It is no secret that getting rid of a used sofa or sleeper is difficult. Upholstered furniture may not find many takers, especially when it is damaged, torn, or stained. To think that once you paid good money for a piece of furniture, that now seems to be of no interest to you or anyone else.
Unfortunately, with the exception of leather, upholstered furniture is difficult to sell, and can depreciate greatly with use. Even if you are not looking to make any money from the sale, getting rid of it can still be difficult.
But you still have several options other than abandoning your sofa by the wayside.
Hold a Garage Sale Although I said it was difficult to sell used upholstered furniture, it is not impossible. To a great extent it depends on its condition. Only consider selling if it is in reasonable shape. Here's a clue: If the tables were turned, would you buy it?
If you feel your sofa is in a good enough shape, get it cleaned professionally. It may not fetch big bucks, but will sell more easily.
If you're holding a garage sale, your sofa can simply be part of it and you may find it easier to sell it this way.
Read more about selling used furniture here:
How to Sell Your Used Furniture
Tips for Selling Your Old Furniture Place it in a Rummage Sale You can place your used sofa in a church, community center or school rummage sale. Your participation may simply be limited to hauling it there, without having to worry about organizing a sale on your own. Consider this if your sofa happens to be the only item you need to sell, as just one piece does not warrant holding a garage sale of your own. Place An Ad Online There are numerous online resources that can help you get rid of your used sofa. Craigslist, eBay, and www.freecycle.org are some of them. You can try either selling it or giving it away for free. Don't forget to mention whether you will deliver, or whether you need the buyer to pick up. Old Sofas for New Some stores will take your old couch if you are buying a new one from them. It is worth asking. Pass it On Ask friends and family if they have any use for your used sofa. Chances are someone might, especially if they are heading out to college. Advertise to College Students If you live in a college town, college students might be your best bet. Students are looking for furniture that is cheap or free. Donate to a Charity Charities like Goodwill, Salvation Army or St Vincent DePaul may take your furniture off your hands. But you may want to make sure it is in a usable condition. Most charities will come and pick it up from your home, and give you a tax receipt.
Check to see if you have any furniture banks in your town. They will also haul away your sofa, give you a tax receipt, and find a new home for it.
You may also consider donating it to a shelter for the homeless, your local theater, or school. Have it Hauled Away Try everything you can to prevent any furniture from going to a landfill, but when all else fails, and if your couch is badly damaged and beyond repair, have it hauled away. Consult your city before you go and dispose of it on your own. Many cities will have services for hauling away your items, often for a fee. The Moral of the Story While it might be too late for the sofa you are trying to get rid of right now, there are some steps you can take in the future to make things easier for yourself. Buy a good quality sofa. You will not need to get rid of it for quite a while. It can be moved to another part of the home to serve another function. If you do need to sell it for some reason, you will find more takers, and thus get rid of it more easily.
How to Judge a Sofa for Quality
Top 13 Tips for Buying a Great Sofa After bringing your new furniture home, take good care of it. It will last longer and again, be easier to sell, should you need to do so.
Read more about taking care of your sofa here:
How to Clean and Care for Upholstered Furniture
Caring for Leather Furniture Consider re-upholstering. This may not work for everything, but if you have a good quality sofa with a sturdy frame, this is definitely an option. Use slipcovers. These can end up being less expensive than re-upholstering, and you can get them custom-made, or buy ready to use.
