Moving? Here's What to Do With the Furniture You Don't Want to Bring
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It is our personal belief that no one in the process of moving—whether it's from an apartment to a house, vice versa, or anything in between—has an easy time of it. Yes, moving is an exciting opportunity to celebrate the start of a new chapter in a different city, neighborhood, or even country, but it can also be a stress-inducing nightmare that comes with a unique set of challenges. One such struggle that has been on our minds as of late is the question of what to do with the furniture you don't want to bring with you?
If you find yourself in such a predicament, or you're simply trying to pare down your space by getting rid of some pieces you don't want or need anymore, keep reading because we're about to make your life a lot easier.
Resell Your Furniture Through a Reputable Company
Selling furniture and decor is the best path forward if you're looking to make a pretty penny. That said, reselling your pieces and actually making a profit works only if they're relatively new or in great condition. So, how and where can you resell your stuff? We've got you covered.
Kaiyo
There are plenty of sellers who either don't have the time or the equipment needed to post a high-quality listing that accurately represents their wares. That's where Kaiyo comes in. "Kaiyo is for buyers who want high-quality furniture from known brands and unique vintage pieces at an accessible price point, and sellers who want a secure experience without any stress or hassle," founder Alpay Koralturk tells us.
Whether you're looking to buy or sell, there is minimal effort required. In either case, know that the service is an online-only marketplace for gently used furniture from brands you know and love, including CB2, Design Within Reach, Arhaus, and more. Every item is professionally cleaned and photographed prior to the listing going live, and when the product sells, it will be white-glove delivered if you live in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, or some parts of West Virginia. Otherwise, enjoy top-notch delivery from the brand's network of trusted carriers. As we said, it's stress-free.
As far as the commission setup goes, you won't be able to earn more than 55 percent of your item's final sale price, and that percentage decreases as the price drops. No, it's not ideal, but think about all of the heavy lifting you don't have to do when you get Kaiyo involved in your sale.
AptDeco
Like Kaiyo, AptDeco will streamline the often painstaking process of selling furniture. It's also very easy to use, and everyone—buyers and sellers—is verified, so you don't have to worry about getting scammed or potentially putting yourself in danger. All you have to do is post your furniture (for free), and AptDeco will tackle the rest. They'll do everything from enhance your listing by improving the photos you took and adding some common questions from buyers. Once AptDeco approves the new and improved listing, they'll push it live, and potential buyers will be able to see it on the site. The best part? If you don't feel like disassembling your 300-pound bed frame or getting your L-shape sectional through the front door, AptDeco will do it, and if the seller is in your city, the company will drop it off at their home. The catch? The company will keep between 25 to 48 percent of the final sale. If you want to know your commission rate before committing to listing your furniture on AprDeco, feel free to click Sell on AptDeco, add your item's information, price on the listing form, and you'll see your projected calculated earnings.
Sell Your Furniture on Social Media
Though companies like Kaiyo and AptDeco handle most of the heavy lifting, their efforts aren't free. No, you don't pay fees for their services, but their hard-earned cut takes form in the percentage of the sale you don't get. So, if you want to keep 100 percent of the profits, you may want to consider selling anything you're looking to offload yourself. How, you may be wondering? Social media. That's right; your friends (and friends of friends) may buy your velvet sofa, vintage vase, and anything else directly from you, a trusted seller. If you have followers—whether only a few or a couple thousand—you have enough potential interest to advertise your furniture on your personal social media platforms. Though you can certainly post a static photo and let your followers comment their interest, we recommend opting for a Story instead. After all, nothing speaks to an impulse shopper like a listing that disappears in 24 hours.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is one of the easiest ways to buy and sell anything you're trying to offload fast. Here's how it works: Simply go to the website (you can buy and sell on the app, but personally, we think it's easier and more efficient on a bigger screen), open Marketplace, click "Create New Listing," then follow the prompts. When you make the sale (you can pick who you sell to), you'll keep 100 percent of the profits.
Here's the thing, though: While it's easy, fast, and profitable, Facebook Marketplace is not without its drawbacks. Among several essentials to consider, the two most critical are avoiding scams and being safe. If we've learned anything from social media, it's that catfishing is real, so before you invite a stranger into your home to pick up the piece they bought, take some much-needed precautions first.
If you live alone, don't advertise or mention it to the potential buyer. You may also want to consider inviting a friend or two over before the transaction takes place.
If you're conducting the sale at your home, do it outside.
Make the sale in a public place.
Share your plan with a trusted friend or family member if you are meeting the buyer alone.
Donate Your Furniture
Of course, the most selfless approach to editing down your space is donating furniture you no longer want. Look up your local donation centers, which may be small non-profits or national alternatives, like The Salvation Army, Goodwill, or Habitat for Humanity, and coordinate a donation. Otherwise, if you live in a city like New York, you may be able to simply bring your furniture outside and leave it on the sidewalk—just don't do it on trash collection day. The last donation option is to ask your friends and family if they'd like your pieces free of charge. Not only will your problem be solved, but you'll also make someone's day in the process.
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