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Congratulations! You’ve closed on your new home and you’re ready to move into your new place. It’s an exciting time, but one that can be busy, stressful and more than a little overwhelming. One of the things that often shocks and dismays people during the moving process is how much STUFF they’ve accumulated. Moving time is a great time to get rid of things you no longer want or use. If you’re using a moving company, keep in mind that some of them base their rates on the weight of what they’ll be moving. Culling out the things you can will save you money in the long run. You’ll also spend less time and money when it comes to collecting or buying packing boxes! But what should you do with these things? Where should they go? It’s a question as old as time…or at least from the time man stopped living in caves. Luckily, you have the experts at Ernest Signature Custom Homes to give you some suggestions! Consignment Savvy If you have clothes, shoes, furniture, or household goods that are gently used, consider taking them to an appropriate consignment shop. Most shops are small businesses, so you’ll be supporting the local economy. Shops typically accept items they think will have a good possibility of resale, and will offer you a cut of the eventual profit if they do sell. Most shops will keep items on their floor for a set period of time, say 60 or 90 days. If the item doesn’t sell by that time, they’ll either return the item to you, if you want it back, or donate it to a charity. Pawn Shops Most people have the mistaken belief that pawn shops are only a place to get a loan against the value of an item that they fully intend to “buy back” later. However, pawn shops will also purchase items outright to sell to customers. Tune into an episode or two of the History Channel’s Pawn Stars to see how it works! Pawn shops accept all kinds of items, from jewelry to musical instruments, sports equipment, newer electronics, appliances, power tools, video game systems in good working order, toys, collector’s items, coins, vintage pieces of all types and unusual knick-knacks. Sell Your Items Online If you have enough time and a working knowledge of online commerce, you can also make some money selling items online. EBay and Craigslist are the places everyone knows of, but there are a bunch of other ways to connect your items with likely buyers. Post items you’re willing to sell to your Facebook account. Check out apps and sites such as:

• LetGo
• Ebid
• Bonanza
• 5miles
• OfferUp
• Close5
• Wish Local
• Carousell
• SocialSell
• Listia
• Linger (Android)
• ThreadUp
• Poshmark
• Mercari

Run a Garage Sale It does take a little time and organization to pull this off, but you’ll be surprised how many unlikely things will march right off your lawn. Bonus…you’ll get a little money for your pocket as well. It can be a lot of fun to get your neighbors involved too – if you can put together a “block sale”, you can draw bigger crowds and move more items. Here’s a great, comprehensive article on how to put together a killer garage sale; it covers all the bases. Donate Your Stuff If you have leftover items from your selling activities, or just don’t have the time or inclination to try to sell them, look into donating them to your favorite charity. Goodwill and the Salvation Army are standards, but you can also donate to other organizations such as the Humane Society, church missions, crisis centers and youth organizations. Scan your local phone listings for thrift stores of any kind and ask if they’re accepting donations, or refer to this comprehensive list for ideas. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle You wouldn’t believe how many unlikely items can be recycled in many different ways. This amazing list gives you a bunch of great alternatives for decluttering your home and helping the environment. You can also stop by your local recycling center to see what they’ll accept.