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How to Get Rid of Unwanted Furniture?

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Whether you’re moving away, or just wanting a new look for your house, trying to dispose of your old furniture quickly and easily can be a real drag. But before you give up and haul it all off to the dump, consider some environmentally and financially profitable methods of getting rid of the furniture that you no longer want to keep around.

You could donate it

One of the best ways to dispose of your furniture is to donate it to Good Will, or another local charity. They will accept not only furniture, but almost any other item as well, as long as it is in a usable condition. If you decide to donate goods to a charity, there are a number of benefits, including accessibility and profitability. Most cities have several charity drop-off sites, and it is far easier to bring furniture and other large and awkward items to them than to lug everything outside of town to the local dump. As for the profit that you receive, that comes in the form of a tax write-off. If, for example, you donate a couch to your local Good Will and received a $300 tax write-off in return, that is $300 dollars that you are not required to pay to the government in taxes. Even so, it may not be quite as profitable as selling your couch to another person. However, it is easier than making such a sale, and it also allows you to pat yourself on the back because you’ve done something to help those who are less fortunate. Remember that charities won’t accept an item that isn’t in usable condition.

Give it to your friend

Another method is simply to give the used furniture away to family members, friends, or a local business. This usually means much less furniture lugging for you, because it is likely that the recipient of your gift of an old table and chairs will come to get them himself, and will be only too happy to take them out of your house and carry them away. After all, he’s receiving them for free. This is a great way to help a new college graduate who doesn’t have much money to spare furnish his new house or apartment.

Sell it online

A slightly more profitable route is to sell your furniture online. This will earn you cash more than donating that ancient desk would, but it can also be risky and, in some cases, time-consuming. First, consider putting the desk up on either Craigslist or eBay. Although eBay will charge you an insertion fee, it is also a very secure website with enormous popularity. The buyer is required to send you the money electronically before you hand over the desk to her, so it is less risky on your part. On the other hand, Craigslist is very easy to use, it always has a lot of local sellers and buyers, and it doesn’t charge insertion fees. However, it also doesn’t require the buyer to transmit her payment to you electronically before you deliver the desk. Because of this, there’s always the chance that you’ll show up with the desk at an agreed-upon meeting place and expect to be paid and have your furniture taken away – but the buyer will never come. There are advantages and disadvantages to both websites, so you will have to decide which is the best option for you. Whichever you choose, always make sure that your internet buyer is local, otherwise you will have to spend money and effort boxing your desk up and shipping it across the country.

Hassle free way to sell

There is also the option of selling the furniture yourself. Simply put it out on the curb with a price tag attached, or even with a sign saying “Free.” This will attract possible buyers who pass by your home – and at least if it is outside, that oversized sectional is no longer taking up space inside the house. However, some potential buyers might actually be turned off by the idea that your sectional is free. They may think that there is something wrong with it, requiring you to give it away instead of trying to sell it. If you put a low price on it, on the other hand, they will think that they are getting a bargain. It’s also possible that someone will see the price tag, assume the sectional has value, and steal it – but then at least they’re the ones who have to worry about transporting it instead of you. If you were planning on giving it away for free, you haven’t lost anything on the deal.

Repurposing old furnitures

The final option is to repurpose or recycle your used furniture. This method can sometimes require a little creativity, but it can also be very interesting and fun. Repurposing items allows you to take an old object and use it for something complete different to its original intent – for example, turning an old shoe into a flower holder, or a toilet bowl into a gardening pot. You can even make something out of several different pieces; a sports enthusiast might build a chair out of old baseball bats, while an artist designs a new couch made from pieces of repurposed furniture and swatches of upholstery. Another way to recycle furniture is to change what you intend to use it for. Say your daughter just moved out of the house. You can turn her bedroom into a game area and use some of your old furniture to set the room up just how you like it. This is a fun way to use what you already have around the house.

Many ways to get rid of them

These are just a few of the ways to dispose of your used furniture without dumping it. Whichever you decide to do, enjoy and good luck!