Moving House? How to Give Away What You Don't Need, Fast
The fastest way to clear out before moving house is to start listing items two weeks out, give away big items with booked inside pickups in the final week, and bundle small things together. Whatever is left can go to charity or your council's collection.
How do I get rid of stuff quickly before moving house?
Start early, list in batches and make pickups easy. Most people underestimate how much they have, and moving fewer things saves time, effort and possibly removalist costs.
Giving things away is usually quicker than selling. There is no haggling, no no-show buyers trying to bargain, and collectors are motivated to turn up. On StreetFreebies you take a photo, AI suggests a title, and you choose Left outside or Kept inside pickup.
This guide gives you a simple timeline that works for most moves, plus tips for scheduling pickups, bundling small items and dealing with leftovers.
Why give things away instead of selling before a move?
Selling can make sense for high-value items, but for most household goods, giving away is faster and less stressful.
- No pricing, haggling or payment hassles.
- Items usually go faster, which matters when you have a deadline.
- You choose who collects and when, with Kept inside pickups.
- It keeps usable items out of landfill.
- It helps people nearby who may be setting up a home on a tight budget.
Everything on StreetFreebies must be free, with no selling, swapping or conditions. If you want to sell some items, do that elsewhere, and give away the rest.
How do I decide what to keep, give away or throw out?
Go room by room and sort items into three groups: keep, give away and dispose. Ask yourself a few questions for each item.
- Have I used it in the past year?
- Will it fit, and suit, my new home?
- Is it worth the effort and cost of moving?
- Could I easily borrow or replace it if I need it later?
- Is it safe, clean and working well enough for someone else to use?
Measure your new place early. Knowing which furniture will not fit makes many decisions for you. Items that are broken, unsafe or prohibited belong in the dispose group, not the give-away group.
What should I do two weeks before moving?
Two weeks out is the ideal time to start listing. It gives each item time to find the right person.
- Step 1: Finish sorting into keep, give away and dispose.
- Step 2: Clean give-away items and gather their parts, chargers and instructions.
- Step 3: Photograph items in daylight, with close-ups of any damage.
- Step 4: Post them in batches, starting with things you will not need before you move, such as spare furniture, garden pots, books, toys and decorations.
- Step 5: Include measurements and access details for larger items.
- Step 6: Book a council collection if you will need one for items nobody will want. Check your council's website for how far ahead you need to book.
If your move is sooner than two weeks away, compress the timeline. Even a few days of listing makes a big difference.
What should I do one week before moving?
Move on to large furniture and items you are still using. Kept inside listings are ideal here because you stay in control.
- Choose mornings, afternoons or evenings that suit your packing schedule.
- Collectors request a 30-minute time, and you approve one person.
- Your pickup address is shown on the listing; extra notes go only to the person you approve.
- Listings run for up to 72 hours, so relist anything that has not gone.
List items you will use until the last few days, such as a couch or bed frame, with a clear note about when they can be collected. How it works explains the options in full. For tips on big pieces, see our guide to giving away furniture.
How do I schedule several pickups without chaos?
A busy week of pickups can get messy. A little planning keeps it under control.
- Group pickups into the same time windows, such as weekday evenings, so you are not waiting at home all week.
- Keep a simple list on your phone of each item, the approved collector and their pickup time.
- Move items near the front door or into the garage before pickups, so collectors do not walk through packed rooms.
- Label each item with a sticky note so it does not get packed by mistake.
- Have someone else at home where possible, and keep pets and kids out of the way.
- Leave buffer time between pickups in case someone runs late.
Do not approve more people than you can handle. It is better to have fewer, reliable pickups than a crowd of overlapping ones.
How do I give away lots of small things at once?
Bundle them. Use the "Mixed items" category to list a box of kitchenware, a set of storage tubs or a pile of craft supplies as one listing.
- Group similar things together, such as kitchen, kids, garage or garden.
- Put each bundle in a box or bag that the collector can take away.
- Take one clear photo showing everything, and list the main items in the description.
- Ask the collector to take the whole bundle.
Bundles save you writing dozens of listings, and they are popular with people setting up a first home or a share house.
What should I do on moving day?
On the day, focus on moving, not giving. Finish any approved pickups early in the day, before removalists arrive.
Anything left can go out as a Left outside listing, which runs for 24 or 48 hours, if your council allows items on the kerb and you will be nearby to tidy up.
Do not leave unwanted items behind at a rental or sold property, or on the kerb after you leave. It can cause problems with your bond or settlement and may count as illegal dumping. For anything still unclaimed, try a charity that collects or a council collection.
What can't I give away when I move?
Moving often uncovers items that cannot be given away on StreetFreebies. These include hazardous materials, unsafe electrical or gas items, alcohol, tobacco, vapes, medicines, live animals, weapons and age-restricted items.
Common moving leftovers that need special handling include:
- Paint, chemicals, pool chemicals and cleaning products.
- Gas bottles and fuel.
- Old batteries and globes.
- Unused or expired medicines.
Many councils and state programs run drop-off options for these. Check your council's website, and see our guide to what you can give away.
What happens to items nobody takes before I move?
If items have not gone by the last few days, you still have options. Relist them with better photos, or try a charity that accepts the type of item, after contacting them first.
For bulky items, a council collection may be the next step. Names vary by state, so search your council's website for the local term.
- NSW: often called a council clean-up or kerbside clean-up.
- Victoria: often called hard rubbish.
- Queensland: often called kerbside collection or bulky item collection.
- Western Australia: often called verge collection.
- South Australia and Tasmania: often called hard waste.
- ACT: often called bulky waste collection, through the ACT Government.
- Northern Territory: often called hard rubbish or bulky waste.
Some councils need bookings well ahead, so check early. Our council clean-up guide explains how collections usually work.
What mistakes should I avoid when clearing out before a move?
These are the most common ways moving giveaways go wrong.
- Starting too late, leaving no time for items to find new homes.
- Listing items without measurements, which leads to wasted trips.
- Approving too many pickups at once and losing track of who is coming.
- Packing items you meant to give away.
- Forgetting to book a council collection in time.
- Leaving items behind at the old property or on the kerb after you leave.
- Moving things you will not use, only to give them away at the new place.
Quick checklist: moving house giveaway
Tick through this list as your move approaches.
- Two weeks out: sort, clean, photograph and list items.
- Book a council collection if needed.
- One week out: list big items as Kept inside with suitable time windows.
- Bundle small items using the Mixed items category.
- Keep a list of approved pickups and times.
- Set aside hazardous items for the right drop-off.
- Moving day: finish pickups early, and leave nothing behind.
Once you have moved, browse your new suburb in the suburbs list and set up alerts for things like shelving, outdoor furniture and garden pots.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should I start giving things away before moving?
About two weeks is a good starting point for most households. Bigger homes or longer stays may need more time.
Can I give away items in one bundle?
Yes. Use the "Mixed items" category and describe what is included, so the collector knows what they are taking.
What if collectors do not turn up?
Relist the item, and choose pickup windows you can reliably be home for. Clear photos, measurements and access details also help attract committed collectors.
Can I leave unwanted items at my old rental?
It is best not to, as it can affect your bond and leaves a problem for others. Give them away, donate them or book a council collection before you leave.
Can I list items I am still using?
Yes. Say in the listing when the item will be available, and choose pickup windows that suit your move.
Is it better to sell or give away before moving?
Selling can suit high-value items, but giving away is usually faster and simpler for everyday household goods. Items on StreetFreebies must be free.
What do I do with leftover paint and chemicals when moving?
They cannot be given away on StreetFreebies. Check your council's website for chemical and paint drop-off options near you.
