IN THIS POST
- How To Sell Everything in Your House
- Common Household Items to Sell
- How to Decide If You Should Sell It?
- Where to Sell Everything You Own?
- What to Do with the Items That You Can’t Sell?
Packing all of your belongings and shifting them to a new house can be rather stressful, especially if you are relocating to a different city or country. While every item in your home may hold a special meaning to you and your family, oftentimes, it is wise to let go of some of your possessions before making the big move. However, parting ways with the stuff you love is not always an easy feat. Apart from deciding what to downsize, you must also figure out how to sell everything in your house without any unnecessary delays.
If you are in the process of moving away and don’t know how to sell all your stuff at once, here is a comprehensive guide that will make your pre-move purge much less frustrating and time-consuming.
How To Sell Everything in Your House
The first step to selling your stuff before your move is to determine the contents of your home and cataloguing them. If you move frequently or prefer a minimalist lifestyle, it may only take you a couple of hours to make a list of things you own. On the other hand, if you have been living in the same space for several years or haven’t decluttered in a while, sorting through your belongings could take quite a while.
Nonetheless, the best way to get started is to go into each room in your house and list down all the things present in it. This may include furniture, appliances, clothes, books, decoration pieces, and more. It would be best to start the cataloguing process from the bedrooms before moving onto the living area, drawing room, kitchen, and storeroom, which tend to hold more household items. If you have any boxes stacked in your garage, please make sure to take a look at them as well.
To make the pre-move purge even more efficient, consider creating an excel sheet. This way, you will be able to categorize different items presently scattered throughout your home. For example, you can put all the books you are planning to give away under one category and then sell them to a local store that deals with second-hand books. Similarly, you can categorize all the bakeware in your kitchen together so it is easier to sell in a bundle offer.
Once you have made a list of all the items in your home, it is time to decide what you are going to keep and what has to go. If you are hoping to give your new home a completely different look, the prospect of selling everything and starting over may sound more appealing. Involving other members of your household in the process can also help streamline it.
If you are moving from a rental, you can use this moving-out checklist for tenants for more tips.
Most Common Household Items to Sell Before Moving
Whether you are downsizing from a house to an apartment or want to start anew in your next home, here are some items you may want to sell at your earliest convenience.
Old Furniture
Unless you are holding on to certain pieces of furniture for their sentimental value, it is generally considered a good idea to sell any old beds, chairs, and couches in your house before making the move. Of course, if your furniture is relatively new or in a good condition, you may not want to do away with it. However, in such situations, please make sure to calculate if packing and transporting these heavy pieces to the new location will cost you the same as buying their replacements.
Outdated Appliances
Large electronic appliances such as washing machines and air-conditioning units can be a bit difficult to pack and move. They are not only heavy but also expensive to transport. To add to that, you also need to make sure they arrive safely at your new home.
Therefore, most people prefer selling their outdated appliances and then buying new ones shortly after they relocate. This tip is also very cost-effective, as it will allow you to both earn and save quite a bit of cash that could potentially go towards purchasing a newer model.
Old Clothes and Accessories
Most of us are all guilty of holding on to clothes and accessories we don’t use anymore. If your wardrobe is also full of items that you have not worn in a year and don’t see yourself wearing in the next six months either, consider selling or donating them. Choosing to take these clothes to your next home will only add to the clutter.
Provided they are in good condition, you can easily sell pre-owned dresses, shirts, pants, shoes, handbags, winter wear, and even bridal clothes online these days. Alternatively, you can also donate some of these items to those who may not be able to buy them.
Extra Cooking Utensils and Kitchenware
If you have accumulated quite a few sets of pans and pots over the years, it may be time to say goodbye to a few of them. Depending on your usage and the size of your new kitchen, you may want to consider donating or selling any baking trays, Tupperware, cooking utensils, serving dishes, and kitchen gadgets that you don’t use anymore. If some of these items look really old, it may be better to throw them in the bin instead of packing them up and carrying them to your new place.
Selling your stuff before your move will make the packing process much more efficient.
Additional Towels and Linens
If you have a small family, there is no need to bring along six sets of bed sheets and two dozen towels with you to your new home. Generally, three sets of sheets per bed and a few towels per person are more than enough, particularly when you are in the process of packing and moving everything. The fewer things you have to unpack and put away, the easier it would be to organize your new place.
Books, Toys, and Decorative Items
The old academic books lying on your shelf or outdated gadgets that you don’t use anymore all need to go before you start packing for the move. The same goes for decorative pieces that don’t fit your preferred interior design style. For instance, if you want to give your new home a more contemporary or minimalistic look, any large flashy décor items may not tie in with the theme.
Moreover, packing fragile items can take a lot of time. Therefore, unless you are very attached to a certain showpiece or if it is something really valuable, you may want to give away or sell it before moving to a new home.
How to Decide If You Should Sell It or Keep It?
Deciding how to sell everything in your house requires a certain level of commitment and planning. If you are struggling to determine which belongings to keep and give away, you should consider asking yourself the following questions.
- Is this item functional or needs any repairs?
- Have I used it in the last year or so?
- Will I use it in the next six months or so?
- Will it be cost-effective to move this item?
- Am I only holding onto it because it is expensive?
- Am I only holding onto it because it has sentimental value?
- Does this item add to the value of my home in any way?
- Does it make my life comfortable or convenient?
To save time, ask yourself these questions while making an inventory of your possessions. If you come across something that is broken or worn out beyond repair, consider tossing it in a trash bag before moving on to the next thing.
Where and How to Sell Everything You Own Quickly?
Wondering how to sell all your stuff at once? Well, the answer may vary depending on what you are planning to sell and where you are located. Here are a few tips on selling everything and starting over before moving to a new house that you may find helpful.
Hold an In-House Sale
Pre-move garage sales are perhaps the most effective way of selling all the furniture, décor items, and kitchenware in a short amount of time.
If your current home has a garden or a backyard, you may be able to set up a few tables and hold a small sale for your relatives, neighbours, colleagues, and friends. Alternatively, you can clear out your living area or drawing room to display all of the belongings that you are ready to part ways with.
This activity will hopefully allow you to get rid of most of the items on your list. In addition, it will provide you with an opportunity to meet your neighbours before bidding them adieu.
Online Marketplaces
From social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to dedicated online stores and platforms, there are a ton of digital marketplaces where you can sell pre-owned stuff. All you have to do is take a few aesthetically pleasing photos of each item and upload them on your chosen site along with a short and succinct description.
If you are looking for tips on how to sell everything you own quickly, please know that your descriptions and images will play a vital role in attracting customers. So, regardless of whether you are selling an imported bag or an old laptop, it would be best to clean and properly stage the product before snapping a few pictures. The accompanying text should also be honest and compelling. You should let people know the exact condition of the product and whether the quoted price is negotiable.
Antique Stores
Before you begin packing up your stuff, consider visiting a few antique shops in the area to get a better understanding of their inventory. If you have a valuable sculpture or a vintage floor-length mirror that may break during the transport, you may want to sell it to a local store for a decent price. You can also sell expensive items in an auction to make your sales process quicker and net a nice profit.
What to Do with the Items That You Can’t Sell?
If you are having a little luck selling household items and definitely don’t want to take them with you to the new house, then your next best option would be to donate them. You can give away your old books to a local library, while your old blankets and mattresses can go to a shelter or charity in your area. Similarly, you can donate your kitchen gadgets or rarely used clothes to your house help or someone who may need them more.
This brings us to the end of our guide on how to sell everything in your house. We hope this pre-move purge checklist will help you get rid of all the unwanted clutter in your life and get a fresh start in your dream home. For more moving tips, please stay connected to Zameen Blogs. You may also want to take a look at our room-by-room guide to packing your house and how to deep clean your new home after moving in. Furthermore, please feel free to share your thoughts and comments with us by sending an email at blog@zameen.com.
