The Four Fates of Household Belongings
People ask us all the time: What do we do with the things we aren’t keeping?
Whether you are planning a move or just want to declutter and get rid of some things, you’ll need a solution for all the things you aren’t keeping.
There are essentially four options:
1. Gifts: Often the Best Option
We’ve found that everyone is happiest with this option, and we encourage people to get creative. Do you have a grandchild moving into a first apartment who could use kitchenware? Is there someone on the building staff who might like your extra television? Are there neighbors who could take your houseplants?
If you are giving gifts with significant value, there may be tax implications, so you should check with your accountant. But if it’s just regular, good stuff, we encourage you to think of someone you love who would love your things.
2. Sales: Sometimes Worthwhile, Often Complicated
If you have items that you believe have significant value, you should take the time to assess that value. This may require hiring an appraiser or sending photos to auction houses.
AI can be useful here to get you started. AI can help identify an item and provide preliminary information about it. This can be a good first step before you decide how much time to invest in having it valued professionally.
If you do want to try to sell things, you have several options. If items have high value, you can consign them through an auction house or sell directly to a dealer. If you want to sell more common household goods, you can host an in-home sale, such as a garage sale or estate sale. There are also professional companies that will help you manage an estate sale (MaxSold and Everything But The House are national companies, and you’ll find local ones as well). Or you can try selling your items on an online platform such as Chairish, AptDeco, 1stDibs, eBay, Etsy, or Facebook Marketplace.
All of these options take time and effort, so you should weigh whether or not the potential return is worth the endeavor.
3. Donations: More Complicated Than Most People Expect
It should be so easy to make donations! There are so many people who could make good use of your clothes, books, furniture, and other household goods.
But the sad truth is that it takes some time to make donations. First, you need to identify organizations that will take your things. This requires some research. Then you need to figure out how to get your items to the organization.
Some organizations will come pick things up from you. Others will require that you bring your things to them. Either way, you will have to pack up your things. It can be done, but it does take some time!
4. Disposal: The Option Nobody Likes
After all of the above has been tried, or if there isn’t time to exhaust those options, you may find that you need to dispose of some things.
Nobody likes to do this, and it really is heartbreaking to have to junk things that are in good condition. But don’t be too hard on yourself. Most people find that some of their things cannot be sold, donated, or given away.
There are junk haulers willing to take these things, but junk hauling can be expensive, so you’ll want to get a good quote before you hire someone.
And don’t forget that you may have paperwork to shred, medications to dispose of safely, paint cans to dispose of legally, and other items that require special handling.
When to Call in an Expert
If the above feels daunting, or if you don’t have the time or energy to handle it yourself, you may want to call a move manager.
Don’t ever hesitate to call us at (917) 374-1525 for help in New York City.