I really should start planning for this, just in case.

A local bike nut passed away suddenly a couple of years ago, leaving his non-cycling SO stuck with paying rent on a 20x40 foot room stuffed to the rafters with old bike parts. Mostly junk but some Campi, Sturmey Archer etc. Bikes ranged from dumpster filler to an NR equipped Chris Kvale. Fortunately she was in a city with a very active and varied cycling culture. I can see where it could be a problem elsewhere.

I didn't know her and had only met him once, but word got to her I could help unload the British stuff. Someone else helped with the French and another with the Italian iron. It was hard to throw small parts in the dumpster, knowing that somewhere someone probably needed them, but no way would it be cost or labor effective to match them up. I moved a van load at the ABCE swap meet and bought quite a bit for myself.

It's easy when you are trying to get a bargain. You offer as little as you think will close the deal. But it's harder to come up with a fair value for obscure old stuff, when you don't want to take advantage of someone who just had a loss and needs money.

Garage sales;
A neighbor was a machinist for Smith's Welding Equipment for 38 years. I knew him but we weren't friends. One day as the end drew near he phoned me and asked my to come over and take everything that was in his workshop. Probably about $3k worth of torches, tips, regulators, tanks, silver brazing wire and precision measuring instruments. Wouldn't take anything for them. His logic was that I was the only person he knew, that was still alive, who would appreciate and use them. "My only heir is my 2nd wife's niece up in Canada. She'll get a house worth $300k. She doesn't need a little more for selling this stuff at a garage sale for pennies on the dollar".

I know how that works; My wife picked me up "An interesting looking "C" clamp." at an estate sale for $0.50. Turned out to be a Starrett 4" micrometer.