If you’re looking to move house, but have items of old furniture that won’t fit within your new home, there are plenty of different options to find them a new home. Before you go ahead and book a skip or have a drive to the tip, it’s worth exploring what else you could do – you could even make some money!
Sell your items
If you want to make some extra money to help with the costs of moving home, then it’s worth trying to sell some of your larger furniture items that you’ll no longer need in your new abode.
There are many different places to sell your unwanted items, such as Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, antique dealers and car boot sales.
Online sales platforms such as Ebay and Facebook are quick and easy to use – you just need to have an account, upload some photos and a description, set the price you’d like and you’re good to go! For larger items, you may wish to include that it is collection only, as courier fees tend to be expensive.
Ensure that your photos are of reasonable quality and the lighting is good, and be completely honest with your descriptions – if there’s a couple of marks or dents, let them know! People love to see exactly what they’re buying, and really value transparency from the seller. This should also prevent the risk of your sale falling through, as the buyer will have seen what they’re purchasing and be aware of any defects before they agree.
Some of these online sites (such as Ebay) will typically take a percentage of your selling price as their fee, so bear in mind that you won’t receive the full price of your item. If you’re looking to get as much as you can, then Facebook Marketplace may be the choice for you, as there are no associated fees.
If you’re a budding salesperson and like chatting to people, then you could consider going to a local car boot sale. You’ll need to search for nearby events and plan how you’ll get there and what you’ll need to bring. These events are perfect for your smaller items such as chairs and bedside tables, but may be more difficult with larger furniture such as sofas and beds, due to transportation.
Donate to a charity
One of the easiest ways to support your community is to donate your unwanted furniture to charities.
There are many different organisations local to us here that accept furniture donations, and many more across the country. Here’s just a few ideas to get you started:
- St Barnabas Hospice
- Cancer Research UK
- British Red Cross
- Age UK
- The Salvation Army
- British Heart Foundation
- Sue Ryder Foundation
Many of these organisations may also offer a furniture collection service, meaning it is completely hassle free for you to donate – as you simply need to arrange a convenient time for them to pick it up.
Furniture can be really valuable for a charity, as these items tend to sell for decent money, which they can then use to help their funding. And even better still, the furniture is usually sold well below the cost of new items, so it’s also a big help for households or families that may be struggling financially and unable to afford brand new furniture.
If there’s a particular charity close to your heart that you’d like to support, it’s always worth giving them a ring to ask if they accept furniture donations – even if it’s not advertised on their website.
Use storage facilities
If you’re still not sure what to do with an item of furniture or you want a little longer to make up your mind, you can also put it into storage – that way, there’s no pressure to get rid of it until you know for sure.
Your furniture will be safe, secure and out of the way – which is a handy way to test whether you can live without something, or want to keep it for future use.
We offer a range of storage solutions, from self-storage with 24 hour access (better for short term) to container storage, which is perfect for longer term storage of large items, and all for a competitive price.
We attach a lot of sentimental value to furniture, so it can be hard to choose which option is best for you – especially when you’re planning a move or dealing with bereavement.
Hopefully, some of these ideas will help make it easier to decide, and our team can also discuss options with you if you’re still unsure. It’s our job to make sure your move is as easy and enjoyable as possible!
Turn your hand to upcycling
If it’s just the colour or finish of your furniture that won’t suit your plans for your new home, then why not consider getting creative and doing some upcycling?
Upcycling is a fun, cost-effective way to transform your furniture into something that is more suitable for your new colour schemes. Sometimes, just a fresh lick of paint or a colour change can really transform an item to give it a new lease of life. You could even upcycle an item so you attract a higher price when you sell it – helping to make some more money to contribute towards the move.
Retailers such as The Range, Wickes and B&Q are fantastic to gather the supplies that you may need – including paintbrushes, paint, varnishes, sandpaper and glue.. Don’t forget to do your research into the material of your furniture before you start to make sure you’re buying the right resources – we don’t want any DIY disasters!
Use a House Clearing Service
Clearing out an entire house is no small job – but we’re here to make things as simple as possible. Our sister company, Ballards Removals, offers a professional house clearing service – as well as recycling and rehoming your unwanted items.
Our friendly team members can assist with packing, storing and rehoming your belongings for an affordable fee.
At Ballards Group, we’re always keen to reduce waste by rehoming and recycling items from a house clearance. We also support a local charity called The Furniture Project, and are happy to deliver any donations directly to them on your behalf.
Be rest assured that all of our house clearance services are undertaken by our professional team and we never use sub-contractors.
If you’d like to get in touch for a bespoke quote, please contact us here.