How to sell used & antique furniture for cash

February 16, 2017

So ... you've watched Antique Road Show or Design on a Dime and think you're literally sitting on a fortune?

Or you're finally ready to sell (or let go of) some larger pieces of furniture and you don't know where to start?

There are many online options beyond Craigslist and eBay that you can use to turn that old sofa or dresser into some fresh cash.

SELLING FURNITURE

One of these online options will be the right fit, depending on the quality and quantity of items you have. While you can occasionally find higher end furniture and furnishings on most of these sites, designers typically use: 1st Dibs and Viyet.com

for serious stuff.

The rest of these sites offer a wider range of items at various price points, so it's a good idea to do a quick search for items similar to yours and see what results you get:

Everything But the House

Apt Deco.com

Chairish.com

Etsy.com/c/home-and-living/furniture

Furnishly.com

Kijiji.ca

Krrb.com

Modern Design Market.com

Offer Up Now.com

Oodle.comNextdoor.com

Recycled Furniture.com

If you just want it all to go and go quickly, consider Every Thing Goes on Staten Island. They are committed to keeping things OUT of landfill and will make a single-price offer on the lot.

NOTE: Some police departments have begun setting up a designated area outside their stations so people can meet there to transact deals set up online. A great idea for everything but the biggest of items.

AUCTIONS

To find a reputable auction house, you can search The National Antique and Art Dealers Association of America's site (naadaa.org) and the Antiques Dealers Association of America (adadealers.com) to find registered dealers. If your results are thin, consider that some states have their own dealers associations, so search there also.

CONSIGNMENT

If you don't already know the best local consignment and thrift stores in your area, check out narts.org, the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops. Just enter your zip code or city and the site will generate a list for you.

DONATIONS

If you've decided that selling is too much of a hassle or not worth your time, consider donating your stuff to a worthy cause. Here in NYC, my preferred charity is: Materials for the Arts for anything that could be reused including art supplies, tools, fabric, yarn, string, wire and housewares. Almost anything can be converted into something unique and often beautiful in the hands of a child and/or artist.

For nicer things that still have utility and value, I also love Housing Works.org. They have a great mission and depending on the piece, will often pick up furniture free.

HOUSEWARES

Portero.com is a site that deals in pre-owned luxury items. While their mainstay is jewelry and fashion, they do have a home furnishings section.

If we've missed a great resource, please share your tip in the comments section. We'd love to know where else things can go to have another life.

Don’t miss YOUR chance to come play with us during our 5-Day De-Stress Your Mess Challenge.

Declutter Your Life Podcast by Andrew Mellen. Available on iTunes!