If you have an upcoming move quickly approaching and are trying to figure out the best way to get rid of items that you no longer need before you move, this guide will help you navigate the process.  There are multiple ways to to downsize before you move.  You can sell, donate or dispose of items that you no longer want or need.  Moving is always the best time to downsize and lighten the load that you need to take with you to your new home.  This may not only reduce the amount of time that your move will take, but put some extra cash in your pocket from selling some of your possessions.  We also encourage you to ensure all of your furniture, particularly larger pieces, will fit into your new home by taking measurements beforehand.  This could make the decision of whether to keep or get rid of something much easier.  The last thing you want to do is have your movers spend a great deal of time trying to fit a piece of furniture into your house, just to have to find a new home for it anyway.

get rid of items

Offer to Friends & Family

A great place to start when looking to get rid of items is turning to friends and family.  Look to the network of people that you know to see if they would like to be the next proud owner of your stuff.  This typically isn’t the best route to take if you’re looking to get fair market value for your items, since you’ll be more inclined to give a friend a great deal.  Posting pictures of your goods on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are a great place to start sharing with people and seeing if anyone you know expresses interest.

Donate Your Items

Donating is a great option when trying to get rid of items before moving.  One of the main benefits is the additional tax deduction you may be eligible for from the donation you make (make sure you request a tax donation letter from the organization).  Below are some of our favorite places to send customers who are looking for donation resources prior to moving.

  • MIT Student Furniture Exchange – This one is amazing and local to the Boston area.  The Furniture Exchange sells used furniture and household goods at bargain prices and is open to MIT, Harvard, Suffolk, and BU students and staff members.  All proceeds benefit the MIT Women’s League Scholarship Fund, a growing endowment that provides annual financial support to undergraduate women at MIT.
  • Local Food Pantry – Local food pantries are an excellent resource for donating your non-perishable goods before you move.  Many people throw these items away instead of finding a place to send them.  Here at Your Move Inc, we offer to take our customer’s non-perishable goods they plan on leaving behind, free of charge, to Project SOUP in Somerville MA which is a part of the Somerville Homeless Coalition.
  • Salvation Army – The Salvation Army works throughout Massachusetts and accepts donations of clothing, furniture and other items. Call 800-958-7825 to arrange a pickup.
  • Goodwill – Accepts donations of clothing and most household items.
  • St. Vincent de Paul – This organizations supports all of Massachusetts and can arrange to pickup unwanted furniture.  They also have local clothing bins and thrift store locations you can find on their website.  Call 800-675-2882 to arrange for pickup.

 Use Apps/Websites to Sell Items

There are a number of great apps and websites you can leverage to get rid of items before moving as well.  Below are just a few, but there are many more out there if you run a quick google search.

  • OfferUp – With apps available on both iTunes and Google Play, this is an easy place to sell your stuff.  You can post pictures of items, set prices, and receive messages from potential buyers.  You can also see ratings of potential buyers to see how credible they may be.  If you sell something and agree on a price, you do need to meet in person to execute the exchange.
  • LetGo – LetGo is very similar to OfferUp in functionality, but they also have a website that you can use.  Available on iTunes and Google Play stores as well, they make it easy to sell your stuff locally.  Using both of these tools is a great way to display your items for sale to a wider audience of users.
  • Craigslist – Craigslist is one of the oldest and easiest ways to get rid of items that you’re looking to sell.  Its free to post items online with photos and receive messages from users that are interested in purchasing.

Disposal of Items

Disposing of items is pretty easy if you’re just looking for a simple way to have furniture/household goods hauled away.  Where you reside will impact what the local city/town department will take away for you on your normal scheduled trash day.  For example, the city of Boston will take away furniture like tables, sofas, bed frames, tables and desks free of charge on trash day (Full list here).

There are also a number of companies you can contact to help get rid of items.  They will come and help you pull furniture and goods out of your home.  There is a cost associated with this service, but most often it is a flat fee you know ahead of time.  One of the most well-known disposal companies working nationwide is 1-800-Got-Junk?

We hope you find this information useful as you look to get rid of items prior to your next move.  Please feel free to contact our team if you have additional questions.  If you’d like a FREE Moving Estimate for your upcoming move, fill out our Moving Request form and we’ll be in touch shortly!