I am sorry to hear about your husband. Dealing with all of the stuff left in the garage all by yourself would be daunting for sure. It sounds from your description of yourself like you would probably be able to take care of everything yourself if you had a very clear list of steps.

How best to deal with this depends on a few things:

1. Are you emotionally attached to any of it?

If so, that’s okay, but figure out why and whether it is worthwhile. Once you have decided that, separate out the things you can’t bear to part with (if any), leaving the rest to be dealt with different.

2. Do you just want it gone, or are you looking to sell some to make money?

If you just really want it gone, then your fastest option is a trip (or multiple trips) to a local donation center followed by one to the dump. Depending on the type (an weight, mostly) of the materials, this might be difficult for you by yourself. You might also advertise a garage sale and list the basic materials and tools available, and sell everything for really cheap (or give it away). This will remove the need for you to do some of the hauling yourself.

If, on the other hand, you are looking to make some money, I would start by separating out the things you decide you want to sell. Then give/throw the rest away as described in the previous paragraph. For the remaining “to sell” items, try craigslist, unless they are very unique and valuable, in which case you can try eBay first. Just try not to get too hung up on the idea of recouping your investment. Old tools are often very well-made and have good value to people who appreciate them, but it might be difficult to find those people. Unless you’re really hurting for money, try to keep your eye on the goal of emptying the space and converting it to an extra bedroom.

3. Are you willing to spend money to get rid of it?

For speed and convenience, this would be the easiest choice for you. Companies like 1-800-GOT-JUNK will come straight to your house and take away everything you tell them to for a fee. A comment I saw from 2009 says their price ranges from $100 to $500 depending on how much of their truck you fill. 1-800-GOT-JUNK and possibly others will also give you a free estimate after they come to your house and see your stuff, so you don’t have to hire them if their quote is too high. You won’t make any money from this arrangement, obviously, but it is undoubtedly the simplest and fastest option. You might want to pick out a few things you can sell yourself, then have a service like this deal with the rest.

I hope this helps! Good luck with your remodeling efforts!

Jeff