As you prepare your house for the market and plan your home staging efforts, one thing that you will discover is how your old, unused and unwanted stuff are taking up important space in your property. Unused stuff could be old furniture and accessories, appliances and electronics, clothes, shoes, toys, sports gear, cellphones, books, school supplies, CDs and DVDs.
Sometimes things have outgrown their purpose or have been replaced by newer, better ones.Other times, they were bought because they were thought to be useful for longer than they actually proved to be. Many household items were just not necessary purchases and simply collect dust in the attic or garage. What should you do about old furniture, home fixtures, and other items just lying around the home?
Sell ’em
One usual option would be to have a garage or yard sale and get buyers for your unwanted belongings. People looking for bargains and great finds at garage sales usually opt for used furniture and clothing items, and also kitchen items and cooking utensils. You can use the money from the garage sale to help with your home staging or moving expenses.
Trade ’em
In many communities and neighborhoods, there are barter or trade events where people meet and exchange a variety of items. It harks back to the old barter system that existed long before money and currency were used, and a lot if times it still works. Find out if there are any barter or trade events going on in your local area, and see if any of your unused belongings would be a great fit. You never know others would find usable among your old items (and what you could pick up).
Donate ’em
Here in Canada, there are several charitable organizations and groups that would accept your donations of old but still usable belongings. If you don’t know where or how to properly dispose of items you do not need anymore, check out if any charitable groups would benefit from them.
Here are some groups you may want to consider:
Canadian Diabetes Association. Their website, http://www.diabetes.ca, provides information on the closest drop box locations, or if they can pick up your donated items at your residence (such as furniture for donation). Donated items are sold to Value Village stores, and proceeds benefit diabetes research and education.
Goodwill. Your unused clothing, home décor, books, CDs, DVDs, kitchen accessories, and electronics would definitely have new owners at Goodwill. They sort and sell the items that were donated proceeds go to assisting marginalized individuals in finding employment. Many Goodwill donation centers accept furniture donations.
Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity in Canada has projects in around 200 different communities, constructing safe and decent housing for low-income families. Many ReStores accept donations of non-upholstered furniture, windows, doors, appliances, kitchen cabinets, bathroom fixtures, and lighting fixtures. Locate the closest ReStore to you by going to http://www.habitat.ca/restore.
