When You're Moving - Vibrant Senior Options

When You’re Moving is provided by Don Enos of Northwest Listings. This article is published in the Spring/Summer 2025 Edition of Vibrant Senior Options Resource Guide Magazine.

What to do with what's not going with you

When moving, it’s likely that not all of your possessions will go to your new home. This raises the question: what to do with what’s not moving? Your options include:

Give to family or friends

Relatives and friends may find unwanted possessions useful, valuable, or sentimental. Including people close to you can be a great first step in determining what should happen with some items that won’t be moved.
Garage sales and estate sales. Garage sales are ideal for offloading cheaper items, while estate sales, often managed by professionals, are better for valuable possessions.

Garage sales and estate sales

Garage sales are ideal for offloading cheaper items, while estate sales, often managed by professionals, are better for valuable possessions.

Charitable donations

Charities like local churches, the Red Cross and Goodwill often accept donations, though policies vary. Check ahead for drop-off requirements or potential removal fees.

Junk" removal services.

“Quick and efficient, they will take almost anything you don’t want. Pricing is based on the volume of material (though some services price by item), and fees are often added for items such as paint or tires.

Self-storage

Storing items can ensure future access or delay tough decisions about letting go. However, self-storage can become costly, with fees often exceeding the value of stored items and rates subject to unexpected hikes.

When You're Moving: Disposing of Hazardous Waste

You should never pour household hazardous waste (HHW) down drains or on the ground as this can harm people, animals, and the environment. Instead, look into proper disposal options, such as: