Giving away the stuff you don’t need won’t be complicated nor time-consuming. There are a lot of organizations that are willing to pick up things you want to donate. Since many organizations dealing with furnishing donations are cause-oriented, you can choose the cause towards which you want to direct the donation. Also, it is possible to get a tax deduction when you donate, which will eventually save you some cash. Either way, the important thing is that the donation will reach the ones who need it the most. To help you speed up the process, we made a guide that will show you what organizations have pickup service and exactly what kind of items they are accepting.
Where and Why to Donate Furniture Before You Move
When you are moving across the county, the best way to dispose of the stuff you don’t plan to use anymore is to give them away. Did you know that you can donate furniture as well as your clothes and home appliances? That’s why before you start the packing – declutter. This simple task will not only make your relocation easier, but it will lower the overall costs, especially if you hire a cross country moving company to help with the move.
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Why Should You Donate Furniture
Besides the undeniable fact that you are helping someone, there are many other advantages of giving your belongings away for a noble cause. First of all, disposing of your things by throwing them away is costly. Most of the time, your local waste management doesn’t accept big furnishing items. However, if they do, they have to schedule a bulky item pickup, which can cost you between $50-75. If that is not an option, you can contact your local scrap yards, but again, the transport will cost you.
If you planned on simply putting it on the curb, you are risking paying some high fees if your neighbors complain, and they have the right to do so. A big pro for a donation is that it is tax-deductible. Most of the charities will give you a tax receipt, and at the end of the year, your good deeds will pay off and help you reduce the costs of moving. Decluttering is one of the best packing tips and tricks for avoiding common moving mistakes because the less stuff you have, the less you’ll have to pay for shipping, and later it will take you less time to unpack. So whether you’re downsizing and moving into a smaller home, or you don’t want to pack up your furniture because you are investing in new pieces, this is certainly a great way to do it. Furthermore, if your reason to move is the fact that you’re moving in together with your partner, donating extra objects will save you from living in a cluttered space.
How to Pick the Right Charities When Donating Furniture
The first thing you should consider when picking up a charity organization is the cause they stand for. What does that mean? Some organizations are redistributing your contributions to specific targeted groups like war veterans and at-risk groups. Other organizations are selling them and directing the proceeds toward a particular goal, and they usually employ and train people from underprivileged groups. You can easily see where your donation will end up: just research their mission on their sites.
Sometimes you may be in a hurry because you’re having a last-minute move, and cannot arrange the transport of your donation to the charity’s location. In that case, you can choose one of the organizations that will come and pick them up from your site. Some of them are Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, Local Shelters, etc.
What Should You Consider When Scheduling A Services
You have to schedule a free truck service a few days in advance with most of these organizations. Transporting bulky things requires a lot of organization and special transporting vehicles. In any case, you shouldn’t donate things that are not in a condition to be used by someone else. Having this in mind, before you make a schedule and check if the association is willing to pick up some of your household things, they have to be in good shape.
Goodwill Has the Best Network Across the Country
With more than 3200 Goodwill stores across the country, there is a good chance that there is one near you. Goodwill trains and employs workers from underprivileged groups and donates to many local community programs. Goodwill is not a single cause-oriented organization. It has a wide range of causes that it funds. However, not all of the Goodwill stores are equipped for free pickup. A lot of them are, but it is best to call in advance and ask how they can accept your donation.
How to Donate Furniture to Goodwill
Since not all stores have a truck that can pick up used furniture donations, go online and find the info: does the Goodwill exist in your vicinity and can they come to your address to get items. If they do, you can easily schedule everything, just make sure the belongings are clean and in good condition. Since it is possible to get a tax deduction on your donations, take a look at the video and learn how to do it.
Habitat for Humanity Restore Is Featured Worldwide
Habitat for Humanity Restore is an organization that directs the proceeds towards housing problems of the less fortunate locally and across the globe. Also, one of the significant advantages of Habitat for Humanity is how fast they can organize the free pickup and the transport of your donation. If you plan to call Habitat Store, you have to call 24 hours in advance to schedule and ask what does the transport include. Make sure they are willing to come to your home address for the things.
Habitat for Humanity Accepts All Kinds of Furniture Donations
Are you wondering where you can donate sofas that you don’t want to bring with you when moving cross country? Habitat for Humanity ReStore will gladly accept them. The list of accepted items varies depending on the store, but usually, each one accepts:
- Chairs
- Bedframes
- Coffee, dining, and end tables
- Bookshelves
- Entertainment centers
Pickup Please Accepts Only Smaller Items and Appliances
Pickup Please directs its proceeds directly to War Veterans of America causes on the state level. Keep in mind that there are not many items this association accepts: only smaller items and household appliances. If you have nightstands, office chairs, headboards, or coffee tables, you should call and schedule a truck. You can make a donation request online, label your box with a donation, and they will send someone to pick it up for free.
The Salvation Army Stores Fund Their Own Adult Rehabilitation Centers
The Salvation Army Stores organization has over 1500 funds across the country. They give you the option of delivering your items by yourself, or they can pick it up for you if you schedule in advance. Their mission is to create Adult Rehabilitation Centers that help people across the country to battle with various addiction problems or other life issues.
Donating Large Furniture Helps With Tax Deductions
When you contact the Salvation Army, you can check out the donation value guide and determine the tax-deductible value of the objects you are giving away. There is a table that helps: with high and low estimates. That’s how you will be able to tell the value of the belongings based on their age and quality.
When It Comes to Furniture Donation What Are Other Options
Sometimes, donating your items is not an option. The reasons can vary. Maybe it is too damaged, or you cannot transport it to the charity, or you cannot organize a free pickup. Does this mean you need to toss your things away? Fortunately, no. If you are moving interstate and looking for a way to give away stuff, take a look at a few moving tips and options you have besides charities.
Donate Used Furniture to Local Shelters
Many shelters will take even slightly damaged stuff. Since there are so many of them, there are a lot of different rules, and they operate as individual charities. You should ask them under which conditions you can make donations. Furthermore, while state to state movers are handling your belongings, you will have enough free time to pack up extra stuff and drop them off to a shelter.
Local Thrift Stores Make Money Offers For Your Items
Moving state to state can get pricey, but you can maybe earn some money by offering your belongings to a thrift store. Don’t expect too much, though. It is usually just a fraction of the original price of your items. Some of the thrift stores are donating their proceeds to a local charity cause. The big downside of this kind of arrangement is that you have to organize the transport by yourself.
Craigslist Is the Best Way to Earn Some Cash
There is nothing you can’t offer on Craigslist nowadays. You would be surprised by what people sell online, so why not sell the belongings you don’t want for the future house? Decluttering is also a good way to cope with stress when moving. If you’re overwhelmed by the amount of stuff, selling is a great way to earn extra cash since interstate moving might leave a big dent in your savings.
Your Belongings Can Feature in a Play at a Community Theatre
Community theatres mostly rely on donations from patrons for their scene sets. This is an excellent way to dispose of your unwanted stuff and help an independent art group in the process. You can contact them to arrange the delivery process, and sometimes they are willing to take it off your hands on their own.
Donating Old Furniture Will Lower the Overall Cost of Moving Across the Country
Moving alone to another state or with family is the chance to declutter, and donating is a good way to do that. Plan your moving budget and pick the best time of the year to move long before you start house-hunting. Don’t forget to create a photo inventory for moving insurance while you are packing and decluttering.
If you need help moving to your new home, go online, and search “long distance movers near me” and find professionals to help you tackle relocation. After you narrow down the search, contact the best cross country movers, and ask for a free quote. Since you got rid of many objects you no longer need, your cross country moving company will have fewer things to handle, leading to lower overall costs of relocation. You’ll also be able, for instance, to book an auto shipping service. Just see how does car shipping works and transport your car across the country. Additionally, a reliable and reputable long distance moving company will not only handle your vehicle easily, but it will also help you figure out the cheapest time of the year to relocate. While long-distance movers are handling your belongings, you will have enough free time to check the safety of your future neighborhood and prepare for the new adventure.
