Getting Rid of Furniture When Moving: Best Ways to Dispose of Unwanted Furniture
Moving is the ideal time to declutter your home and get rid of unwanted items. There is no sense in packing and loading furniture and other belongings that you no longer need or want. Perhaps you are downsizing and won’t need the extra furnishings, or maybe you just want to start over with something fresh in your new home. Whatever the reason, you shouldn’t waste time and energy transporting furniture that you don’t plan on using in your new home. You can save money on storage when you figure out how to get rid of furniture instead of taking it with you. Compare the cost of removal with the cost of storage using a moving container cost calculator.
Furniture is big and bulky, and sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to move it. Chances are your new home will have a different layout and size, and some of your current furniture will no longer fit properly. That said, getting rid of furniture can be a hassle. You may wonder what to do with furniture when you’re moving.
While it is certainly ideal to get rid of furniture before you move, it can often be tricky to figure out exactly what to do with all of those furnishings. Follow the following tips to help you know where to take items you don’t want to haul across the state or across the country.
How to Get Rid of Furniture When Moving
Sometimes, furniture is so old and worn out that you may find it embarrassing to try to sell or donate it. In this situation, it’s best to just throw it away. However, you may not be sure how to throw away something as large as a sofa or bed. Unless you have a dumpster, you may think you’re stuck with taking the worn-out item with you. Fortunately, several other options exist, besides storing it locally or using long-distance moving containers.
1. Junk Removal Services
If your furniture is not in good enough condition to sell or donate, you could utilize a junk removal service. Though there is a cost for these services, they will come to your home and pick up the furniture for you, which makes it a very convenient and hassle-free solution for those who need to get rid of their furniture quickly.
While this option does cost money, it might be worth the price not to have to deal with the hassle of loading and unloading your furniture from one destination to another. You also don’t have to worry about the legality of how to dispose of the item properly. The junk removal services company has the proper permits and area to handle such an item.
2. Eco-Friendly Disposal
If none of the other options are suitable for you, then be sure to dispose of your furniture in an eco-friendly way. If you place it on the curb, you risk a fine for improper disposal, not to mention that most of those items end up in landfill. If you are looking for a proper way to dispose of your furniture, call your local waste management company to get more information on how to get rid of furniture when moving.
For electronics, you’ll want to be careful about how you dispose of old printers, computer monitors, and hard drives. A technology disposal company can often erase your computer’s hard drive to prevent stored information from falling into the wrong hands.
What to Do with Furniture When Moving
If your furniture won’t work for you anymore but is still in good shape, you have a few options to dispose of it before you move. Consider each option and how it can fit into your schedule as you pack up your home.
3. Sell Your Furniture
Unless your furniture is ruined or in very poor condition, you could make a few extra bucks by selling it. There’s a good chance someone would be willing to purchase your furniture, and a little extra money could be really helpful when you are moving. There are several different options when it comes to selling furniture.
You could organize a yard sale and try to sell your furniture during that, or you could also sell it online through Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, NextDoor, Mercari, or other similar sites and apps. If you do decide to sell your furniture, be sure to give it a good clean first. Next, research similar pieces for sale in your area before taking pictures and listing them.
4. Offer it to Family or Friends
Many people don’t want to go through the hassle of selling their furniture. If you don’t have the time or energy to put into selling it, you could consider donating it to family or friends.
Oftentimes, family or friends would be happy to take the furniture off your hands. That’s a win-win for everyone! Instead of asking people individually, you can post it on your social media networks with photos of the item. You can also ask your family to spread the word, especially if you have multiple items to get rid of.
5. Donate It
If you are prepared to get rid of your furniture for free, many charities would be interested in taking your items. Some local charities like Goodwill and Salvation Army can clean the furniture and resell it to the community for a discounted price. Other charitable organizations, such as churches, can find a family in need who could benefit from the furniture. When you donate to a charity, you can also ask for a receipt that can be used as a tax deduction. You may decide that getting rid of your furniture when moving helps you save money as you calculate your need for various portable storage unit sizes.
How to Get Rid of Large Furniture
If you have large furniture or appliances that you don’t want to take with you, another idea is to donate to Habitat for Humanity. The Restore takes items in good condition for those who are buying their first home and others who may need large items. You can use it as a deduction on your taxes when you donate personal items, such as furniture.
Special Considerations for Furniture Disposal
If you’re throwing out an old appliance, like a refrigerator or dryer, look at recycling centers that take items like these. You can also call city hall to find out about restrictions for disposal of appliances and large furniture. Many cities provide special days for residents to put large furniture and appliances by the street curb for removal. If you plan your move early, you can take advantage of these convenient services as you figure out what to do with your furniture when you’re moving.
Making the Most of Your Move: Storage Solutions for Furniture
Once you’ve gotten rid of anything you don’t need or plan to use, you’ll need to figure out how to store all the furniture you’re keeping. SMARTBOX offers a practical solution for your belongings with our portable storage units and containers. You can pack these units at your convenience since they are delivered directly to your location. Once packed, our team will pick them up and deliver your SMARTBOX to the destination or a storage facility until you’re ready to move them to their permanent location. Contact us to find out about our moving and storage services and how we can help you with getting rid of furniture when moving.