How to Dejunk Your Home – with Today’s Technology

Today’s world is so technologically advanced. Just about any task can be done online or on your mobile device. From turning up the heat in your house to measuring your heart rate, your device can do it all!

One task most people don’t consider their device for is dejunking their homes. The days of the yard sales are practically over. With our list of websites, apps, and services below, you will be able to dejunk your home in no time at all. As an added benefit, you’ll enjoy some extra cash or a nice tax deduction!

Websites For Selling / Trading

For over 20 years, Craigslist has provided users with free local classifieds and forums. Posting items on craigslist is a breeze. You can pick the best offer and arrange a convenient exchange. If you’re looking to make some money from your old goods but don’t want to have to ship the item, Craigslist is the place to go.

One of the original online marketplaces, Ebay, is the go-to place to sell just about any item you can imagine. At any given time, it has one billion items for sale! With 169 million active buyers and an international reach, Ebay work well if your items are not selling locally. Since Ebay is both an online marketplace and auction, you can sell or auction your item, getting the best possible price for it.

Freecycle is all about people giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own communities and keeping items out of landfills. With groups for specific geographic areas, it’s easy to find a nearby new home for your goods. As the name implies, everything about this organization is free – from the membership to the items posted. Since Freecycle is 100% local, there is no shipping costs for anyone. Click the links for the groups in Alexandria, Arlington, DC, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase.

Facebook is for a lot more than just reconnecting with high school buddies. Facebook is packed with groups looking to buy and sell specific items. It is a great sales option, as it allows you to set your own price and avoid a middleman taking a cut.

If you have a lot of designer clothes and accessories you are ready to part with, check out Poshmark, Tradesy, and The RealReal. On The RealReal, you can also sell any fine art you may have.

If you’re thinking you need an estate sale, Everything but the House (EBTH) will do the job for you. EBTH will assess the value of your home’s items, take photographs for online listings, and ship products to winning bidders as needed. Items are only posted for seven days, so this is a great company to use if you want to quickly get rid of your items.

On Swappa, you can sell your gently used electronics (smartphones, computers, and tablets) without any fees (the buyers pay the fee on this site). Swappa gives buyers the option to choose their cellular service provider so they can purchase a phone already using that plan.

OfferUp is another way to easily sell your items locally for cash. Continuing the mobile marketplace trend, OfferUp allows users to post their items on a trustworthy app and Pinterest-like website. This app is focused on creating a safe marketplace that users can trust.

Junk Removal

123 Junk takes it all! If you need a hot tub, tires, or scrap metal removed, call them. They will also take computers, monitors, and printers. With customer service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week,123 Junk is an excellent option for last minute jobs.

Junk in The Trunk (or JITT) will take away your appliances, furniture, donation items, construction material, and landscaping debris. They will send you receipts for any items they end up donating. Customers only pay for the fraction of the hauling truck their items require, so JITT is a very reasonable option.

Serving the entire metro area, NOVA Junk will haul away unwanted items, appliances, old furniture, and yard waste. They will sort through it and donate or recycle what they can before taking the rest to a landfill.

Local Charities That Will Pick Up Your Donations

Very locally, ALIVE! will pick up furniture, mattresses, beds, tables, chairs, sofas, dressers, chests, and lamps within the City of Alexandria. ALIVE! serves many members of our community with shelter, early childhood education and childcare, financial help, donated furniture and more.

The mission of United Community Ministries based in the Fairfax County part of Alexandria, is to equip, educate, and empower vulnerable children, youth, adults, and families to improve their lives. Its Back Porch Thrift Store at 8794 Sacramento Drive accepts household items, clothing, furniture and more. You can drop items there or schedule a pickup online here.

Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia will pick up items to re-sell at their ReStore shops. Proceeds from these sales allow Habitat to build homes for families in need right in our community. Habitat’s designated donation pickup service area covers much of Northern Virginia.

Other Charities

Green Drop allows you to choose which charity your donations support. The charities include the American Red Cross, Military Order of the Purple Heart, the National Federation of the Blind, or the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Philadelphia. Green Drop will pick up your donations or you can drop them at one of their many brick and mortar sites (including one in Alexandria).

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) accepts funds, vehicles, clothes, and household items for veterans that don’t have access to these basic items. This organization exclusively helps struggling veterans and their families from the Vietnam War. You can easily schedule online for VVA to come pick up items at your curbside.

For the past 115 years, Goodwill has been accepting donations while also providing jobs for people with disabilities, single parents, veterans, and more. Money from donated items funds job training and other services. Goodwill’s local locations include Alexandria, Arlington, Annandale, Fairfax, Falls Church, and Rockville.

Organizers

Does the thought of all this work overwhelm you? Well rest assured, there are many local organizers that will help you tackle your dejunking. From sorting through what stays and what goes, to helping you create organizational systems, these pros can do it all!

To find a certified professional organizer, visit the National Association of Professional Organizers or contact us – we have several great recommendations.

THE BOTTOM LINE

It’s always hard to part ways with old goods, especially if there are a lot of memories attached to them. You will feel so much better once you get rid of those items that no longer serve a purpose. If you’re selling your home, it will show far better with less “stuff.” If you’re not going anywhere, you will enjoy your newly cleared out space far more! Either way, you can end up with some extra money in your pocket.

Thinking about making a move? We would love to help. Reach out today, even if you’re not quite ready. We are happy to talk you through the process and see what makes most sense for you.

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