How to Get Rid of Household Items Before a Move

The packing stage of your move can get a little complicated if your home is clogged up with a bunch of items you don’t want, use, or need. The best way to make your packing and moving process smoother and more straightforward is by decluttering your items and getting rid of what you don’t want. This will also make your move cheaper, as well! 

Whether you’re interested in selling or donating your items, we’ve got some great resources to let you know how to go about getting rid of your items, and some selling and donation ideas so you can get rid of your things quickly and easily. 

Selling Items Before Moving

If you want to clear out your unwanted or unused household items and use these funds to either help fund your move or donate the money to a local organization, selling your things is the way to go. There are plenty of ways to sell your items, and which is better depends on your situation, setup, and current moving timeline. 

If you have some time on your hands before your move and can afford to wait for items to sell online, you can always post items on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Mercari. However, make sure you’re either prepared to package and ship these items by yourself or have an option set for buyers to come and pick things up in person. After all, it’s pretty hard (and costly!) to ship a couch to a buyer by yourself. 

Another great way to get rid of items quickly while making money is by having a good old-fashioned garage sale or sidewalk sale. Putting everything all out at once and receiving cash payments from buyers is a quick and easy way to get rid of your items and make money all at once. Plus, you’ll know your things are going to great homes!

If you want to donate the proceeds of the sale of your items to charity, don’t forget that you can also claim this donation on your taxes! Save your receipt and record of donation and your amount for your taxes and records later on. 

Charities to Donate Large Items To

One of the most confusing aspects of the decluttering process, if you’re interested in donating to a local charity, is knowing what your chosen charity accepts. If you’re looking to donate large or bulky items, this can be even more complicated. Below are some charitable organizations that provide free pickup and who will take your gently used furniture. 

• Habitat for Humanity
• Out of the Closet
• GreenDrop
• AMVETS
• Vietnam Veterans of America
• GoodWill
• DonationTown

If you already have a specific charity in mind, visit their website or give them a call to see what they accept, and what your options are as far as dropping items off or having them picked up. Make sure to do this step in your research, as trying to transport and donate large or bulky furniture to a charity, only to find out that they don’t accept such things would be unfortunate. Support a local charity and help out those in need by donating your furniture responsibly. 

If you’re just getting started in the process of moving, make sure you lock down Excel Moving & Storage for your relocation before you get started in the decluttering process. We’ll provide you with the best possible prices and service during your entire move.