Forget the Age of Aquarius; today we live in the Age of Acquisition. The quandary over how to get rid of too much stuff has become as overwhelming as the accumulated detrius itself. The good news is that Sarasota has world-class experts to help: sophisticated, knowledgeable professionals with credentials you'd expect to find in much larger cities.

                We found specialists who remove clutter accumulated over a lifetime and those who focus on last season’s clothes. Some pros concentrate on why we acquire; others on why we can’t let go. From the sad burden of settling a loved one’s estate to the joyous transition from single to married life, the reasons for de-accessioning are as diverse as the emotions they elicit.

Temporary setbacks, like divorce or debt, force us to downsize. Adult children may have no choice but to initiate an aging parent’s dreaded last move to assisted care. At any age, the desire to free up closet space is universal, and sometimes we battle clutter just to restore emotional balance and harmony to our lives.

This de-accessioning guide was created to simplify all the above. Whether you choose to sell, donate, trade or recycle, you’ll find options for divesting yourself of various goods by category. All you have to do is decide what needs to go, consult our list, pick one corner of a room or closet—and in the words of Nike, goddess of speed and perhaps psychology: Just do it.

CLOTHING: designer and otherwise

Sarasota society do more than unload clothes at consignment stores: They buy from them, too. Local shops like Designing Women attract patrons from chic enclaves as far away as Palm Beach.

“We call ourselves the Saks Fifth Avenue of consignment stores,” says Jean Weidner, one of Designing Women’s founders. Weidner says the shop pays out the highest percentage in the area (50 percent) on clothing and jewelry. The clientele donates or consigns brands like Chanel, Adolfo and St. John, often after only one or two seasons, which in turn sell at 50 to 75 percent off the original prices. Everything earned by this store is given back to charities.

Other local consigners carve their own niches. Some think even Calvin Klein is too mass market and refuse anything but Escada and St. John. The Woman’s Exchange, Encore and SPARCC are more democratic about brands.

Most consignment stores have detailed procedures for accepting and selling your clothes. Check whether there are specific days and times the store will review merchandise, if an appointment is needed, what percentage it pays on the sale, if and when prices of the items will be reduced, and whether you may withdraw your merchandise from sale.

Many prefer to donate directly to the charity of their choice at drop-off locations or charitable thrift shops. That’s especially true for menswear, since none of the local consignment shops take it. “We get incredible donations from men,” says Goodwill Manasota’s marketing director, Patsy French, who lists Paul Stuart, Barneys and Brooks Brothers suits on the bill of fare.

“Hats and purses do have collectible value,” says Bradenton estate sale expert and appraiser Julie McClure. She advises not to include these items in your Goodwill pile.

FINE JEWELRY

Actress Ellen Barkin made $20 million when she auctioned the jewelry spoils of her failed marriage to Revlon billionaire Ron Perelman at Christie’s last fall.

Sarasota jewelry collections aren’t likely to rival that amount, but you can find buyers for good pieces here, says Bruce Crissy of Crissy Galleries. “Pretty always sells,” he says. But it’s easier to sell well-known names and manufacturers; in Sarasota, he says, shoppers like big jewelry that will make a statement.

 “If you suspect you’ve inherited a good piece, take it to an independent appraiser or graduate gemologist like Richard Sherwood in Sarasota, or to trusted local jewelers like Main Street’s Fred Shrode,” Crissy advises. “They’ll be able to identify a good designer and advise whether to hold on to a piece or sell it.”

Knowledgeable dealers should be able to estimate the resale value of your piece within five to 10 percent. Crissy’s goal is to make about 15 to 20 percent on the jewelry he buys from you. Although he doesn’t advise clients to sell jewelry via classified ads, he offers a litany of cautions for those who insist: “Say you’re selling an estate and you need to act now. Tell the potential buyer the jewelry is in a bank vault. Have them meet you in a public place like the lobby of a bank, not at your home. If the buyer wants to show the piece to a relative or friend, tell them you’d rather not have it leave your eyesight. Accept only payment in cash. Printed cashier’s checks can be photocopied; go to the bank with the purchaser to cash the check.” Enough said?