Guide

What to do with the furniture and belongings that will not fit

The new place holds a fraction of the old one. Here is where everything else can go, and what to realistically expect from each option.

The honest starting point

Most families hope the furniture will sell, and it is worth being straight about this early: most of it will not sell for much. Solid wood dining sets, china cabinets, bedroom suites and formal living room furniture were built to last and were expensive when they were bought. The market for them today is small, because younger buyers furnish smaller homes differently.

That is not a reason to feel bad. It just means the best home for most of it is a person who will use it, not a buyer. Knowing that up front saves a lot of disappointment and a lot of time spent listing things online.

Option one: family

Start here. Before anything is donated or sold, let children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews choose. Give everyone a list or photos and a firm date to respond by.

A few things make this go smoothly. Take turns choosing so it stays fair. Have family members pay for or arrange their own pickup, or plan the deliveries as part of the move. And be ready for the fact that younger family members may not want much. That is not a rejection of your parents. It is just space.

Want to talk it through first? Call or text (289) 670-3146, or book a free walkthrough.

Option two: donation

Donation is where most good furniture and household items end up, and it is a good end. A couch, a bed or a kitchen table can furnish a home for a family who needs one.

Some things to know before you plan on it:

Charities will only take furniture in good condition. Stains, tears, pet damage or strong smells usually mean a no.
Upholstered furniture and mattresses are the hardest to donate.
Registered charities can issue a tax receipt for donated goods, which is worth asking for.
Pickup windows can be booked weeks out. Plan it early if the move date is fixed.

Option three: resale

Some things really are worth selling. Good quality mid century furniture, some antiques, jewellery, collections, quality tools, musical instruments, and recognisable brands tend to find buyers. Most everyday household furniture does not.

Selling it yourself online means photos, messages, no shows and strangers at your parent's door. An auction house or consignment service takes a share but does the work. For a whole houseful, that trade is usually worth making.

Option four: storage

Storage is useful in one situation: when a decision truly is not ready to be made. A parent who cannot yet part with a piece, or a grandchild who will want the dining table once they have a house.

It is less useful as a place to avoid decisions. A storage unit rented for a few months has a way of being rented for years. If you use it, put a date on it.

Option five: disposal

Whatever is broken, worn out or unwanted has to be disposed of properly. In Waterloo Region and Guelph, household waste, bulky items and hazardous materials each have their own rules. Old paint, chemicals, propane tanks and electronics cannot go to the curb and have to go to a waste site. A full basement usually has plenty of all of these.

Or hand the whole thing off

Sorting out where everything goes is often more work than the move itself. It is also the part we handle as a matter of course. Family pieces are labelled and delivered. Good items go to a local registered charity partner and you get a donation receipt. Valuables can be sold through our auction partner if you choose, and the rest is disposed of properly. You deal with one crew instead of a charity, a hauler, an auction house and a dump run.

It starts with a free walkthrough in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge or Guelph and one written price.

Questions families ask

Is it worth getting an appraisal?

For a few genuinely valuable items like jewellery, art or a known antique, yes. For general household furniture, usually not. An appraisal costs money and rarely changes what the piece will actually sell for.

Will a charity pick up a whole house of furniture?

Some will, if it is in good condition, but they will be selective and pickup dates can be weeks away. Plan for what they do not take.

What do we do with old photos and papers?

Keep them out of every pile until the very end, and go through them with your parent when there is no time pressure. Photos can be scanned so that more than one family member can have them.