When you are moving or downsizing, time is your friend. The more time you have to plan, the more resources are available at a lower cost. You can also make environmentally friendlier decisions on what to do with your stuff. There are three basic ways to part with your unwanted belongings, selling them, donating them, or sending them into the waste stream (trash/recycle).

Selling

If you want some extra cash, selling some of your unwanted household goods can be a great choice. Buyers receive quality goods at a reasonable price, sellers get money in their pockets, and the landfill gets nothing. It’s a win-win-win situation.

Online classified ads such as Craigslist, kijiji, and Facebook Marketplace make the process relatively easy. But you still have to photograph your items and list them on one or more sites. Then you must reply to all the inquiries invariably asking you to lower your prices. You also must be available when the buyer comes to collect the items. Online ads aren’t for everyone. Some people may not be comfortable with strangers showing up at their door or coming inside the home to collect larger items.

Selling by consignment is best for high-end furniture and home décor, designer clothing, jewelry, and antiques. Consignment shops know their customer base and only take what they can sell, so you might have to shop your items around. You will likely have to clean and repair the goods professionally before the consignment store will accept them. Often consignment stores will arrange to pick up large, heavy items, but they may charge you for this or take the fees from your portion of the sale.

Using an online auction is an excellent option to liquidate a lot of stuff in a short period. However, it takes time to prepare, photograph, and list the items, and you must also be available on the day buyers come to collect their purchases.

Regardless of which sales method you choose, time is your friend. It takes time for the right buyer to contact you via classified ads or for you to prepare your items for consignment or auction. Remember that if you can’t do this yourself, you will likely have to pay for someone to do it for you. Weigh that cost against what you will earn from the sale of your items.

Donating and Gifting

Many people feel they don’t have time or energy to sell their unwanted goods even though they still have lots of life left. Donating them is an excellent alternative to selling. Those in need appreciate donations, the donors get good feelings by helping those in need, and again, nothing goes to the landfill – another win-win-win situation.

However, some charities aren’t taking any donations, and others are very selective about what they accept because they don’t have storage space. (High real estate and rental prices apply to charities, too.). Time is your friend when you donate, as it may take a while before you can find a charity to accept what you have to offer. For example, charities likely won’t take off-season clothing due to storage issues. Or maybe they don’t cater to clients who need musical instruments – like that piano you can’t move to your new home.

Then, there is the issue of transporting your goods to the charity’s site. You may have to hire a moving company (unless you have a friend with a truck). Some charities have curbside pick-up but only on specific dates (when they are in your neighbourhood). This might be a challenge if you vacate your old home before the collection day. And don’t leave your donation outside in bad weather; follow good donation etiquette.

Gifting is a type of donation. Instead of giving to a charitable organization, you give your items directly to someone who needs them. People use online neighbourhood groups (freecycle, Buy Nothing, NextDoor) to offer items for free using classified ads. Gifting allows you to declutter small things (e.g., a half-dozen coffee mugs) that would be time-consuming to sell or take to a charitable organization. It can be tedious to deal with inquiries and arrange for pick-ups. However, you get to downsize and feel good that your items are going to someone who needs them. Gift recipients get what they need, and again, the landfill receives nothing.

Removal Services

Hiring a removal service is probably one of the fastest ways to clear out unwanted household goods. Everything goes into a truck or bin, and off it goes to the transfer station, where it is sorted into recyclables or trash. Some, but not all, removal services will sort through your items and re-direct them into the donation stream. Bear in mind that there is no guarantee that a charity will accept your donations (especially larger furniture pieces) given to a removal company. So when turned away, the removal company may have no option, due to time constraints, but to take items to the transfer station.

Removal services base their fees on the weight and volume of materials. It can be expensive, and it is the least environmentally friendly way to downsize. However, it might be your only option if you have run out of time.

When you are moving or downsizing, time is your friend. It takes time for the right buyers or gift recipients to find your classified ads. It also takes time to arrange for consignment sales and donation drop-offs and pick-ups. The sooner you start to plan, the more money you can earn in sales and the less you will have to pay for disposal.

If it all seems overwhelming, don’t worry. Your first choice should be to contact the Out of Chaos team. We can help you plan your downsizing project and ensure you have a stress-free move. Contact us today.

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