5 Ways to Dispose of Used Furniture Before Moving and Relocation

Moving Soon? Check out these 5 easy ways to get rid of your unwanted furniture when moving.

Most people find moving to be very stressful, and for good reason. Even under the best of circumstances, the act of uprooting yourself, your family, and all of your belongings is mentally, physically, and even emotionally demanding.

The simple but undeniable fact is that come moving day, the odds are excellent that it will be more stressful than you anticipate.

Why Do People Dispose of Furniture?

There is no way around it … moving means finding a way to get rid of a lot of stuff including furniture or appliances.

Preparing for Your Move

Furniture is big and bulky, and sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to move it. Chances are good that your new residence will have a different layout, size and style. That means that some of the furniture you currently use will inevitably have to go.

Remembering Those Stored and Forgotten Belongings

Plus, many people have old furniture hiding in their basements or attics. Moving means finding a practical way to get rid of these items. From furniture that is falling apart to out-of-style furniture to downsizing, the simple fact is that it doesn’t always make sense to take your furniture with you.

Don’t Be a Moving “Weekend Warrior”

That stated, getting rid of furniture, especially big pieces, can be a real hassle. Furniture can be heavy and difficult to carry, and most people don’t have a truck that is the right fit for moving furniture. The heavier the furniture, the more likely you are to get injured.

Moving is tiring enough. You certainly don’t want to celebrate your new house while you’re nursing aches and pains.

Here are a few ways that you can dispose of your old furniture when moving:

1. Sell Your Furniture

If you’ve ever looked through Craigslist or different local groups on Facebook, then you already know that sometimes people practically give furniture away. Quite often, the reason for the very low prices is that people are moving and don’t want the burden of hauling their furniture long distances or even across the country.

Score Some Cash

This is an opportunity for you as well. If you can find someone to buy your furniture, you get rid of it while simultaneously making a little money in the process. If you can pull it off, selling your furniture is definitely a solid option.

Spread the Word

There are other options for selling your furniture as well. One good option is to simply talk to your friends and relatives. Even if your friends and relatives don’t have any interest in buying your furniture, they may know someone who does. Plus, if your furniture is in good shape, you’ll feel good knowing that someone else can enjoy it.

Gift It to Someone Else

In the end, if selling your furniture online or to friends and family doesn’t work, then you can always opt to give it away as gifts. The odds are good that if you do find friends or family who want your furniture, they’ll be willing to get a truck and help you move it to their house.

While this might not put money in your pocket, at least you won’t have to worry about moving your furniture. The good news is that you’ll save time and energy if you can convince others to take your furniture.

2. Donate Your Furniture

Many charities including Habitat for Humanity, are willing to take used furniture. In many cases, charities will even go so far as to pick up your furniture. This is a great way to dispose of furniture that you no longer need. And best of all, you’ll know that when you donate items, you are helping a charity in the process. Helping a charity means that you may receive a tax deduction, which is definitely icing on the cake.

Just keep in mind, however, that many charities will require you to deliver the furniture to the thrift shop. This usually means renting a truck and potentially even hiring help to move the furniture.

Finally, charities will only want furniture that is in good shape. If your furniture has major damage, the odds are good that your furniture will not be accepted.

3. Rent a Dumpster

If you have a lot of furniture and other items that need to be disposed of, then it might be a good idea to rent a dumpster. Renting a dumpster may not be fun, but it is definitely better than lugging around furniture that you really don’t want or need.

Keep in mind that you’ll be doing the heavy lifting yourself. Plus, dumpsters have weight limits and potentially other restrictions as well. If you’re strong and willing to carry things into the dumpster, this might be a good option for you.

4. Throw It in the Trash

It is often difficult to know in advance what your friendly neighborhood trash collectors will and will not take. For this reason, you should call in advance and find out what your trash collectors will take before putting furniture out at the curb. The last thing you want to do is carry everything back into the house or have it sit out front for weeks collecting dust and letting the old items create ground pollution.

Curbside Pickups

It is also possible that people will see your furniture sitting outside and pick it up before the trash collectors even come. Leaving your unwanted furniture in front of your house is another, and often overlooked, way to make your furniture disappear!

Going to the Dump Has Serious Costs

If a trash pickup won’t work, you could also take your old furniture to the dump. Of course, just tossing waste in a landfill is harmful to the environment. Landfills decrease the air quality throughout the entire city. They also pollute waters and streams that run into water for your region.

The Dump is Terrible for Our Planet

Not to mention, if you’re in the middle of packing and figuring out other moving logistics, a trip to the dump may seem rather daunting. In fact, your trip to the dump might be even less fun than moving itself!

Yes, the dump is another option for getting rid of furniture. But this is terrible for the environment and let’s face it, the earth sure could use a bit less landfill problems these days. At the end of the day, let’s hope you don’t have to choose this last-ditch option.

Learn how to dispose of your unwanted items with our helpful disposal guides.

5. Choose LoadUp

While this article has covered a lot of options for disposing of your furniture, there is a final option that deserves your consideration. LoadUp will take your old furniture and other items and dispose of them in a responsible and eco-friendly manner.

Once you’ve scheduled a pick up with LoadUp, you can be sure that your furniture problems are over. We will come out and dispose of your furniture quickly. There is no need to spend time figuring out rules and policies or trying to sell or give things away.

Since you’re moving, you already have a great number of things to think about and your “To Do List” is likely pretty long. Simply call us, and we’ll make sure your unwanted furniture is no longer a problem.

Make Things Easy on Yourself

Moving is one of the most stressful things that people ever do. Any steps you can take to make the process easier is a step in the right direction. Unwanted furniture no longer needs to be your problem. It can easily find a second life in a new home, or it can be recycled in a responsible fashion through LoadUp.

The good news is that once all the moving logistics are over, you’ll have decluttered your home and gotten rid of things that you don’t really need, including the old furniture you should replace when you move. Now, relax and start enjoying your new home.