# Moving cross-country. Again. Sell my stuff when? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 22, 2016, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814 "2016-03-22T00:23:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814/1 "2016-03-22T00:23:40Z")
So the first time I did this, I had the not-so-brilliant idea of hiring the cheapest movers I could find. To the surprise of no one, it was a complete shit show that I won’t bother getting into. Fast forward to now. I am selling or donating everything except the clothes off my back, plus the rest of my clothes in my closets and dressers, and some other things I like because they’re useful and/or sentimental. When, though, do I start ditching stuff? A friend of mine said now. I’m leaving in one month(ish). I guess he’s right? I don’t want to wait til the last minute and have a bunch of stuff I haven’t gotten rid of, but I also don’t want to live in this apt with nowhere to sit no dining room table. My MO is to price to sell, and hopefully things will move quickly. Last time I sold furniture, my phone was blowing up and everything I wanted to go was gone within days. I’d like to hope that will happen again, but if it doesn’t? If I go with his idea and things move fast, I suppose I can live without these things. It will be annoying, but whatever. If I sell later and things move fast, that is of course ideal. And if I sell later and things don’t move… that right there is the sadness. Please explain to me how to adult. What do you think? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814/2 "2016-03-22T00:47:56Z")
I waited too long and ended up begging people to take stuff for free. So I wouldn’t wait too long. I wonder how an ad that advertises “product available in 30 days with a down payment” would do? Good luck with your move. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814/3 "2016-03-22T01:17:19Z")
The inconvenience of managing without some stuff for a while is far less than the inconvenience of scrambling to get rid of shit when you need to be focused on, you know, the actual moving. Start selling. Now. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814/4 "2016-03-22T01:18:53Z")
I mailed ten boxes of stuff I liked/need to the new location. I packed everything else into the car. Then I called some junk collection guys to come take everything else for a minor fee the day before I left. It was kind of freeing to just get rid of everything and start anew. Of course, I didn’t actually own anything of value at the time. Best move ever. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814/5 "2016-03-22T01:18:53Z")
A month isn’t a long time. Start now. So what if you are inconvenienced for a week or two? You could negotiate a later pick up date, although no one’s going to give you a down payment now for pick up later. Congratulations on the move; I hope it’s back to the warmth. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814/6 "2016-03-22T05:45:36Z")
Price things higher than you see similar items selling for this week; if they sell - awesome! The extra money will help you find any solutions you might feel you truly need. Starting in 10 days though, list and sell and get things out of your way. Less weight means go faster. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814/7 "2016-03-22T06:11:19Z")
Release yourself from these possessions. They are holding you back. Pay it forward, and get on with your life. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814/8 "2016-03-22T06:46:40Z")
The big question is how much is this stuff worth. If it is close to worthless there is very little cost to just giving it away when you leave. The answer is different if they are worth significant money. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814/9 "2016-03-22T13:04:05Z")
Start now. You can always buy a $5 deck chair at Goodwill if you run out of things to sit on (you live alone, right?) ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814/10 "2016-03-22T13:20:37Z")
Yeah, sell it all now. Cardboard boxes make wonderful tables and furniture in a pinch, along with a lawn chair. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814/11 "2016-03-22T13:35:45Z")
Last year, I moved about a hundred miles. I started winnowing my possessions about three weeks before moving day. I gave away everything except my bed and dresser and some small tables. Sofa, two recliners, large corner desk, all free to the first taker. I just couldn’t be bothered to list it, take phone calls, take time for appointments and haggle for furniture worth $40-50 bucks a piece for. I only sold one item, a power lift recliner for $300. For a couple of weeks, it was like camping out in my house. All the kitchen stuff was packed or nearly so, so I ate out. The last night, I slept on an air mattress. You have to ask yourself, is it worth the stress for the amount you can realistically expect to recoup? Moving is stressful enough, don’t make it worse than it already is. I gave a huge pile of stuff to a charity who came and picked it all up. Another huge pile was junk, and I paid a hauler to take it away. Make a clean break, like removing a band aid; just rip it off and don’t look back. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814/12 "2016-03-22T14:11:39Z")
Well I guess that settles that. Time to start selling/donating my stuff now. My buddy just sold a house full of stuff after his mother died, and he said it was a giant pain in the ass. So I guess he has a little experience in the matter, and was right. > [@Leaffan](#): > > Congratulations on the move; I hope it’s back to the warmth. It is. I’m going back home at long last. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814/13 "2016-03-22T17:05:57Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > It is. I’m going back home at long last. 🙂 Congrats. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814/14 "2016-03-22T17:24:38Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Release yourself from these possessions. They are holding you back. > > Pay it forward, and get on with your life. > **[How To Get Rid Of Clutter And Live Abundantly -The Toast](https://the-toast.net/2015/02/24/get-rid-clutter-live-abundantly/)** > > A willing foe, and sea room. My absolute favorite “get rid of your stuff” post ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-cross-country-again-sell-my-stuff-when/749814/15 "2016-03-23T04:23:20Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > [How To Get Rid Of Clutter And Live Abundantly -The Toast](http://the-toast.net/2015/02/24/get-rid-clutter-live-abundantly/) > > My absolute favorite “get rid of your stuff” post This is a treasure. I’m cackling out loud.