Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Flip

Original poster

Who will buy or clear my unwanted house furniture?

23 replies

artylady14 · 02/06/2015 11:18

I am selling a flat and have several items of furniture and things like curtains that I will no longer need, e.g. microwave, sofa, bookcase, dining table and chairs. I don't want to pay a house clearance company hundreds of pounds to actually take away good items that can be re-used! Does anyone know of any companies that will come and take a look at the flat and buy things from me? I will also donate some things to charity like my sofa and I know the British Heart Foundation will collect it for free. Thanks for any tips!

OP posts:

LBOCS · 02/06/2015 11:25

The British heart foundation will take all of those things?

EldonAve · 02/06/2015 11:26

Have you tried local facebook selling groups?

Original poster

artylady14 · 02/06/2015 11:31

I know that the charity will take them all but some of the items are quite new and very expensive so I need to make some money back. I will check FB, thanks EldonAve.

OP posts:

Walnutpie · 02/06/2015 11:36

eBay, buyer collects.

lotsofcheese · 02/06/2015 11:38

Samaritans, Bethany Christian Trust have taken stuff for us before, free uplift.

mygadgetsneverworkproperly · 02/06/2015 20:18

I don't know where you are but Helen & Douglas House were fantastic for us.

They took framed pictures, sofas, the tumble dryer, a double bed, dwak, chests of drawers & other large pieces.

Original poster

artylady14 · 02/06/2015 20:23

I'm in London. I really want to sell some things too that were expensive and are quite new.

OP posts:

Idoc · 02/06/2015 20:29

May I ask what you are selling I'm always looking for new furniture having recently bought first home?

whattodoforthebest2 · 02/06/2015 20:32

Ebay or Gumtree.

WasWildatHeart · 02/06/2015 22:51

Freecycle has worked for me on a number of occasions.

whattodoforthebest2 · 02/06/2015 22:55

I think the OP wants to sell her things, rather than give them away.

Original poster

artylady14 · 02/06/2015 23:09

Yes I wanted to sell things ideally. It's not for a couple of months yet. I was just getting ideas. Thanks all.

OP posts:

whattodoforthebest2 · 02/06/2015 23:23

If you haven't sold on Ebay before, OP, why not try just one thing first, so you can see how it works? It's quite straightforward. There's a thread on MN where there's lot of help and ideas.

SevenAteNine · 03/06/2015 07:40

Honestly? When I moved, I realised that the effort of selling things for a good price was not worth the time it took.
I have a good job (not bragging, but I do). After waiting in for someone who was supposed to come and buy an armchair I owned but never turned up, it occurred to me that I would have made far more by going to work for an afternoon.
Sometimes, it is better to just bite the bullet and give it all to charity.

sebsmummy1 · 03/06/2015 07:43

eBay, gumtree, Friday ads, Facebook. For anything you want to give away then Freecycle/British Heart Foundation etc.

HeyDuggee · 03/06/2015 07:48

Search on eBay for similar stuff to yours and click in completed/sold box to see actual items sold. Take into account - are in flat, what floor, how easy is it to park outside? For people to be taking the time to organise their own furniture pick up, they are looking for a real bargain. At least half off for items in excellent condition, unless it's a really in-demand type of item. Some "winners" don't show up, etc so don't leave selling the sofa until the day or two before it needs to be out.

sandgrown · 03/06/2015 07:52

Preloved. Buyers will collect

YouPooPooBumBum · 03/06/2015 07:56

Gumtree is great. It's free and buyers usually collect the same day.
Be realistic about prices, take good photos and do good descriptions.

AlternativeTentacles · 03/06/2015 08:02

There is often a local facebook selling page which means they collect and give you the cash without all the ebay bollocks.

CrispyFB · 03/06/2015 11:04

I found Gumtree worked very well when I had to sell a bunch of baby swings and pushchairs recently as we were clearing out for a house move. Got very quick responses and people usually collected very soon after with the minimum of fuss. I did list the items on local FB groups but that was a far greater hassle and I didn't get a flicker of interest. Gumtree all the way for me now.

You do need to price it right though. A few things didn't sell until it was rock bottom, basically, but it's better than nothing. Anything that doesn't sell I figure is never going to for any price, so then it get charity-shopped along with the other stuff it would be too fiddly to sell.

I don't feel too guilty about making a bit of cash because we must have given thousands in second-hand worth to Barnardos with baby clothes (four DC, I'm crap at getting round to decluttering!) and other baby gear the same week!

mysteryfairy · 03/06/2015 20:20

Offer the flat buyers first refusal. They may well be interested if they are buying their first home or a buy to let. That would be the least hassle option.

Original poster

artylady14 · 03/06/2015 22:38

I have offered but they are not interested. I will try and sell some and give some things away too. Thanks all.

OP posts:

springalong · 03/06/2015 22:52

ebay but try buying first to build up feedback.

facebook groups - but cheeky people may ask you to deliver. I usually say of course and ask for a hefty petrol charge. Funny, they normally pick up after that.

Garage sale at home

boot sale - but you will only get pennies.

Flip