We encourage clients to say goodbye to things that they no longer want or need, but letting go doesn’t necessarily mean putting things in the trash. In fact, seeing lots of stuff headed for the landfill can be one of the biggest downers of working as a professional organizer.
There are often alternatives including:
Selling
Giving away
Donating
Recycling
It’s a thrill turning your discards into money – sometimes offsetting the costs of organizing and beyond. There is satisfaction in passing things on to those who can use them or benefiting a worthy cause. And we all rest better when potentially harmful things are disposed of safely and properly.
The flip side of this is that it can quickly become overwhelming to find a destination (let alone the BEST destination) for each and every item being let go. In fact, many people we work with know exactly what they want removed from their space, but aren’t sure how to make it go away.
In order to keep the organizing process on track, we limit ourselves to choosing a handful of destinations for different categories of items. Here are some of our go-to resources.
SELLING: Getting our clients cash for unwanted items? Yes, please. We turn to…
Trove.LA for local consignment of clothing and home décor
The RealReal for online consignment of luxury items in mint condition
ThredUp for online consignment of apparel including mall brands
Regeneration for upfront sale of vintage apparel and accessories
Abell Auction Company for estate sales (art, high-end furniture, décor)
Roxbury Jewelry for appraisal and sale of gold and fine jewelry
Amazon Trade-In for electronics and some media
OfferUp for selling furniture locally (exercising caution not to spend more time than a thing is worth)
JLF Appraisal Services for coins and collectibles, or if otherwise stumped!
GIVING AWAY: It’s a generous impulse to give things to friends and family, coworkers or household help, but let’s consider:
Who is the recipient? Only save things for a specific person who agrees to take them.
What are they taking? Be mindful that the things you’re giving are truly wanted or needed, so your clutter doesn’t become someone else’s problem.
How are the items getting to their destination and who is paying associated costs?
Where are you keeping things until they are picked up or shipped?
When is this happening…is it scheduled?
More to come! Stay tuned for resources for donating and recycling in Letting it Go, part 2.
