When it’s Time to Kiss Your Furniture Goodbye
Today we had to say goodbye to our living room couch. It served us well in the almost 10 years we had it. (Wow, has it really been that long?)
When it first arrived, all shiny and new, it wasn’t as comfortable as the couch it replaced. But over time, we worked it in and it became as comfortable as my favorite flannel jammies on a cold winter’s night. Sure it was looking a little worn, but it developed a nice patina and we had long stopped being concerned about accidental spills. But we all agreed that it was time to let it go, and buy something that better fits our new space and needs.
It still had some life in it, perhaps for a student or someone furnishing their first place on a tight budget. So I decided to post it on Kijji. I took a flattering photo – the light was just perfect, the pillows plumped proudly at the sides, and crafted an ad highlighting its benefits (that’s the writer in me). Once I made the decisions to get rid of it, I wanted it gone yesterday.
Within a few minutes, we started getting the phone calls. No matter how many times I post articles for sale, I’m always amazed at the funny calls I get. One person wanted to know if there were any scratches. When I said there were a few, she asked me if I could take a picture of them and email it to her. Another person wanted to know how old it was. People – this is a Natuzzi leather sofa that sells for a few thousand dollars and it’s up for $150. If it was in mint condition and brand new, the price would probably reflect that; please manage your expectations! Then there was the gentleman that had to call and hang up several times because his phone kept cutting out. He couldn’t get a full sentence out. I guess it wasn’t meant to be – for him anyway. Yes, I had forgotten how frustrating it can be to sell things online.
Finally, someone inquired about it for his office reception area. He came as scheduled, with cash in hand. He barely looked at it, trying to cover up his glee at the deal he was getting. The scratches didn’t seem to bother him at all (they were hardly noticeable anyway). He was the perfect buyer. He brought a buddy to help him carry it out and drove a truck. He was even polite and careful – removing his shoes and telling his friend to ‘watch the walls’. There was a moment of panic when it didn’t seem like it was going to make it through the front doorway. But they brilliantly gave it a quarter turn and it breezed through. Not just strong, but smart too.
When I look at the empty space that this couch once occupied, I don’t miss it at all. In fact, I’m so relieved it’s gone. What was once a spot for friends and family to bond and make great memories, and a haven for us to retreat to after a tiring day, became a burden – once it outgrew its usefulness.
Now that it’s sold, I’ve all but forgotten about the funny calls. Much like childbirth, you forget the pain – until the next time. Now I’m just filled with satisfaction and gratefulness. I’m grateful that it made an easy and graceful exit. I’m grateful that it found another home, where it will continue to serve. And most of all, I’m excited for the new couch, which is arriving tomorrow, to begin its life of service – hopefully a long and joyful one.
Sometimes it’s hard to let go of a piece of furniture that has a history and has become practically a friend. But at the end of the day, we need to let go of the old to make space for something even better. And trust that someone who needs it will be overjoyed to discover it.
Do you have trouble getting rid of furniture? What’s your go-to method? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
We got rid of a couch, loveseat,and a mission style chair with an ottoman around the holidays. We bought new on a black Friday sale. We donated the old stuff to a program that helps single moms get back on their feet. The organization was in great need to furnish ten apartments for families to move into. Like you said the couch and loveseat no longer fit our needs and the mission chair was ours by default. My husband had purchased it for his mother and it really did not work for her so we kept it, but it became a coat rack and backpack storage. In its place I bought a bench with storage and I think it fits the area better. It felt great to give the old stuff away knowing it would be useful to someone else. I am hoping to do a whole house purge this year. I love the inspiration I get from watching NEAT reruns. I have some huge problem areas in my home and the show works as therapy as I get ready to tackle those areas.
18 Months ago we made the decision to move from the place we had been trying to make home for 5 years. The kids weren’t happy and neither were we. We came there with a 20′ container and we were amazed to find out that after 5 years we had enough to fill a 40′ container. Time for a major purge. Some items were emotionally easy to get rid off, others that we were attached to but just couldn’t take with us, went to very good homes either by donation (sofa’s for the school library) or being sold to some lovely people. I totally agree the whole selling is hard work and I was just amazed at how picky people get. I am in no hurry to do it again!
Our move wasn’t just from 1 house to another, we moved countries and a complete life style change. It was great to get rid of a lot of stuff which held negative memories and was holding us back. What ended up in our container were all things we felt were part of us. Things we had collected over the years we were all attached to. Even the battered old blanket box coffee table that the kids wanted to take as we’ve had so many family gatherings around it. Our new place is not permanent, it is a stepping stone but we’ve made it our home and all the pieces that we’ve kept fit so well together. Whilst initially it was hard to let go, we were ready for the change and we have never looked back!
I donate furniture unless it gets to the point where I have so much big stuff to donate it feels like I have to have a yard sale. (I hate yard sales more than dental work, so it has to be a lot of stuff.) I recently had to let my all-time favorite sofa go, but happily a neighbor was genuinely thrilled to take it; most of the time it’s not so easy. In the past I’ve donated to our local University’s opera department (they use some furniture in productions and sell the rest as a fundraiser) and local charities. I even detailed and then donated our refrigerator to Habitat for Humanity when we upgraded. I still smile to think of someone on a tight budget getting a gleaming, perfectly working (but way too small for us) Kitchen Aid refrigerator complete with ice maker when they walked in the door ready to settle for Barely Adequate.
I looked for 3 years for the “perfect couch” to replace my former “perfect couch” & its 2 matching pillows that served us so well while my children were growing and living at home. When I finally did find one that reflected my husband and my taste now, I bought it and planned the changeover.
I first called a local cancer support group that has a consignment store. They said I could deliver it there myself or pay for a pick up to the store. Then I would get 1/2 of the selling price. OR I could donate it to them, get a receipt for its value, and get a free pick-up from my home. I opted for the 2nd option.
As soon as my new couch was ready for delivery I called the consignment store & scheduled a pick-up of my old couch. Then I called the furniture store & scheduled the new couch delivery! I gave myself one week in-between to have my rug shampooed with only minimal furniture to move!
I love my new couch & saw that the consignment store sold my old couch for about $125 in a couple days. The EASE of this option made me happy I donated it to them. If I had to do it again I would do it exactly the same way.
The piece of furniture I had the most difficulty getting rid of was my red custom-ordered upholstery Ikea couch. My husband & I bought it about 6 months after we got married in 1996. Until then we were using the “good” living room sofa from my mom which was on its last legs. That Ikea couch was the only thing I could relax on during all three of my pregnancies. We finally had to let it go because it was not fitting the needs of our family in our game room. I had forgotten about it until I read this article! Good memories! And, our new gameroom couch is from Ikea, and it has an extension, with a hidden compartment, and it is SO UNCOMFORTABLE. Good thing I’m not going to be having any more babies! Thanks for the memories!
[…] When It’s Time to Kiss Your Furniture Goodbye […]
I sell on Kijiji and CraigsList all of the time, and I make EVERY effort possible to communicate with the potential buyers by ANY MEANS other than telephone. Of course E-Mail is always a good option, as is SMS text messaging (both give you written accounts of what each party has said and you can always go back to these messages if you ever forget a detail or two). There will always be the stubborn buyer who will insist on communicating by telephone before anything else, and from my experience, these are most often the clients who have either A) not read the ad properly and therefore the item being sold will not match their needs, or B) are the clients who will have the MOST difficulties communicating (who would have therefore been the perfect candidates to communicate with by E-Mail or SMS): For these clients, I insist on calling them through GMail’s Call Phone feature, which is completely free to use and masks your phone number at the same time (potential clients who insist on communicating by phone before anything else are often inconsiderate as well: if they receive you address or personal phone number, they will call you or visit you whenever suits them best and ‘to hell’ with your availabilities…thus why I only provide my address and personal phone number once all details have been ironed out and I have a ‘fairly’ good impression that the client will actually show up on the time and date discussed.
Happiness if finding this website just when I need it most! I am a new Hellenophile. I only have access to the ancient reruns of Neat, but I have memorized nearly all of them. Searching on the internet, I discovered an entire new world of Hellen Buttigieg. Would you believe, before I ever read about getting rid of a still-good Hide-a-Bed sofa? My extended family was stunned that I did it because I keep everything. They accuse that I have the tie Abe wore in his portrait for the Lincoln penny!