We all have a place in our home that just seems to be in a perpetual state of disarray. It is where things that should have been given away, tossed or burned have gone to take up permanent residence. Essentially, you are paying a premium to house junk. One person’s junk, however, is another’s treasure, so why not get some cash for things that would otherwise be destined for the curb? Thanks to the Internet, you can now turn that furniture mishap into some serious vacation money. Here are the sites I direct clients to when they have furniture, accessories or home goods that they are looking to turn into cold, hard cash:
Chairish: (www.chairish.com) Chairish is an online marketplace for buying and selling home goods. Sellers use the Chairish app to upload a photo of what they are looking to sell, along with a description of the item. Chairish’s team reviews the item to see if it’s a good fit, and, if approved, sellers get 80% of the sale price. Even better is that Chairish arranges shipping. Be warned, however, that buyers have a 48-hour window to return items.
Previously Owned By a Gay Man: (previouslyownedbyagayman.com/) Don’t let the name fool you. Not everything on the site was owned by a decorating diva with a passion for paisley. Previously Owned is the brainchild of two women who have some pretty fabulous connections to the interior design world. Sellers complete an online form that takes the pertinent information and then upload a picture of the item. If the item is selected, sellers will receive 80% of the listed sale price. Even better is their “Enhanced Option,” where a member of staff will come onsite to measure, photograph and write the product descriptions on your behalf. But this concierge level service comes at a price—proceeds from any Enhanced Option sale will be split 50/50.
MoveLoot: (www.moveloot.com) Move Loot is a startup that serves as a used furniture warehouse and marketplace. To set them apart for buyers, Move Loot actually picks up the items that are approved for sale and holds them for up to 60 days at a warehouse until they sell. After that, sellers can either pay to have the item returned, or donate it to a local charity. Items are reduced 40% after 30 days, and buyers have the option of offering a lower price at any time that the seller must approve.
LushPad: (www.lushpad.com/) Love modern furniture but hate spending all your hard earned coins on a fabulous piece? Well, the folks behind LushPad feel your pain. They want to take the angst out of buying beautiful and well-crafted modern pieces. It’s completely free to list on LushPad—yes, free! They do not charge a listing fee, or a commission on anything sold on the site. The reach is smaller than some other sites, but it’s a great way to connect with like-minded design lovers across the U.S.
Courtney Lake is the interior designer and lifestyle expert behind Monogram Décor (www.monogramdecor.com) and its celebrated blog, Courtney Out Loud. His work and writings have appeared on television and in writing including Today.com, “The Wall Street Journal,” “The Nate Berkus Show,” “The San Francisco Chronicle,” “Life & Style Magazine,” “RUE Magazine,” “Real Simple,” “This Old House” and “7×7 Magazine.”
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