How to Get Rid of Old Stuff When You Are Moving Out

Moving out of your New York apartment can be a major undertaking, and it makes sense to streamline the process as much as possible. Moving smarter requires you to be mindful of each item that you plan to relocate to your new home. Many people have tons of stuff that they no longer need or want stuffed away in their closet, drawers and other storage areas. In addition to these items, you may also have things that will not have a place in your new home, such as that awkward loveseat that you have had for years. Understanding your options for getting rid of old stuff can help you to strategize your pre-moving efforts.

Toss It

The most obvious way to get rid of unwanted items before moving is to toss them into the trash. This may work well with smaller items, but larger items cannot simply be tossed out. You may need to pay someone to haul larger items away. This is also true for electronics, old appliances and other items that you are not permitted to toss. Before you pay someone to take your items off of your hands, think about some of the other options available.

Sell It

While an item may no longer have value to you, other people may be eager to take it off of your hands. You could give an item to a friend in need, but another idea may be to list it for sale in a free classified listing or even post a flyer in your apartment building. It can take time and effort to sell many items, but you can also make a small fortune by doing so. Remember to set a reasonable price when preparing a listing or flyer.

Donate It

A charitable donation is a tax deduction for you on next year’s tax return. Therefore, there may be a financial incentive to donate some of your items. This may be a good idea for items that you cannot sell and that is otherwise in good condition. It may also be a good idea to get a charity to pick up your donation for free rather than to pay someone to haul items to the landfill for you. You might find a Manhattan, NY moving company that will haul off your donations for you.

Now that you understand the primary options available for getting rid of unwanted items before moving, you can strategically prepare for your move. Take time to go through each item that you own individually. Determine if it has a place in your new home and if you have a continued need for it. If so, place it in a moving box. If not, you will then need to decide if it can be sold or donated. Create piles of items to toss, sell and donate. This will help you to stay organized while packing. Remember that you can start creating listings for items you want to sell as soon as possible. It may take a few weeks to find a buyer in some cases, so getting a head start is a smart idea.