Introduction to Decluttering Your Paper-Based Collections

If you collect paper-based items such as comics, trading cards or posters, now is the perfect time to declutter, reorganize and breathe new life into your collection. At Bags Unlimited, we understand the value and importance of caring for paper-based collectibles, which is why we offer a wide range of products to help you keep them protected, organized, and tastefully displayed.

Organizing Your Collection: Supplies That Work

As a collector, you might be surprised by the wide range of organizational products we have available. Our extensive selection of collection protection supplies is designed for many types of collections, including vinyl records, comic books, posters, photos, DVDs, video games and much more. We can even help collectors tackle challenging collections such as trading cards, books, magazines, and newspapers.

Core Supplies for Paper Collection Care

Our essential product line of boxes, bags, and boards is designed to provide secure storage for your collection. We offer a variety of appropriately sized storage boxes that are constructed from sturdy materials to protect your items from dust, moisture, and physical damage. Use our acid-free poly bags that are accurately sized, ensuring that your collectibles remain in pristine condition over time. To further safeguard your collection, we provide backing boards that are sized to fit your items perfectly, minimizing the risk of crimping, bending, or crushed corners. With these high-quality storage solutions, you can confidently protect your collection for years to come.

How to Evaluate Your Collection’s Worth?

Many collectors collect for the love of it and pay little attention to its value. However, if you'd like help determining the value of your collection (and aid in the decluttering effort), here are several suggestions:

• Various online organizations offer collection value services. Some of these businesses provide a free version with limited accessibility, and for a fee, they offer a full spectrum of ways to determine the value of your collection. Some examples of these types of places are PriceCharting, Collectr and HobbyDB, to name a few.
• You can also price-check comparable items on eBay by using the search function. Knowing what others are charging for the same (or for similar items) gives an excellent baseline for what you can ask for your items.  
• Auction house pricing is based on many factors, including price comparison, current popularity or demand, and the financial climate. This saves you a lot of research time as they have already done much of the work for you. Plus, most auction houses have a "recently sold for" category on their website, which helps determine the actual climate of the buying public.
• Price guides used to be hardcover books that were published once a year. Some of them were specific categories, such as art or antiques, Comics, and trading cards. Most price guides are now online. We, as the "Collection Protection Supplies" company, were frequent advertisers in many price guides. The most renowned annual price guides are those compiled by Kovels - the first published book was in 1953 - The Dictionary of Marks - Pottery and Porcelain. They have published over 100 books and are still the number one price guide in the country. Visit their world-class online price guide.

Getting Clear on Your Collection Goals

Decluttering can feel overwhelming, especially if you have a vast collection. At Bags Unlimited, we believe in helping collectors make informed decisions about storing their collections, making sure that their homes aren't overrun by them and ensuring that they can enjoy both their homes and collections at the same time.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• How much room do I have in my home and heart?
• Do I have another one of these?
• Did I even remember I owned this?
• Would I miss this item if it were gone?
• Is this item in good condition?
• What does keeping this item cost me?

The Power of Proper Protection

Maximizing the potential of your collection begins with decluttering, organizing, and displaying it in a way that brings out its relevance without overpowering your space. Bags Unlimited is here to be your trusted partner, providing you with the products and resources you need to achieve a streamlined and clutter-free environment. Explore our website today and discover how we can help.

Stay Tuned for Part Two: Advanced Decluttering Strategies