What not to do When you Donate old Furniture

Want to donate old furniture? It is a fantastic option. In addition to helping you rid your home of clutter, it’s also an action that helps people in need.

While donating is a pretty straightforward process, there are some things you don’t want to do. Avoiding these pitfalls keeps your donation experience comfortable and ensures that the items you donate will be as useful as possible for the people who eventually take them home. Read on to learn more.

5 Things not to do When you Donate Old Furniture

Whether you’re an experienced donator or a first-timer excited to break into the process, here are a few things to avoid when you take your unwanted sofa, chair, or desk to your nearest donation drop off facility.

1. Donate Broken or Dirty Items

While this should seem obvious, it’s often not. If your furniture is old, dirty, broken, excessively used, or unsafe in any way, throw it away instead of donating it. This is important for two reasons. In addition to the fact that most donation places won’t accept furniture that’s broken, dirty, or damaged, it’s upsetting for someone to purchase sub-par furniture down the road.

Instead, fix small issues with your furniture before you donate it. Rent an upholstery cleaner to get rid of small spots on cushions, and make repairs to frames or other structures before you donate old furniture items. While this is a simple process, it can make a massive difference when it comes to the ease of your donations.

2. Forget to Keep Records

Did you know that your donations do more than just help families in need?  In fact, donating furniture and other items to charity can help you access a break on your income taxes.

The catch, though, is that you need to keep records to access this tax break. Be sure to get a receipt any time you donate household goods. If the value is less than $250, you’ll just need a receipt that has the charity’s name and what you donated, as well as the donation date.

If your donation is worth more than $250, you’ll need a document that itemizes the donations and states their fair market value. Once you’ve secured this documentation, be sure to keep it in an easy-to-find location until tax time.

3. Not Knowing Your Options

To get as much as possible from your donation experience, you’ve got to understand the best possible donation options for your situation.

Most people, though, don’t know that they have options, in the first place. Before you start the donation process, do your research. You’ll quickly find that there are many options in your local area, some of which offer pick-up options to save you the trip to the drop-off center.

Check out local hotspots like Salvation Army, regional donation centers, and junk removal companies (like ours), which offer junk removal services that will come to your location and pick your junk up for you.

While this is important as far as your convenience is concerned, it also keeps you from donating to any old group and ensures your junk is going to companies you care about and want to support.

4. Making Moving Mistakes

Donating your old junk involves lifting heavy items. To make sure your attempt to donate some unwanted furniture doesn’t land you in the hospital, be sure that you’re using good form as you lift and move your items.

If you’re not going to hire a team of junk removal specialists or professional movers to do the job for you, be sure to use moving accessories like straps, dollies, and similar assistance devices to make the move as easy as possible, and to protect your back and neck during the process.

5. Losing Sight of What you can Donate

Some people only think they can donate old furniture and unwanted household items, but the list is much more extensive than that. In fact, you can donate old pianos, televisions, and much, much more.

With this in mind, be sure to research your options before you get busy donating everything. Understanding the full extent of your donation possibilities will allow you to get rid of all the junk you want to get rid of, without sacrificing your back, sanity, or pocketbook in the process.

Contact Junk King for Junk Removal Services you can Trust

If you’re planning to donate your old or unwanted junk, contact Junk King today. We offer junk removal and pick-up services to help you clear the clutter and enjoy your home more.

No matter what your questions may be, our skilled team of movers and junk removal experts are here to answer them and provide you the services you need.

Meta Description: If you want to donate old furniture, these guidelines will help you do it quickly, easily, and without common missteps. Click here to learn more.