What to Do With Furniture When Moving: 7 Great Options

Moving to a new home is often seen as a chance to start with a new slate – a new area, a new house, a new job…

It’s natural that you’ll want new things in your new home as well.

But what are you going to do with your old items if you buy new furnishings for your new place? Especially the bulky items, such as furniture and appliances?

When it comes to unwanted furniture, you have a couple of good options – sell it or give it away to someone who needs it.

If you can’t find anyone to pick up your old pieces before moving day, however, you may have to throw them away – and even pay to have them hauled to the landfill.

So, what to do with old furniture when moving?

How to get rid of it easily and efficiently?

Here are 7 great options when you’re not sure what to do with old furniture when moving:

1. Hold a Moving Sale

There is no better time to declutter your home and purge your possessions than before a move – the fewer items you have for moving, the simpler and cheaper your relocation will be (packing, loading, and unloading will require less time and effort; your shipment will weigh less and will fit into a smaller truck; etc.).

And there is no better way to get rid of the things you’re not taking to your new home than to sell them at a garage sale – not only will you get them out of the way, but you will also put some extra money in your pocket.

So, if you have enough time and plenty of items to sell besides your old furniture, a moving sale is your best bet – just be sure to organize it properly, advertise it well, and make the event attractive:

• Choose a good time to hold your garage sale – a sunny Saturday during the first weekend of a month is proven to be the best time for a successful yard sale;
• Spread the word around – tell your friends, neighbors, and coworkers about the upcoming sales event, share details about your garage sale on social networks, put an advertisement in the local newspaper, and place big signs and posters in strategic places in the neighborhood (as well as on busy roads nearby) a few days before the sale, etc.;
• Prepare your furniture for sale – clean it well and make it as presentable as possible;
• Make the area safe and attractive – remove any obstacles and potential dangers from your property, hang balloons around, play some music, use colorful signs and tags, etc.;
• Set reasonable prices for your items and provide good bargains – offer discounts for buying whole furniture sets, a lower price for a second piece of furniture (and even lower for a third), last-minute deals on furniture items you’re eager to get rid of, etc.
• Consider offering some smaller items for free (or for a very low price) to people who buy larger and more expensive furniture pieces (some of the books you’re not taking to your new home to the person who bought your bookcase, a set of plates or glasses to the one who purchased your cupboard, etc.);
• Be ready to negotiate the costs – your aim is to get rid of your old furniture (and other unwanted items), even if you can’t make much of a profit.

How to Organize a Successful Garage Sale Before Moving Out

2. Sell Your Furniture Online

Holding a garage sale may be the best way to sell furniture when moving, but if you don’t have the time, energy, or resources to organize a yard sale prior to moving day, then selling your furniture online is your next best option.

There are many sites and apps that can help you sell your unwanted items to interested buyers – with a little effort you can not only get rid of your old pieces but turn them into cash:

• Clean the furniture you intend to sell on the Internet – use furniture polish on wooden pieces, vacuum upholsteries, spot-clean stains, etc. It is also advisable to carefully examine the items and fix any minor issues you find – tighten loose screws, replace rusted or damaged hardware parts, etc.;
• Take high-resolution photos of your cleaned furniture pieces from several different angles. Make close-ups of any flaws or damages to show that you are an honest and reliable seller;
• Price your items – research how much similar second-hand furniture items go for in your area and assign comparable prices to your old pieces (you can set a slightly lower price to increase your chances of selling the furniture quickly or try to sell your items at a slightly higher price if they’re in excellent condition);
• Post your unwanted furniture for sale on Craigslist, eBay, Bonanza, eBid, or other specialized websites for selling things online. You can also use popular apps like OfferUp and NextDoor that will help you connect with potential buyers in your area;
• Make your postings short, informative, and attractive. Be sure to include catchy titles that won’t mislead, brand names or easily recognizable designers, accurate descriptions of the current condition of your furniture pieces, quality photos that showcase the furniture in the best light, and any background information that will make the items more appealing and desirable. Adding a short message like Everything must go before my move or Price Negotiable will catch people’s attention and increase your odds of finding a buyer before moving day;
• Reply to any inquiries from potential buyers quickly and politely. Be flexible when arranging a time for interested individuals to come and see the furniture in person. Be ready to assist buyers with taking the furniture out of your home and loading it on a transportation vehicle;
• Lower the price and tweak your ad a little if you don’t get any interest within a few days after listing your furniture for sale.

You may feel like you’re losing money that way – because you’ll be selling your furniture for less than you paid for it – but when you consider the cost to move those pieces to your new home, you’ll realize that you’re actually doing yourself a favor.

Moving costs are based on the weight of the shipment and/or the time required to perform the move – furniture pieces are large and heavy, difficult to take out of the home and load on the moving truck, and oftentimes require disassembly, not to mention the time and effort it takes to safely pack furniture for moving.

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3. Take Your Unwanted Pieces to a Consignment Shop

Contacting a used furniture dealer or a consignment store is another viable option for selling furniture when moving.

It’s very beneficial if you’re in a hurry to get rid of your old pieces, but it’s unlikely to bring you much profit – you will receive your money only after the furniture has been sold and the amount will be considerably smaller than what you could get from a direct sale (as the dealer’s profit will be added to the equation as well).

Besides, you’ll probably have to take your furniture to the consignment shop yourself – if it is a large and heavy piece or if you have several furniture items to sell, you’ll have to arrange (and pay) for transportation and find someone to help you take the furniture out of your home and load it on the vehicle as well.

Selling the pieces you’re not taking to your new home may be your most advantageous option for getting rid of furniture when moving but it may not always work – you may not have enough time to organize the sale, may not be able to find a buyer before moving day, etc.

What can you do with your old pieces then?

Here are some more ideas on what to do with unwanted furniture when moving – if it’s not selling or if you’re not interested in selling it.

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4. Offer Your Old Furniture to Family and Friends

In case you can’t or don’t want to sell your old furniture, you should consider giving it away to someone who could use it.

Check with family and friends first – see if any of them needs any of the furniture you want to get rid of and give it to them as a farewell gift.

You won’t get any money out of your old furniture this way, but it will be a nice gesture to your relatives and pals and will show them that you care about them and want to help them as much as you can (plus, you won’t need to worry about what to do with your unwanted items anymore).

Take a picture of the furniture you’re not taking to your new home and post it on all your social media pages with a message below telling about your move and the need to get rid of the furniture. You can also send the photo and the message in a mass email to all your contacts.

If any of your friends or relatives likes the furniture and thinks they can use it, offer it to them for free and ask when they can come to get it – make it clear that it will be up to them to find a way to transport the pieces (but be ready to help them carry the furniture out of your home and load it onto the vehicle).

If none of your friends wants the furniture, but one of their acquaintances does, consider offering it to them at a big discount – it’ll be a win-win situation.

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5. Donate Your Furniture to Charity

If you can’t find a buyer or a friend willing to take your unwanted furniture off your hands, your old pieces could go to help a worthy cause.

There are many charities and non-profit organizations that will be happy to take your furniture, as long as it’s in good condition.

They will either sell it and use the money to fund their charitable programs or give it to people in need.

Charitable organizations that accept donated furniture (and may even pick up the pieces) include:

• The National Furniture Bank Association
• The Salvation Army
• Vietnam Veterans of America
• Goodwill
• Habitat for Humanity ReStores
• Donation Town
• The United Way and many others.

Do a Google search to find a charity in your area that has a furniture pickup service, call them, and set up an appointment.

Some local organizations, such as homeless shelters and missions, schools and theater groups, etc., may also be able to put your old furniture to good use – give them a call to ask if they need any of your gently used pieces and if they can pick them up or you’ll have to drop off the items yourself.

If your furniture is too worn out for charity, you can donate it to a local animal shelter – they will likely accept the pieces for their furry residents to curl up in.

Good to remember: When you donate furniture to charity, you’ll receive a receipt for the value of the pieces. Keep that receipt, so you can claim the deduction when you file your taxes – it will either put a little cash in your pocket when you get your next refund or reduce the amount that you have to pay in taxes.

Where to Donate Used Items When Moving

6. Offer Your Unwanted Pieces Out for Free

If your furniture doesn’t meet the donation requirements set by charity organizations or if you don’t have the time to arrange furniture donation pickup/drop-off, you can simply offer it for free to anyone who might want it.

All you need to do is list your unwanted pieces on sites like Freecycle or Craigslist (under the Free Stuff section) that allow users to post and browse ads for a wide variety of free items, including furniture. Interested buyers can contact you and schedule a time to pick up the pieces they want.

You can also call 1-800-GOT-JUNK and make an appointment – someone will come to get your furniture items and will ensure that they get donated or recycled.

Gifting your old furniture won’t put any money into your pocket, but will allow you to get rid of your unwanted pieces without having to pay for their disposal – and will make you feel good.

Keep in mind though that all these methods for getting rid of furniture when moving only work if your pieces are in good condition. But what if they are damaged? Or what if you can’t find anyone willing to take them?

7. Dispose of Your Old Furniture

So, what to do with furniture when moving – and no one wants it, even for free?

Your last option is to throw your old pieces away. This will likely cost you a fee and will add to the tons of furniture in landfills, but it is still a better solution than moving unwanted items to your new home.

Not sure how to dispose of furniture when moving?

You have several options depending on how much stuff you need to get rid of and how quickly you want to get the job done:

• Rent a roll-off dumpster – you’ll be able to work at your own pace and will have a guaranteed price and scheduled removal of your old furniture. The company will drop off a container of the size you specify in a spot you choose and will pick it up when you’re ready (you’ll have to load your items yourself);
• Hire a junk removal service – the junk removal professionals will come to your home, load up your items, and haul them away. If you have many large pieces to get rid of, though, the cost of furniture removal may get quite high;
• Take old metal furniture (or parts of furniture) to a scrap dealer – this will allow metal pieces to be recycled and you’ll be paid for the materials, but you’ll have to find a way to transport your items to the scrap yard yourself;
• Haul your unwanted furniture to the dump – you’ll have to transport the furniture to the landfill and may be required to pay a small disposal fee.

Depending on where you live, you may also be able to leave your old pieces at the curb for the local waste management company to collect (for an extra charge, of course).

Good to remember: Be sure to ask your moving company if they offer furniture removal services or if they would agree to drop your unwanted pieces to a donation center, thrift shop, or scrap yard before they head off to your new home with the rest of your goods.

Now that you know how to get rid of furniture when moving, you can easily find the best solution for your old pieces – and not take along damaged or worn out items, items you don’t need or don’t like anymore, and items that don’t fit into your new home.

Your relocation will be much cheaper and much easier when moving without furniture (or with only a few pieces of high practical, monetary, or sentimental value) and you’ll be able to furnish your new house or apartment entirely to your liking – with modern, comfortable items that fit perfectly and add functionality, elegance, and cheer to the home.

Happy moving and happy new life!

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