Dispose of Large Furniture: Sell? Give Away? Oversized Garbage?

You need to create a working space at home under the COVID situation, or you really need to get rid of large pieces of furniture in order to organize your parents’ house. Have you ever encountered such a situation?

It’s hard to get rid of a large furniture because it has been there for years and has turned into your usual background. You can’t even think of a choice of moving it. In addition, it takes a lot of courage to get rid of it because it is quite difficult in terms of labor, cost and procedure.

Here are a several ways to get rid of your furniture depending on its condition, so please find a way that works for you and get a refreshed house!

But please read this as the situation in Japan. The rules and customs may vary according to country.

Know the condition of your furniture

The method of disposal will vary depending on the condition. First, determine the condition objectively.

Purchased within the past five years
　　If it has no scratches and the design is new -> sell it.
It’s been more than five years since you bought it.
　　No noticeable scratches, but the design is old. Not likely to be priced. ->give it away.
Broken or scratched.
　　Unable to use -> Throw it away

Let’s look at them in detail.

To Sell

Have a recycle store come to your house to purchase items.

First, call them and tell them the condition of the item, and if it is acceptable, they will come to your house to pick it up.
Prices vary depending on the condition and the store. You should never expect the price. It is disappointingly lower than you think.
The advantage is that the item will be cleared up as soon as the pickup schedule is met.

Sell privately through online auctions.

Sell on Yahoo! or Mercari. However, this is for people who don’t mind the hassle of member registration and online transactions.
Since this is a personal exchange, it is necessary to discuss the conditions of transportation well in advance.
The price can be set by the individual, which is much more advantageous than having a store buy it for you.

To Give Away

The second option is to give it away. Even if you bought it within less than five years, you can choose this option to get rid of it quickly. But of course, the item must be given free.

Use of “Give it away” website

Search the local site to exchange properties. In most cases, the person you are exchanging with is living nearby, so they can pick it up in person and not charge you for shipping.
You can sometimes set a price, but basically, you have to be willing to give it away.
Familiarity with the internet is required for registration, uploading, and subsequent management.
No professional help for transport, so a solid arrangement in advance is necessary.
When the item is old, it is difficult to find a buyer or a receiver.

Donate to an organization

Some organizations will take them for the purpose of reusing them if they are usable. The one I used was Mottainai Volunteer Project (M.V.P.), a general incorporated association. I proposed a very old chest of drawers, but they agreed to take it over and came to pick it up right away. Thank you.
Some items can be picked up and some can’t, the organization has its own criteria. But once the item is accepted, they will come right away.
They come with a large vehicle for pick-up, so we don’t have to move the item ourselves.

To Throw Away

“Throwing away” is not as simple as throwing away scraps of paper. It costs and takes time and effort.

Use Local Bulky Garbage Collection System

You need to apply in advance to the bulky waste application center of the local government (available only on weekdays).
Fee: Height over 170cm: 1,500 yen, Under 170cm: 1,000 yen (the amount varies depending on the object)
You will need to purchase stickers to put on the bulky waste at convenience stores before the collection day, and take it to the designated place by 8:00 a.m. on the day of collection.
The collection is only once a month, so it won’t be done until then. The number of items that can be collected is limited to two at a time.
There is also a system where you can bring them to the place designated by the local government, but it is quite difficult considering the transportation, loading and unloading of the vehicles. Only recommended when you need quick disposal, or you have abundant labor force.

Ask a waste purchasing company.

If the date and time match, they will come relatively quickly. However, many companies require a free estimate beforehand. In that case, you may have to deal with the company twice or more.
They will carry it out from your place, so you don’t have to do any labor work.
However, the price is quite expensive. Estimate: 15,000 yen or more for a short chest of drawers. Two tall chests of drawers cost from 30,000 yen.
You might have seen a vehicle driving around for this service, but their prices are quite high and some of them are shady. Therefore, if you want to use this kind of service, it is safer to check online and use a company that has its own website.

Summary

To summarize what I’ve written so far…

If you prioritize price over time, I recommend selling online.
If you prioritize time over price, I recommend pickup by a vendor.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of time and money, but are willing to put in the effort to do so, use the local government.

Good luck!