Heading for a new life in a new home usually means leaving things behind, such as your used furniture. You may have a broken treadmill, a couple of bulky cabinets, or old bedframes that won’t fit in your new house. Instead of lugging these items and paying extra money to hire a larger truck, it’s best to leave them behind.
With that said, getting rid of your used furniture may take a lot more work than you anticipate. Depending on where you live, there may be specific guidelines and rules that prevent you from just throwing your furniture in the dumpster. To help you effectively dispose of your used furniture, here are a few things that you can do.
Sell or Give Away Furniture Online
If you’re getting rid of your old stuff, you might as well make some money off it. Selling your old possessions is a great way to make more room in your new home. The extra money can help fund your move and help you pay for other expenses.
Going online is one of the most efficient ways to find potential buyers and sell your items. Sites such as Craigslist and even Facebook can help you locate buyers who may be interested in your old belongings.
Additionally, if you really want to get rid of your stuff, you can simply give it away for free online. After all, the primary goal is to dispose of the items, not to make a profit. In exchange, you can arrange that the buyer needs to pick it up from your home directly or hire furniture moving services to acquire the used furniture.
Hold a Garage Sale
Aside from putting old furniture up for grabs online, you can always organize a garage sale. The great advantage of holding a garage sale is that you’re attracting people who live closer to you and may be more willing to bring bulky furniture home. The garage sale may also pique the interest of random passersby, who may transact with you if they spot a good deal.
To hold a successful garage sale, make sure to put the word out on your event and prepare the items for viewing. Clean your old possessions and make them look as presentable as possible for their new potential owners.
Give Them Away to Family and Friends
If you don’t want to sell your items, you can always give them away as gifts to your acquaintances, family members, or even neighbors. In this manner, not only do you get rid of your old stuff, but also build relationships with your peers before moving away. Just make sure that the items are in good condition or at least inform the other person beforehand of any damages. You can also try to call for a piano moving service if you are giving away your piano. Call the other person first person as well and ask if they have room in his house before giving the furniture away.
Donate Furniture to Charities
Charities accept all kinds of donations each year, including used furniture. Aside from having the opportunity to help the needy, you can also get tax deductions and save yourself some money. Keep in mind, however, that charities don’t accept just any kind of used items. They have to be in good condition. This means you can’t dump broken chairs or termite-infested cabinets in charity inventories.
Another key thing to keep in mind is how you’re going to move the furniture to the charity. Some charitable institutions have pick-up services while others don’t. Thus, you may need to hire movers if you want to drop off big or bulky furniture to their establishments.
Talk to Waste Management and Scrapyard Managers
If you still have possessions that you couldn’t donate or sell, you may have no choice but to throw them out. Call waste management services in your area and ask if there are any specific guidelines and rules for throwing out furniture. Some collectors indiscriminately collect anything left out by the trash on any day. Others, however, may need a special tag (which you buy from them) for the furniture or have a set schedule on collecting bulky items.
Aside from waste management services, find out if there are any scrapyards near your vicinity as well. Ask the managers if they take in furniture. If yes, you can simply drop off your used possessions in the scrapyard and pay a nominal fee, if needed. Other scrap yards may even pay you if there are any items like metals that are worth scrapping.
Overall, moving to another place, especially if it’s a long distance move, requires a lot of planning and organizing. To leave your old home ready for its new residents, you need to properly dispose of any items or furniture that may get in the way. Disposing of them will take time, so don’t leave this task hanging until moving day. Take the necessary steps to dispose of them properly, whether it’s looking for buyers, holding a garage sale, or hiring the right hauling services for your goals. With proper preparation, you can help ensure a smooth and sailing move to your new home.