If you’re getting ready to move after buying one of the Baton Rouge houses for sale or a home anywhere else, simply updating your furnishings, or downsizing, getting rid of the old stuff, furniture, in particular, can be somewhat tricky. Your first thought may be to sell it at a garage sale or put it on Craigslist to generate some cash, or to donate the item to charity, but of course, either way, it needs to be in at least decent, usual condition. But what happens when you’ve exhausted those options, and not even your college freshman will take that old couch?
Reupholster or Paint to Give it a New Life
If you have the room to keep it, you can give upholstered furniture a new life by getting it reupholstered. Some pieces have upholstery that can easily be removed and replaced, all you have to do is take it off that old chair or sofa and install a new cover, and voila! It’s like a whole new piece of furniture. To make it feel as new as it looks, be sure to replace the cushions or any padding that was underneath too.
For old wood furniture, freshen it up with new paint, or give it a vintage appearance by creating a distressed or artfully cracked look. Wood stains and glosses are great too as you can change a lighter color of wood to a darker shade and then use a gloss coating to make it look as good as new.
Rent a Roll Off Dumpster
If you can’t sell or donate and don’t want to or can’t save and revive your old furniture, renting a roll-off dumpster is an easy, fast and affordable way to get rid of it and any other junk. Most companies have a variety of dumpster sizes and will drop it off right at the location of your choice. You’ll then be able to toss all that old stuff in and then call the company to let them know it’s ready. They’ll pick it up, and you won’t have to worry about it again. This is a great option for those who are decluttering or doing a major home clean out as part of the process of getting ready to put their home on the market. It will allow you to work at your own pace while you sort through all of your furnishings and other items.
If you’re replacing it with a new item, see if the old stuff can be hauled away.
If you’re getting new furniture or appliances delivered, they can often haul away the old stuff at no extra charge. This is especially true for large appliances like refrigerators, laundry machines, etc. Be sure to either read the fine print with these arrangements or call the company ahead of time and see if there are any special provisions. When we had a new fridge and dishwasher installed, they hauled away the old ones for free, but for some odd reason, I had to uninstall the dishwasher and get it out from underneath the countertop myself.
This arrangement is less likely to be the case for furniture deliveries, but sometimes you can offer cash to coax those guys into taking the old stuff.
