Deciding What To Sell and What To Donate

Deciding what to sell and what to donate can be a difficult process, especially when organizing or downsizing. Whether you’re making a big move or just looking to declutter your home, 10 Federal Storage has you covered with helpful tips for deciding how to sell and what to donate.

The process of determining what belongings you want to keep can be daunting at first. At 10 Federal Storage, our aim is to assist you in optimizing your space with our decluttering tips from leading storage professionals.

Assess Your Needs and Goals

It’s crucial to have a plan before you even begin to sort through your belongings. Deciding what your primary goal is will help you maintain a clear focus as you determine what gets sold or donated.

Selling clothes or extra furniture is a great way to make a little money while clearing up some space in your home. Alternatively, donating items you no longer use can be extremely rewarding and helpful for your community.

Regardless of what your intent is, having a plan and understanding your goals will help guide and inform your decisions.

Categorize and Evaluate Items

Once you’ve decided on what plan of action you intend to take with the items, sorting them by use or category is the next step. Making groups of items based on their use will make the decision-making process easier.

 Start out by sorting your belongings into categories like clothing, electronics, furniture, kitchen items, and so on. From that point, you can determine what would be worth selling or donating.

Items that are relatively new and aren’t used as frequently are great candidates for selling. Possessions like clothing, furniture, and some tech can be reused or repurposed by other people, while items that may be older or worn are ideal for donations.

During this process, it’s to your benefit to evaluate the practicality of each item. If something is extremely outdated and rarely used, it’s probably best to donate or correctly dispose of it rather than wasting your time trying to sell it.

Consider Sentimental Value

Getting rid of your belongings is never easy, especially when the items have sentimental value. It’s incredibly common to be emotionally attached to possessions, typically ones that represent milestones or those received from loved ones.

However, holding on to these items can negatively impact stress levels, consume your time, and create conflicts in relationships on top of taking up storage space. Taking the time to understand why you cling to certain items can be extremely beneficial to you as you declutter your space.

A popular method for overcoming emotional attachment to your possessions is reframing. By looking at the situation from a different perspective, you can release those feelings you may have with certain items. Finding a balance between practicality and sentiment is important when going through belongings.

Appraise Value

If you're considering selling items, research their current market value. Online platforms and secondhand stores can give you an idea of how much you could potentially earn.

Items in good condition are more likely to sell. Consider the wear and tear on items. If they're still functional and in decent shape, you might be able to sell them.Some items may be worth a pretty penny if you know where to sell them.

Do your research to determine what the cost of some of your items may be worth. This ensures you’ll get a better deal for your belongings.

Sell or Donate Your Items

Once you’ve gone through your items, you can now donate or sell them. Thrift or secondhand stores are the most common place to unload these possessions. With dozens of chains, there's bound to be a handful of locations near you.

Additionally, certain charities or organizations are willing to accept clothing, bedding, and more as long as they're in good condition. ​​Choose a cause or organization that resonates with you for donation. Local charities and shelters often accept a variety of items.

Decluttering your home is personal and might take time. It's OK to start with smaller categories and gradually work your way through your possessions. Ultimately, finding a balance between what to sell and what to donate should align with your goals and values.