Furniture removals are rather tricky. Since it usually doesn’t involve just some light chairs, there’s heavy lifting implied. No one wants to put up with heavy lifting and it can result in serious injuries. Turn your furniture removal into a breeze with our step-by-step guide. Don’t forget you can always hire a team to make it even more effortless.
Your Determination Is Required
You certainly are determined to pull through with your furniture. After all, there is furniture you don’t want anymore or that’s past its use for you. Everything that doesn’t serve a purpose anymore has to go. Removals are as liberating as serious decluttering efforts. Once it’s all gone, you’ll feel how a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.
To make furniture removal as easy as possible you need to determine the following points:
- What exactly are you letting go of? Have you already made a choice or are there other items you could let go of, too?
- What is going to happen with your old furniture?
It seems natural to just ask a friend for help and bring all the old furniture to a landfill. However, it’s not the most productive method and there certainly are a couple of items that could be sold, donated, or even recycled.
Therefore, make a list of items that are in splendid condition, in good condition, and utterly disgraceful condition. Next, set yourself a date until you want to be done with it.
Handle Items In Splendid Condition First
Any old furniture that looks grand and doesn’t have dents or scratches or neither falls apart, is good for sale. As you will probably not be able to sell all of the items for disposal, it’s best to take care of them first.
Offer them for sale on buy and sell platforms, such as Kijiji, Craigslist, or even social media groups. You’ll only have to take some pictures and measurements. Inform potential buyers they will have to pick up the item themselves. Most buyers would come around with a suitable vehicle and a friend to help anyway. It’s still best to mention it.
Alternatively, you can offer your furniture for sale at a second-hand shop as they don’t only sell clothes or books. On the downside, you will have to bring it over. If the furniture doesn’t sell within a given timeframe you’d have to pick it up again. It’s consequently not the best choice. However, an auction house might be another solution if your furniture is antiquated.
Now It’s Time For Furniture In Good Condition
Unfortunately, buyers sometimes simply don’t turn up when they schedule a collection for you. Instead, you sit around at home and wait for no one to come. Any furniture you’ve been unable to sell is thus best to be moved into this category.
Furniture that’s in good condition is fantastic to donate. It’s alright if there’s one or the other dent. It should only still be of use, not have any stains or covered in pet odors. Just look at your old furniture and ask yourself if you’d be happy when someone gave it to you. If the answer is a clear yes, those items are totally donatable.
For donations, it’s good to always look around in your local area first. Contact furniture banks, schools, and shelters such as for the homeless and women who escaped domestic violence.
Should none of them require furniture, albeit unlikely, get in touch with larger non-profit organizations? Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army, Goodwill, AMVETS, or Vietnam Veterans always takes old furniture. They have thrift stores to sell old furniture. The revenue proceeds to their programs to help veterans and other people in need with job training, therapy as well as outreach programs. In most cases, they can arrange free removal. But that can differ from area to area and not all of them are present in each US state. Should they be unable to come around for a collection, you can contact a service. Some furniture removal services offer free collections if your old furniture proceeds to a charity.
Last But Not Least: The Utter Trash
Although you’ve probably determined that a couple of your items are donatable, you may still not be able to donate all of them. Charities have their own guidelines as to what they can take and which condition furniture must be in. Anything you haven’t been able to donate, therefore automatically slips into this last category. It includes all items no one has any use for anymore and that’s fallen apart or otherwise broken.
As a first measurement, it might be worth it to know the old furniture’s components. If it’s wood, glass, plastic, or metal, you should contact a recycling center first. Be aware that composite materials cannot be recycled. Recycling centers take old furniture apart and use the different materials for recycling purposes to make new stuff. As you basically are their supplier, they will pay you for your old furniture. You don’t have to bring it over to them, recycling centers also do some removals. While they’d charge you a fee, they automatically deduct the material value of your old furniture. In most cases, you’ll end up paying nothing for their furniture removal. In other cases, you have to pay a little on top or end up with a plus in your pocket.
Since not all of your furniture can go to a recycling center, the professionals should deal with the remaining items. Contact a professional service in your area and relax. You’ll only have to schedule an appointment with them and there they are. You won’t have to do any heavy lifting and they’ll even help you to clean up afterward.
Parting Words On Furniture Removal
Should there be donatable items, after all, they’ll take care of it? Furniture removal services attempt to avoid bringing old furniture to landfills. They rather donate it first. In case there’s no recycling center nearby, you don’t have to worry. So get out there and do your proper research and have the easier time of your life.