Big house versus small apartment – ​​what happens to the furniture?

Your house has become too big for you in your old age, and you've decided to move to a smaller apartment for seniors. Unfortunately, you won't be able to take most of your furniture with you. And your children or grandchildren just wave you off when you ask, "Can't you use my nice old TV couch?" But the thought of simply having everything removed by a junk removal company is unappealing. What can you do instead? We'll show you four options.

Many memories are tied to furniture that you may have had around you for decades. It's sad enough that you now have to say goodbye to all these faithful, wooden companions. It can be some consolation, however, if you can still make some money from selling them. Or at least if you know that other people will still enjoy these pieces of furniture or can really make good use of them.

#1 Selling furniture: brings in money but takes time

First, you'll naturally think about the gems in your furniture collection: antiques, designer pieces, or special collector's items. You'll either want to keep these and take them with you, or you'll try to get a decent price for them from an antique dealer. However, this isn't so easy, as dealers will most likely always try to haggle you down as much as possible.

Selling your furniture online might give you better luck. But even then, finding the right buyer isn't always easy – especially when it comes to more expensive or unusual pieces. The key is that potential buyers can clearly see the item in the photos. Good lighting (daylight) and ideally a neutral background are recommended. Any defects should be highlighted with a close-up photo and mentioned in the description. Creating numerous individual classified ads is quite time-consuming. The tempting idea of ​​saving time by simply offering all your furniture as a package is unlikely to be successful, as most buyers are looking for specific individual pieces.

#2 Leave the furniture to the buyers of your property

Another practical solution is to include a clause in the purchase agreement with your property buyers stipulating that they will take over the house furnished. The buyers can then decide whether to keep all the furnishings or dispose of the items they don't want at their own expense. If you want to avoid the hassle of disposal – and perhaps also if some furnishings were custom-made for the property and only truly make sense there – then simply discuss this suggestion with your buyers.

#3 Disposal and relocation in one go

Many moving companies offer their customers the option of clearing out their vacated property at the same time as the move. So, when you request a quote for your move, you can also ask if the company can dispose of your old furniture on moving day and what this service would cost. While you won't actually make any money from your furniture, but rather have to pay for its disposal, the price is unlikely to be significantly cheaper than hiring a separate clearing service. The major advantage, however, is that everything is completed in one day, minimizing your workload. However, you also have no control over whether your once-beloved furniture will find a "second life" with someone else.

Are you planning to sell your house and wondering what to do with your furniture? We would be happy to advise you and show you the options available.

You need more information:

https://www.test.de/test-warnt-Umzug-viel-teurer-4260361-0/

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haushaltsaufl%C3%B6sung

Legal notice: This article does not constitute tax or legal advice for any specific case. Please consult a lawyer and/or tax advisor to clarify the facts of your individual situation.

Photo: © Fizkes / Depositphoto