How to get rid of mattresses and big furniture when selling an estate 

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If you are trying to liquidate a lifetime of personal belongings, getting rid of the mattresses and big furniture first can help you clear out space to use the rooms to organize getting rid of all the other stuff. 

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Questions to consider before you get rid of anything, but especially big, heavy, and hard-to-move items include the following: 

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• Are they mentioned in the will?
• Do they have value? 
• Does your real estate agent or professional home stager want to use them for staging? 
• Do any of the heirs want them? 
• Is donation important to the deceased or the survivors? If so, is there a charity that would mean the most? 

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You may want to buy a mattress bag for purposes of transportation:

https://www.lowes.com/pl/moving-boxes-supplies/mattress-bag/4294713231-4024954595 

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If you want to donate an old mattress or big furniture 

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First, do not donate if the item has any of the following: 

• Tears, rips, or stains
• Bed bugs and other infestations
• Broken coils and other structural problems
• Smells
• Mold

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Check with:

Earth 911 - https://search.earth911.com/  

This site is valuable for almost everything. You can search for the item you want to liquidate by zip code and it will have several resources to help with donation, recycling, or even bulky waste. We felt their post on how to recycle mattresses was very helpful. https://earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle-mattresses/  

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Even with a resource like Earth 911, call any organization directly to inquire if they are still accepting the items you are trying to donate as many organizations change what they will accept frequently.  Earth 911 does offer a submission link for any inaccurate information which is a wonderful way for the organization to keep up to date. 

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Habitat for Humanity  https://www.habitat.org/ 

Salvation Army https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/ 

Local Churches - search Churches near me 

Local Homeless Shelters - search homeless shelters near me

Craigslist, Facebook, Offer Up - be mindful of scams. 

If you want to recycle an old mattress or big furniture 

Earth 911 - https://search.earth911.com/ 

City recycling programs 

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If there is no value

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Junk Removal Service: 

Bagster Bag https://www.wm.com/us/en/home/bagster 

Rent a roll-off dumpster https://www.wm.com/us/en/dumpster-rental 

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Seattle Public Utilities Customers: $30 per large item. https://www.seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/collection-and-disposal/garbage/special-item-collections 

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City of Tacoma Customers:  Call-2-Haul (253) 573-2468 cityoftacoma.org/call2haul  Schedule a pickup of large bulky items. Up to 3 large items and 15 boxes or bags of small items of garbage can be collected with Call-2-Haul. Pick up fees are $75 and are added to your utility account. If you do not have a utility account, arrange a pickup with your property manager. Visit the website for a list of acceptable items. 

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Republic Services: Mattresses can be scheduled for a special pickup for a fee, call Republic Services at 206-777-6440 for a quote and to schedule. 

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Waste management: https://www.wm.com/us/en/home/bulk-trash-pickup  

Bagster Bag https://www.wm.com/us/en/home/bagster 

Rent a roll-off dumpster https://www.wm.com/us/en/dumpster-rental  

‍Transfer stations: Mattresses and box springs (up to 6 per customer per day) can be disposed at any King County Transfer Station. Always check by calling the transfer station before loading heavy furniture for hauling to a transfer station. The rules can change without notice.

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