s bulk input feature
- Don’t try to do everything in one day
- Take breaks - this can be emotionally taxing
Last updated: February 2026
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