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 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.

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.

While it is certainly ideal to get rid of furniture before you move, it can sometimes be tricky to figure out exactly what to do with all of those furnishings. Here are a few options for disposing of furniture when moving.

1. 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 before taking pictures and then research what similar pieces are selling for in your area.

2. 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 and then it’s a win win for everyone!

3. 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.

4. 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 are in need of getting 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.

5. Eco-Friendly Disposal

If none of the other options are suitable for you, then be sure and 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.

Once you've downsized your furniture, reach out to SMARTBOX for a portable moving container. We'll help you figure out how much storage space you need.