Spring Cleaning – The best ways to sell or donate furniture NYC style
It’s that time of year again – Spring Cleaning! Let’s say you did the hard work already and you decided what stays and what goes, you disposed of what can’t be salvaged, and now it’s time to sell or donate what’s left.
Did you say you already did the hard work? Surprise! Now you are finding it’s not so easy to even GIVE things away in Brooklyn or NYC (the same may be true where you live). The good news is thanks to new apps and sites that operate locally, you have some alternatives to Craigslist.
Note that local selling apps are not available in all areas, so check to see which of these will work for you.
These first few are specifically geared toward furniture and décor:
1. Krrb
I’ve used this one and - full disclosure - am an occasional guest contributor on their blog :-)
Pros: They have a good search engine and focus on home furnishings; there's a wide user base with lots of listings in Brooklyn.
Cons: Their fee structure can be a bit hard to follow. They include ‘corner shops' from actual retailers who promote and thus receive favorable positioning in the listing areas, so you are not always looking at ‘your neighbors’ stuff’.
2. Aptdeco
Pros: The purchase is made online and they will arrange delivery for a fee with a 3rd party delivery service. They specialize in furniture and decor, so you may be more likely to attract a buyer. Best for high ticket items because of the commission and delivery fees.
Cons: They take a 19% commission on the sale, and you have to pay for the delivery.
3.Chairish
Pros: Perfect for a special, high end designer piece. Take a look at the listings to see if yours is a fit.
Cons:20% minimum commission. You need to provide quality photos.
4. Usetrove
This is neat site and app that has some good features, like the ability to put a ‘time slot’ of availability to coordinate pickup times with buyers.
Pros: They cater to home furnishings. I like the site and app features, like the ability to put a ‘time slot’ of availability to coordinate pickup times with buyers.
Cons: Without actually listing an item for sale, I could not for the life of me find out what kind of listing cost or commission would be involved. So they’re a bit weak on ‘transparency’. These sites are only as good as the number of folks using them in your area, and I didn’t see many listings for Brooklyn.
5. Close5
Couldn’t glean much in the way of pros and cons from the (non-app) site. Not much appeal in the local furniture listings.
Charities - Tax-deductible
Pros: Clear info on what they accept.
Cons: You have to bring it to their location (in the case of NYC, Woodside, Queens).
They take only what they can sell - with a minimum pickup of 2-3 pieces. You have to provide info and photos before they will schedule.
No pickups - you have to bring it to their location.
10. Big Reuse
Pros: They’re formerly known as Build It Green. I’ve had great experience with this organization. They will pick up appliances and cabinetry, AND even assist with demolition by ‘deconstructing’ and removing these items (providing they are not old and can be re-used).
So, that’s the 10. Here’s the bonus one...
This is who you call when you have decided it’s NOT worth your time to deal with the above, and it just needs to get out. These folks and some others responsibly get rid of your items including charitable donations and recycling.
Pros: They come in, haul out, and you are done.
Cons: Cost in my zip code was $200-800 depending on how much you are getting rid of. It's not tax-deductible.
Now for tips on getting your spring cleaning done by getting your stuff out of the house…
Before you even start, evaluate how much YOUR time is worth compared to what you will get for the items. Look up used selling prices for your pieces to get a reality check. Divide the time it will take to photograph, list, follow up, and sell by the amount that may come in.
How’s that equation looking? If your time is worth more, appreciate the service this item has given you, thank it and head straight to donations.
If it is worth the time investment to sell rather than donate here’s your to-do list:
- Put it on your schedule to photograph and list.
- Get a friend to help with taking the pictures.
- List it
- Take cash only
- Use the cash for something fun (that won’t take up space!)
Got some tips to share? Or your own experiences with getting your junk out of the house? Let me know on my CavDesign Facebook page.
Now that you're on track with your clean out, what will you do with your lovely, blank slate of a room? Find out how to get your dream space in my FREE e-book, which will guide you step-by-step from start to finish!