Many people overlook the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to get rid of household items. This method works best for the big big things that I call the elephant in the room. What is this magical way to get rid of waste? Try to put things on the ledge with a “FREE” sign attached to them. Could this be a way to set you up for success?
Is Curbside Decluttering a Good Idea?
Surprisingly, when I suggest using the “free of charge” method, some homeowners push back for whatever reason:
- They don’t know how to get the item from the house or garage to the curb. Moving large, heavy objects seems impossible. (We do that during the planning sessions.)
- They don’t want their lawn to look dirty.
- They think there is a rule against putting things aside.
- They feel that the people in their neighborhood are too good to pick up from the curb. (They are not.)
In fact there are very few times when we use this method and it has not solved major problems for our customers.
There’s always someone new or just starting out who can use your beautiful junk.
For you, curbside dumping beats the time and energy involved in garage sales (click for a free downloadable checklist), auctions, and online sales. You don’t need an app, just a generous heart and a willingness to send your belongings to a new home.
How to Set Yourself Apart by Putting Things on the Curb
Check the weather. This works best on sunny days and calm nights.
Securely attach a sign that says “FREE”. Cardboard box hats make great signs; use duct tape to protect yourself.
Make it visible. Place it in the right place, so that the person driving can easily see it.
One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure
We used to call it “picking up trash,” but I prefer to call it “treasure on the side of the road.”
In fact, even real junk, like a broken refrigerator, can be valuable to a metal recycler. We see these guys everywhere, looking for anything metal, like antique bed frames and broken electrical appliances. You can learn why you should leave metal recycling to those guys.
But if you want your belongings to find a new home quickly, be smart and kind. Offer only things that really work and are reasonably clean. If something doesn’t work, but can be used for parts, note that on your sign.
Many wooden furniture items are snapped up by DIYers looking for a project. Let them decide along the way how much work they want to do.
Making Curbside Decluttering More Successful
If you live in a rural area, consider posting at the same time to a buy-nothing or free Facebook group to ensure your curbside items move quickly.
Place only large items on the curb, such as bicycles and small furniture. These should be things people can see while driving.
Place items in the curb a day or two before trash day. That way if it is not chosen by the new owner, it is still taken out on trash day.
Make your “free” sign big and legible. The faster the traffic that moves in front of your house, the bigger your sign needs to be.
Offer only a few items at a time, so as not to annoy the neighbors. Any more than that, and it’s a yard sale, and you may need a permit.
If your housing association expressly prohibits you from giving away goods for free, obey their rules. Or leave only the really good stuff available during high traffic hours. 🙂
Is There Anything To Offer At The Curb?
As a rule, we do not provide weapons, such as arrows and darts or anything that looks like a toy gun. We do not deliver anything that is broken or damaged, such as broken refrigerators (unless marked with metal detectors) or furniture that has been peed on by pets. That’s when you call 1-800-Got-Junk or your local hauler. And we don’t leave cleaning supplies and chemicals unattended.* For the most part, household chemicals should be properly recycled at the event of leaving the county.
The Things I Gave Up
Over the years, we have provided many beautiful items to customers’ front lawns. Usually, they’re gone before we finish the set time for planning. This includes:
- Charcoal grill
- A bookcase
- Bicycles
- Power tools
- Garden tools
- Tables, timber
- A ping-pong table
- Cleaning products*
- Carpets
- Bricks and pavers
- Strollers and other baby items
- Sportswear for children
Have You Had Success With Curbside Decluttering?
Leave a comment below if you’re surprised by giving things away.