When the time comes to move, you may not want to bring everything in your current home with you. Maybe you want to redecorate, picking furniture and accent pieces that better align with the design of your new home. Perhaps you want to keep your move smaller and leave behind some items that are functional but not particularly beloved. No matter why you want to get rid of furniture you don't need ahead of your move, this advice can help you do so quickly and with minimal effort.

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Giveaways and donations

One of the easiest ways to get rid of furniture you no longer want is to donate it or give it away. Donations have some obvious advantages - if you have items in good shape, a variety of charitable organizations are likely to accept them. You don't have to worry about matching a piece of furniture with the needs of a family member or friend, and you know the item's sale will support a cause that you've decided to contribute to. You can always ask around or send a group text or message with a list of furniture you want to give away, although you'll have to keep a master list updated with claims on items and notes about furniture that has already reached its new home.

One major question to answer is whether you can easily bring the item to a donation location, or if you need someone to pick it up. Chairs, end tables and the like are easy enough to bring along in even a modestly sized car, but bureaus, desks and other large pieces can be more difficult to transport. While some smaller groups may not have the ability to pick up your furniture, there are a variety of larger organizations that schedule pickups. You'll want to check in with the local arm of these organizations highlighted by Moving.com to make sure they offer pickup, but a few calls and a little scheduling can get those excess items off your hands.

If you live in a large metro area, there may also be neighborhood or citywide charitable groups that accept donations and even pick items up. If you want your furniture to go toward a very local cause, consider looking up furniture donation in your city.

Getting a return on your investment

While you may not make back 100% of what you spent on your furniture, you can often get something back - and bring in a little cash to contribute to the cost of moving - by selling your items. You have a number of options when it comes to sales, including:

• Working with a local consignment shop. If you have older or more unique pieces, you may also be able to sell them to a vintage or antique store. Keep in mind that consignment shops usually offer a payout only when the item sells, so this may be more of a long-term situation than quick access to cash.
• Offering items online. Direct, person-to-person sales are straightforward, at least when potential buyers don't expect you to deliver an item to them for free or keep haggling on the price. You have the power to manage these exchanges, set your own prices and choose how and where to meet buyers.
• Hosting a yard sale. Yard sales are an easy way to sell off furniture and a variety of other items that you want to get rid of. While you have to advertise the event and can't guarantee a sale, it's a good way to offer up a wide range of your possessions for sale before moving on to donating them.

Sometimes, the easiest way to move is by getting rid of things you no longer need. For help bringing those truly indispensable possessions to your new home, get in touch with the expert movers and packers at Atlas today!