The best places for pick-up sales
Facebook Marketplace
It’s free for local pick-up, and most people looking for second-hand furniture near them start here. Buyers can message you straight away, so expect quick questions about size and condition.
Kijiji
Basic ads are free, with optional paid promotion if you want more views. It’s Canada’s best-known classifieds site and reaches buyers who aren’t on Facebook.
eBay, with local pick-up
You can offer local pick-up on eBay, and the buyer pays through eBay, so you aren’t handling cash. But eBay’s fees still apply: 13.6% plus $0.40, with GST/HST on top. For most furniture, Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji leave you more. See the eBay fee calculator.
Write a listing that sells
- Give the measurements. Height, width and depth, and for sofas the seat height. Most questions are about whether it will fit.
- Photograph it in daylight from several angles, including any marks or wear.
- Say how it can be picked up. Mention stairs, whether it comes apart, and whether you can help carry it.
- Price to go. Check what similar pieces near you are listed at. A quick sale is often worth a lower price.
Stay safe on pick-up
- Have someone else at home when a buyer comes.
- If you take an Interac e-Transfer, check it has been deposited in your bank account before the item leaves. Don’t trust an email that says it’s “pending”.
- Be wary of buyers who offer to overpay or send a “courier”. See selling scams.
If you have to deliver it
Bigger items can go with a local mover or a delivery app, but quotes add up quickly. Get a quote before you agree a price, and add it to the “Shipping you pay” box in the calculator.
If it won’t sell
Many Habitat for Humanity ReStores pick up good furniture for free. See where to donate, and the guide to clearing a loved one’s home if you’re emptying a whole house.