Can This Item Be Donated?

When Should You Donate an Item?

The same-day junk removal experts offer advice on when to donate, when to sell, and when to dispose of junk. 

What should you do with the items you no longer want to keep? This is a common decluttering question. Once you’ve decided that an item has got to go, there’s the problem of figuring out exactly how to get rid of the item. If you sell the item, you could make some tidy cash. If you donate the item, you can help someone in need. 

Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you consider your junked items.

1. What Condition is the Item In? 

First thing, once you’ve decided an item has got to go, take a critical look at its condition. Inspect the wear and tear you’ve put on the item. How dirty is the item and how much of that grime will actually come off? If the item serves a function like a washing machine or a small kitchen appliance, does that item still perform that function well?

Permanently soiled and dysfunctional items that cannot be repaired are candidates for disposal, not donation. When you donate items that a charity cannot use or sell, you simply make disposal the charity’s problem. This take away from the time, resources, and energy that the charity needs to help people. 

Items in good condition or items that just need a simple clean or repair you can perform yourself are items you could donate or sell. Give decorative items a dust, wash your unwanted clothes, and then proceed to the next question.

2. What is the Item Worth Right Now?

Provided your item is in great condition and functions well, what would the item be worth if you tried to sell it?

Look up similar items on eBay, Mercari, Facebook Marketplace, and other online retailers where you can buy and exchange used goods. What prices are these items selling for?

In-demand and valuable items might be worth an attempt to sell. You could get some extra cash and recoup some of the cost of the original sale. Items that are not worth very much in the current market are probably better candidates for donation.

Keep in mind that some items will not sell for the asking price you see on certain websites. Pick a rock-bottom number that would make the sale worth your time and a deadline for when you need to find a buyer offering that number. When the deadline is past, reevaluate the item to decide if you lower the price, or put the item up for donation.

3. Would This Item Be Meaningful to Another Person?

Some items, like broken heirloom furniture, old yearbooks, and kids’ craft projects, are only meaningful to you.

Ask yourself if someone else could use the item or if you’re just thinking about selling or donating the item because it has sentimental value to you.

Some of these items could be meaningful to a family member or friend of yours. But if you ask them whether or not they want the item and they say no, it’s probably time to dispose of the item. Remember, you can cherish memories without hanging onto the actual clutter.

4. How Much Space and Energy Do You Have For Selling?

Selling can sometimes take a lot of work. You have to take pictures of your item, find somewhere to store the item in the meantime, or get a city permit to run a garage sale. Ask anyone who regularly sells goods online and you’ll likely hear horror stories of ghosting, low-ball offers, and rude buyers. 

It could be that you have a high-value item in great condition, but remember that your time, peace, and energy are just as valuable as your money. You can give yourself a timeframe and price that you’ll sell for, but do not wait for the right buyer indefinitely. The goal of your decluttering is not to make money but to reclaim your space and mental health.

5. How Soon Do You Need This Item Gone?

Sometimes you don’t need to set a deadline because you have one set for you already. That approaching deadline could be an upcoming move, a tenant who wants to rent out the room soon, or the delivery of a new appliance and furniture. Whatever the reason may be, you don’t have the luxury of waiting for a sale.

In this case, you have a couple options. You can donate the item to a charity of your choice, or you can call for junk removal and get the item gone exactly when you need it gone.

Let Junk.com Do the Evaluation 

Call for eco-friendly disposal from Junk.com, and get those items out of your hair as soon as today. If you’re concerned about what happens to the junk, you can rest easy knowing that Junk.com prioritizes donation, recycling, and responsible disposal. We can handle all the sorting, while you focus on keeping your life clutter-free.

Use the online booking tool or call (844) 771-6830 to reach a junk removal team near you.