How to Sell, Donate or Clear Household Items in Southern California

Here is the plain version. I Buy It looks for individual items worth roughly $500 or more, or collections and estates worth $2,000 or more. Most of what is in a house is worth less than that, and that is normal. A sofa, a set of dishes or a closet of clothes can be perfectly good and still not be something we buy.

This guide is what we would tell a friend: where each kind of thing tends to go, what it costs in time and fees, and what to check first. Fees and rules change, so we link the source for each one. Everything here was checked in October 2026; open the link before you rely on a number.

1. Before you sell or toss anything: a 15-minute check

The expensive mistakes happen at the dumpster. Look for:

• Signatures and maker’s marks on paintings, works on paper, pottery, silver and furniture. See fine art and antiques.
• Stamps on metal: “sterling,” “925” or a karat mark on jewelry, flatware and trays. See gold and sterling silver and jewelry and watches.
• Designer labels on furniture, especially mid-century. See designer and mid-century furniture.
• Old signs, tin toys, coins, bronzes, rugs and Native American pieces: signs and toys, coins, bronze, rugs, Native American.

Check drawers, pockets and paperwork, and keep jewelry boxes together with what is in them.

Before you clean or polish collectible coins, antiques, paintings or bronzes, ask a specialist. The coin grading service PCGS says abrasive cleaning leaves hairlines its graders can see, and a cleaned coin can come back marked “Genuine–Cleaned,” which lowers its value. Heritage Auctions says altering a painting’s original finish most often decreases its value, though a light cleaning by a professional conservator can sometimes help. The Henry Ford’s conservation note says patina on bronze can be part of an object’s value.

If one thing looks promising, send us photos before it goes anywhere else. We give an honest answer either way, usually within 24 hours.

2. Pick the route by how much time you have

Every route trades money for time. Before you choose, be honest about four things: whether you can wait for a buyer, whether you can answer messages and meet strangers, whether you can get heavy things to the curb, and whether someone can be at the house to let people in.

3. Selling it yourself, locally

For furniture and other bulky things, local pickup is usually the route.

• Facebook Marketplace: no selling fee when the buyer picks up locally. Facebook charges a selling fee only on shipped orders paid through its own checkout, and shipping isn’t offered for every item or location. Plan on local pickup for a sofa or dresser, and check Facebook’s current Marketplace help pages before you list anything to ship.
• OfferUp: no fees or commission on in-person sales (OfferUp help). OfferUp ended shipping in fall 2025 and is now local-only, so older guides that explain OfferUp shipping are out of date.
• Craigslist: its posting-fee page does not list ordinary for-sale-by-owner posts among the paid categories.
• Nextdoor: its For Sale and Free section is for selling or giving away personal items to neighbors. Businesses and resellers can’t list there.

Price from sold listings, not asking prices. On eBay you can filter search results to sold items and see what buyers actually paid. Search for the same maker and model.

Meet somewhere public. Some police departments set aside a spot for online-sale exchanges; the Irvine Police Department, for example, has an E-Commerce zone at its headquarters. Ask your local police department or sheriff’s station whether it has one, and confirm hours before you go. Irvine Police’s advice: meet in a well-lit public place, bring another adult, and don’t share your address or financial details.

Get paid before the item leaves. The FTC warns that money sent through a payment app is very hard to get back. For your own sale, never pay a buyer anything to “release” a payment, and never share a verification code sent to your phone.

For big furniture, list the measurements and say who moves it. Sell before moving day, not on it.

4. Selling online and shipped

eBay suits small things that ship. On eBay’s standard fee schedule, most categories cost 13.6 percent of the sale total, including shipping and tax, on the first $7,500 of an item. Books, movies and TV, and music other than vinyl records cost 15.3 percent. There is also a per-order fee of $0.30 on orders of $10 or less and $0.40 above that. Store subscribers pay different rates. Count packing and postage before you decide a listing is worth it.

Specialty sites. Compare the seller’s share and any service fees before you send anything:

• Clothing. Poshmark takes a flat $2.95 on sales under $15 and 20 percent on sales of $15 or more. ThredUp sets the price itself and deducts a service fee per clean-out bag; check the current fee before you send one.
• Furniture. Online furniture resellers can move pieces the local apps can’t ship, but the seller’s share is a fraction of the sale price. AptDeco says listing is free and sellers keep 40 to 60 percent. Check that your ZIP code is served and what you keep before you book a pickup.
• Books. BookScouter compares buyback offers from several vendors. If a book gets no offers, it has no buyback value right now; donate it.

5. Consignment shops, estate sales and yard sales

Consignment shops. The trade association NARTS says each store sets its own consignment period, markdown schedule, payment policy and split, and there is no standard split (NARTS). Visit more than one shop and see what each one specializes in. Before you leave anything, read the contract: the split, how long an item stays, when it is marked down, who keeps unsold goods and when you are paid.

Estate sale companies. An estate sale company runs a sale of most of a household’s contents over a few days and takes a commission on what sells. The commission is negotiated, so get written proposals from more than one company. Ask who keeps what doesn’t sell, whether a cleanout is included afterward, when you are paid, and whether there is a minimum. Sales are usually advertised on listing sites such as EstateSales.net, so you can see how a company presents its past sales. If the estate is in probate, ask the estate’s attorney before you sign.

Yard sales. Each city sets its own rules. Two examples:

• Anaheim allows them only on the first weekend of March, June, September and December, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with goods kept on your property and one sign of no more than 3 square feet on it (city rules).
• San Diego limits garage, yard and estate sales to three per home per year, each up to two consecutive days, as an accessory to a permitted home (municipal code §141.0306).

Anywhere else, check your city’s current sale dates and sign rules before you advertise.

6. Donating it

Donation works well for usable goods, but every organization has its own acceptance and pickup rules. Call or check the page before you load the car.

• Goodwill. Goodwill Southern California and Goodwill of Orange County are separate organizations. Both FAQs say home pickup is arranged through ReSupply for a fee (Goodwill Southern California, Goodwill of Orange County); confirm through the FAQ’s ReSupply link before you count on a truck. Goodwill Southern California accepts goods that are clean, complete and sellable as-is, with one exception: anything with a battery or a plug is accepted in any condition.
• The Salvation Army. The Southern California division books pickups through SATruck.org or 1-800-SA-TRUCK. Ask when you book whether your mattress, crib or tube television will be accepted.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStores. ReStores sell donated furniture, appliances and building materials. Habitat for Humanity of Orange County runs ReStores in Santa Ana and Anaheim and offers a standard pickup, or a priority pickup through ReSupply. The Los Angeles-area ReStore does not take box springs, entertainment centers, clothes, shoes or books. San Diego Habitat says its standard pickup is free and ReSupply charges for priority pickup. Confirm the items and any charge before you book.
• Vietnam Veterans of America. VVA’s California pickup page lists all five of our counties. It takes clothing, books, small appliances and usable small furniture. Enter your ZIP code and confirm your items before you schedule.
• Giveaway groups. Buy Nothing groups are local gift economies, and Nextdoor’s For Sale and Free section takes giveaways too.

Taxes: the rule, not advice

Ask a tax adviser before you count on a deduction. Here is what the IRS pages say:

• You can generally deduct the fair market value of property given to a qualified charitable organization, but only if you itemize deductions on Schedule A (Topic 506). Giving things away to neighbors doesn’t count.
• Starting with 2026 returns (filed in 2027), eligible people who don’t itemize may be able to deduct up to $1,000 of qualifying cash gifts only, or $2,000 for joint filers (IRS Publication 6196). Furniture and household goods don’t qualify for it.
• Clothing and household items generally must be in good used condition or better. Form 8283 is required if your deduction for a noncash gift is more than $500, or if a group of similar items totals more than $500. Deductions over $5,000 for an item or a group of similar items generally require a qualified appraisal and Section B of the form (Form 8283 instructions).
• For any single gift of $250 or more, you need a contemporaneous written acknowledgment from the charity that meets the IRS content rules, so get a receipt that describes what you gave (Topic 506). Publications 526 and 561 have the details on deductions and valuation.

7. California disposal rules and recycling options

Much of what’s left in a house can’t go in the regular trash, and most of the programs that take it are free.

• Hazardous items. CalRecycle says it is illegal to put hazardous waste in the garbage, and its list includes fluorescent lamps, LED lights, batteries and electronics such as televisions, laptops, microwave ovens and cell phones. Its electronics page helps you find a collector, and since January 1, 2026 the program also covers products with built-in batteries.
• Paint. PaintCare takes leftover house paint, primers and stains free at its drop-off sites.
• Household hazardous waste. Each county runs its own centers, usually free for residents. Check the accepted-materials list and hours before you drive:
  • Orange County: four centers for county residents, up to 15 gallons or 125 pounds per vehicle.
  • City of Los Angeles: free S.A.F.E. centers, up to 15 gallons or 125 pounds per visit. Staff ask the address the waste came from.
  • City of San Diego: by appointment, with proof of residency.
  • Riverside County and San Bernardino County run their own programs.
• Medications. You don’t have to wait for a Take Back Day: the DEA’s Take Back page links to a year-round search for authorized drop-off sites.
• Mattresses. Under California’s Bye Bye Mattress program, a retailer that delivers a new mattress must offer to take the old one at no extra charge, though delivery and setup fees can still apply. The pickup can take up to 30 days, and the retailer can refuse a mattress that poses a health or safety risk. You can also drop one off at participating recyclers at no additional cost.

Free bulky-item pickup

Many cities include bulky-item pickup with trash service. Limits differ, and you have to book ahead and get items to the curb:

• Los Angeles (city sanitation customers): curbside bulky-item pickup at no extra charge for large items that won’t fit in your bins, on your regular trash day. Book at least one business day ahead through MyLA311, online or at 1-800-773-2489.
• Anaheim: three free pickups per household per calendar year, up to 20 items each, through Republic Services at (714) 238-2444. The crew doesn’t come inside, so items go to the curb.
• Riverside: two appointments a year, five items each, at (951) 826-5311. Mattresses count toward the five and must be completely wrapped in plastic or bagged; exposed mattresses are refused. The city’s July 2026 notice lists extra pickups beyond the two at $25 per item.
• Ontario: the city’s integrated-waste page says residents get four free bulky-item collections a year. Single-family residents book up to four appointments, five large items each, at (909) 395-2050. Apartment and condo residents go through their property or association manager.
• Other cities, including Irvine and the City of San Diego: ask your trash hauler about current availability, limits and fees.

Book these before move-out week. They help, but they aren’t a whole-house crew.

8. The hard ones

People often expect these to be worth more than they are. We would rather give you a next step than a number we can’t back up.

China and crystal. Photograph the set and any maker’s marks on the back, then compare matching sold listings on eBay. If nothing similar has sold, donate it.

“Brown” dark-wood furniture. A plain matching bedroom or dining set can be a hard local sale. Kovels noted in September 2026 that designers are taking another look at traditional wood furniture, but that the revival isn’t about bringing back matching dining-room suites. It also found recognizable pieces selling for very little when the listing didn’t name the maker. List it locally, price it from sold listings, and be ready to give it away. If a piece has a maker’s label or looks genuinely old, send us a photo first.

Pianos. Most household pianos are heavy and hard to place. Get a written price from a piano mover or a hauler well before move-out day, and ask your city whether its bulky pickup takes them. If the piano has a known maker or looks unusual, send us a photo before you pay to haul it.

Encyclopedias, collector plates, figurines, VHS tapes and exercise equipment. Check sold listings. If nothing similar sells, donate them or give them away.

Older TVs. CalRecycle lists televisions among the electronics that can’t go in the trash. Take them to an e-waste collector, or to Goodwill Southern California, which accepts anything with a plug in any condition.

Medical equipment. Ask the hospital, hospice or care team where usable equipment can go.

9. Clearing a whole house: when to hand it off

Junk removal. Ask whether the quote is per item or by load. 1-800-GOT-JUNK, for example, prices a single item on its own and two or more items by how much of the truck they fill, with the price given on site. Get a written quote before the crew starts.

If you are an executor or trustee, keep a list of what happened to the contents: what was sold, donated and thrown away, with receipts. The California Courts’ probate self-help page says to list what the person owned, with your best estimate of fair market value on the date of death; a formal appraisal isn’t required at that first step. If the estate is in probate, ask the estate’s attorney before you sell anything. The courts publish a form for asking permission to sell personal property. For a smaller estate, start with the courts’ simple-transfer overview and ask the attorney which procedure applies. Realtors and other estate professionals can see our page for professionals.

We handle this two ways. In a complete estate clearout, we evaluate the entire contents, buy or consign what has value, donate what is usable and dispose of the rest. You get one point of contact, the property ends up empty, and nobody has to pre-sort the house. A cleanout-only service is a simple flat rate quoted before you commit, offset by the value of any sellable merchandise we find. It removes ordinary household contents, donates usable items and disposes of the rest. If the contents aren’t a fit for us, we tell you plainly and suggest a better route.

Frequently asked questions

Do you buy anything under $500?

Generally, no. We look for individual items worth roughly $500 or more, or collections and estates worth $2,000 or more. If you’re not sure what you have, send photos anyway through the website form, by email or by text. We usually respond within 24 hours and give an honest answer either way. More answers are in our FAQ.

Does Facebook Marketplace charge fees?

Not for local pickup. Facebook charges a selling fee only when a buyer pays through its checkout for a shipped order, and shipping isn’t available for every item or location. Furniture is almost always a local-pickup sale. Meta changes these terms from time to time, so check its Marketplace help pages before you list something to ship.

Can I deduct donated household items?

You may be able to if you itemize deductions and give to a qualified charity. The new 2026 deduction for people who don’t itemize covers cash gifts only, not furniture or household goods. Clothing and household items generally must be in good used condition or better, and a single gift of $250 or more needs a written acknowledgment from the charity. Ask a tax adviser about your situation.

What can’t go in the trash in California?

CalRecycle says hazardous waste can’t go in the trash, including batteries, fluorescent lamps and electronics such as televisions, cell phones and microwave ovens. Paint has free drop-off through PaintCare. For other chemicals, check your county’s household hazardous waste program and its list of accepted materials before you drive over.

How do I get rid of furniture for free in Orange County?

It depends on your city. Anaheim, for example, gives each household three free bulky-item pickups per calendar year, up to 20 items each, if you put them at the curb. Buy Nothing groups and Nextdoor’s For Sale and Free section let neighbors take usable pieces. Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s ReStores accept furniture; confirm the items and any pickup charge before you book.

Should I hire an estate sale company or a junk remover?

It depends on what is in the house. An estate sale company takes a negotiated commission on what sells, so compare written proposals and ask who keeps unsold items and whether a cleanout is included. A junk remover charges for removal, per item or by load, quoted on site. If the house holds mostly ordinary contents, junk removal or a cleanout-only service may be simpler.

If something might be worth more than you think

If one piece might be valuable, or you would rather hand off the whole property, send photos or call (949) 505-5527. The evaluation is free, and we serve Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Browse what we buy to see what we look for.