It's a hassle, I agree. I helped a friend donate some items from her elderly mother's assisted living apt a few years ago, some of which was newly purchased for the place. I recall having to drop off at multiple charities.

None of them required a financial donation to donate. That a new one to me. I'm sorry this isn't easier for you--you're certainly being generous to donate rather than to sell.

Feathers, the donations are to cover the cost of the pick-up, which I have never had to do before. I think if we hire a truck and the labor and drive to the sites, the donation would be "free" but even more expensive.

I thought donating would be easier than selling. I think it's more expensive and nearly the same amount of hassle!

Dee, have you considered a high-end consignment shop? I went through route when helping my mom clean out my grandparents' house. It sounds like your items are in good condition-- so it's likely they'll accept most of the pieces. The company I worked with was super -- initially I sent photos, they identified what they were interested in and scheduled a time to come out and inspect (about 10 min max) and the next day they brought a crew in and packed/moved out everything to their moving truck. The whole thing was professional ... and fast. I think it was about 7 days between my original email request and having all the furniture gone.

You could always donate the proceeds if you want.

It sounds like a big hassle. I found when dealing with something similar recently, but in a different country that they would only pick up if it was enough to warrant the time, however I also found you had to schedule it far ahead to even get on the schedule. I will have to do it ahead of time for when I go back this summer.

I also considered just donating it directly to whomever would come and get it to not have to deal with trying to haul it to the charity myself, but then realized that sometimes that is also more trouble than it is worth. We recently tried to give away a lift recliner in excellent shape (like new) to someone asking for one on a local Facebook group. My DH's grandfather had bought it 3 months before he permanently ended up in a nursing home. The person didn't show up on the decided time and then contacted me about it a week later and by then DH had already taken it to our local charity. At least here in the US we have the means for transporting stuff like that.

All require a financial donation before you can donate

I always give financial donations to charities when i donate, and encourage others to do so. They are providing a service to me.

That said, I can understand your frustration.

mtn, I normally do as well but this is the first time I had to give out credit card info before they would make an appointment to pick things up. This was for Habitat, Rescue Mission and a couple of local places.

We went through something similar just a year ago when emptying my mothers senior apartment. We were blessed to have two pickups and young strong nephews at our convenience. Habitat required photos. They initially refused a floral sofa (they were not accepting florals, too out of currents tastes) but then changed their minds and took it. They would not come upstairs and take the pieces though - we had to arrange to have them taken downstairs and conveniently sited. The nephews came into play there.

Good Will gratefully took things. A nearby senior center was all too happy to accept some donations but again, delivered. I don't know how they arranged to get them to participants homes, but were thrilled to have bedside tables and lamps, lap throws, walker and canes, shower seat.

No donations were required although we did make more than one. And, DH bought coffees for the Habitat drivers - early morning and quite chilly ;)

I know its hard letting go of some things. And harder yet when faced with the physical reality of doing just that.

The combination of greatest generation/depression era elderly passing on, boomers downsizing and then all the COVID decluttering has profoundly affected donating household items and furniture.

Tack on changing generational styles and tastes (brown furniture anyone) and yes its a feat and a job to get rid of stuff.

As aggravating as it can be i think its probably healthiest to use Mtns perspective. When all is said and done charities are doing the donor more of a service than the donor is for them.

These days we are just drowning in stuff and its truly simple supply snd demand dynamics.

I experienced the same thing….my “donations” went to a land fill.

Oh yeah, Habitat ReStore here is very picky. They won't take just anything. Appliances need to be fairly new. So, if you have an old stove that works, they won't take it. When we got rid of the old coil top, I found another charity that took it.

Honestly if I ever want to get rid of a lot of stuff, I'd just put it out on the lawn as "garage sale" and take donations for the humane society.

Our town has a medical equipment bank which takes donations of everything from crutches and walkers to lift chairs and wheelchairs and gives or loans to anyone for free. It's a great place for those kinds of donations.

We also have several local Buy Nothing type groups through Next Door and FB and people seem really eager to take ANY kind of furniture offered. Some cannot manage to pick up the furniture on their own, but so often if there is a giver and a taker, some kind soul or two will volunteer to help and provide a pick up truck to get the stuff to its final destination. You don't get a tax deduction, but you know your stuff is going where it's really wanted.

It's tricky if you don't want strangers in your home; you have to get it to the porch or garage....many advertise porch pick up only, or if the weather is nice they put it in the driveway.

In our area, Goodwill requires a fee to pick up items. Luckily, there are other options.

@deegw, I don't know what rooms you are trying to donate/sell/etc, but is there somewhere that could use them as a donation? A women's organziation that helps them get set up in new homes? I donated nice office desk and lateral file cabinet and art to a local university's Wesley House. They happily picked up. When we moved, then again when we downsized, DD1 sold on eBay and a local FB garage sale group. Of course this takes time and energy. We also gave a lot away when we moved last time and almost everything that came with our new house.

@deegw totally understand. We went through this same frustration after my MIL’s estate sale last month. She had quite a bit of very nice, fairly current furniture that did not sell at the estate sale. We had arranged for a local school thrift to take most of the things, but only after their approval of photos. The next day they called back, they had just been informed that the building they had been using was sold and they had to clear out. So we were back to hunting. In the end, Habitat for Humanity took most of the furniture. They charged for pick-up. Thankfully they gave a very detailed generous donation receipt which should help my MIL at tax time.

When we were downsizing before our move, I posted items on freecycle ( this was about 5 years ago and buynothing had not come into being at least where we were and are). Sometimes had to wait a few days or a week for someone to get it, but it was great because everything was taken.

I did a bit at a time, and all sorts of furniture was taken. I had a highriser with 2 mattresses, dressers, nigh tables, heavy oak kitchen table, light fixtures etc. If possible we moved the stuff to the garage but we had that heavy talbe in the basement and a family came and was able to carry it up and out. Same thing with the beds and upstaris stuff. ( I held off on repainting until after).

I even had some very nice stemware from my mom, which I knew we'd never use. I did actually still keep about 8 "whiskey sour" glasses but everything else I offered and was taken.

If you are fine with donating, then I suggest you offer it on freecyle and or buynothing.

I never tried to sell because it just doesn't seem worth it to me. People won't pay $10 for something but if it 's free, you'll get multiple people wanting it.

When my FIL passed after being in a nursing home/assisted living facility, we also left the furniture. They said sometimes it's not even the $ but it's just easier for people to have it there laready. We said we were fine if any staff wanted it as well as residents.

If you do not care about doing a donation tax write off, I suggest having a free garage open house where people who might not have alot to spend can pick up your extra unwanted furniture for free. It still helps people but more directly.

In most cases the charity will have to pay a landfill to take your treasures as no one will want them. Better to put them on the curb with a sign "free'". Nothing lasts 24 hours most of the time. It's all about distribution. No doubt there is SOMEONE who would love your stuff but them finding you is near impossible--and they rarely are at thrift stores. Many people who are neediest have no way to get furniture home! The story about the clothes surprised me. I've never heard of an assisted living/ nursing facility taking things at all let alone clothes.

Arcy, my parents’ facility was happy to take my parents’ clothes. It was a very nice, private facility, most residents were well off. But, clothes wear out or get stained or torn, weights change, and people arrive from the hospital in just a gown, and, tbh, some people just get tired of their clothes. The furniture they didn’t want so much.

As to putting out on the curb, it depends on where you live. My folks’ house was on a no-outlet street, no one went past.

I had a charity come, they didn’t charge but appreciated donation (and tip!) and they were very choosy about what they took. I’ve been trying to sell and offer free online with mixed success, slowly delivering what I can, but some things are no longer accepted (furniture) and, well, I’m tired of wondering what will be gone after the various pickups. I’m actually going to pay Gone Guys to pick up what’s left. It will be done, and I guess I’m paying to take the weight off my shoulders. Priceless.