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[Mom2Dogs]

@homedecor1   Hello!, I know you live in Florida and am hoping you can give me a bit of advice. 

My friend, winters in Florida but this year she has decided to sell her home.  She lost her husband several years ago and has come to the conclusion that she no longer enjoys being away from family and friends for 3-4 months out of the year.

From afar I am helping her, when asked, about what to do with things she does not want to move to her permanent location up north.

She has  many things to get rid of...mostly large items.  She is hoping to sell furnished but that may not work so I told her she should at least have an idea of who takes donations in the area....and not to wait to start looking for donation sites.

Right now she is overwhelmed with the thought of moving.

I realize that there are different organizations in different parts of the state that take donations but would you mind sharing what large organizations take donations in your area?  If will at least give her a starting point as to who she could call.   thanks.

[FLtricia]

That would depend on where in Florida her home is located.  

I can tell you of an organization in coastal central Florida.  Halifax Urban Ministries.  They help families get on their feet and into a home.

There are some businesses who will empty your home, but I don't know anything about how they charge.

[jlkz]

@Mom2Dogs 

We winter in FL and have traveled all around the state. We have purchased many large and small items from different thrift stores.  Here are stores that are all over FL and take donations.  Some will want to look over things like sofas to make certain there are no tears, stains or major flaws.

Salvation Army.  ( we bought a glass and marble dining       table with 6 chairs )

St. Vincent de Paul.  ( we bought a recliner, a serving cart, dishware, decor pillows, two Lee Reynolds very large framed paintings, etc )

Habitat RESTORE.  ( side chair, decor items, wrought iron patio furniture,  leather sofa, fabric loveseat, rolling desk chair, etc )

Goodwill.  (  dish sets, heavy cut glass wine glasses, decor items, wrought iron umbrella / coatrack, paintings, swivel stools for makeup tables, books, kitchenware, etc. )

If you go on line and check for local thrift stores, you may find stand alone ones associated with churches.  These may or may not accept certain type of donations.  A simple call should provide the info you need for your friend.

You are a very good friend to offer your help in getting her the donation sites near her.

[LizzieInSRQ]

@Mom2Dogs if your friend does not want to bring any of the items to her permanent home,  and doesnt want to try to sell some of them herself first, she really should cinsider hiring an Estate Sale company. No one is going to buy a home with dishes, vases, sheets etc. still in it let alone furniture unless its newer and barely used.

Google town estate sale company to see if there is one and read about what it entails.

[Love my grandkids]

In many areas Habitat For Humanity accepts donations of household goods.

[Zhills]

Florida is 450 miles long and 160 miles wide.  Location would determine everything.  

We have some good 2nd hand places.  They are all over but usually locally owned.

Habitat for Humanity,  Salvation Army and Goodwill are pretty all over!

[Mom2Dogs]

@LizzieInSRQ    I agree, she and her late husband spent only 4-5 months a year in the house.  Everything is nice but I agree some will not want another persons belongings.

I just suggested that in case she cannot sell as is...she needs to get her ducks in a row.

[Mom2Dogs]

@jlkz    I love thrifting and looking for bargins, it sounds like you hit the jackpot!!

[homedecor1]

@Mom2Dogs 

I usually donate to the hospice in my area.  I call them tell them what I have & they let me know if they are accepting those things.  If furniture they schedule a pickup time.  

Most here sell "furnished" but I know people here have estate sales which they pay a % to the estate sale company.  I'm sure it's worth it because those sales are always packed -- what doesn't sell I believe a liquidator comes into offer them a price for what's left.

I also have donated to Veterans (household and clothing) and they also pick up certain types of furniture.

I wish your friend good luck with her move,  my son is here and we were just discussing what to do with all my "stuff" if I decided to go back North -- it is overwhelming for sure!

PS:  I'm in the Tampa area (north) and thrift and consignment stores are a big thing here.  I've bought many things over the years, including furniture🙂

[homedecor1]

@LizzieInSRQ 

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@LizzieInSRQ wrote:

@Mom2Dogs if your friend does not want to bring any of the items to her permanent home,  and doesnt want to try to sell some of them herself first, she really should cinsider hiring an Estate Sale company. No one is going to buy a home with dishes, vases, sheets etc. still in it let alone furniture unless its newer and barely used.

Google town estate sale company to see if there is one and read about what it entails.

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   Agree with Estate sale but  I rented for 5 years before I bought this house.  The people who I bought from just asked me what I'd like to have (household) and luckily for me they had just completed furnished the home.  They basically removed their personal belongings and I still have some of the decor pieces.  

Once I moved in I went thru what was here and donated some stuff.  I'm still using things 11 years later they left.

They were  "snowbirds" and I was very lucky because the house decor was beautiful!  I could never afforded to furnish this house with the quality furniture they did.  They even left me a few bottles of wine in the fridge😊