The Complete Downsizing Checklist: What to Keep, Sell, and Donate

Why Downsizing Feels Overwhelming (And How to Fix That)

You walk into a bedroom and realize you're staring at 30 years of accumulated stuff. Some of it you love. Some of it you haven't touched since 2019. And you have to make dozens of keep-or-go decisions before moving day.

That paralysis is completely normal. Downsizing isn't just a physical task — it's emotionally loaded. Every item carries memory. The dining table where the kids did homework. The recliner your spouse always claimed. The boxes in the garage you've been "meaning to sort through."

The fix isn't toughing it out. It's having a decision framework before you open a single drawer. When you know exactly what criteria determine keep vs. sell vs. donate, decisions take seconds instead of minutes. A 30-hour project becomes a 10-hour one.

This guide gives you that framework. We'll cover every room in your home, tell you exactly how to price what you decide to sell, show you which platform sells each category fastest, and hand you a 4-week plan that won't burn you out.

Room-by-Room Checklist: Keep, Sell, or Donate

Go room by room rather than category by category. It's physically easier and psychologically less daunting. One space at a time feels like progress. "All the books in the house" feels like a mountain.

Living Room

Item	Action	Notes
Sofa (in good condition)	Sell	Sofas move well on Facebook Marketplace. Price at 20–35% of retail.
Sofa (worn, stained)	Donate	Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Goodwill. Free pickup available in most cities.
Coffee table / side tables	Sell	Solid wood sells; flat-pack rarely does. Set at $20–$80 depending on condition.
Bookshelves	Sell	High demand. Solid wood: $40–$120. IKEA BILLY: $15–$35.
Area rugs	Sell	Wool or Persian rugs: Craigslist or eBay. Synthetic: Marketplace or donate.
Lamps (quality base)	Sell	Pairs sell faster than singles. $15–$50/lamp depending on style.
Décor, knick-knacks	Donate	Unless clearly high-value or antique, donate. Individual items under $5 aren't worth listing.
TV (flat-screen, under 5 years)	Sell	Electronics sell fast. 55"+ TVs: $100–$300 on Marketplace or OfferUp.
TV (older CRT or plasma)	Donate	Electronic recycling centers accept these for free.
Family heirlooms	Keep	Offer to family first. Then keep only what fits the new space.

Bedroom

Item	Action	Notes
Bed frame (solid wood or metal)	Sell	Queen/King frames sell well. $60–$200 depending on quality.
Mattress (under 3 years, good condition)	Sell	Disclose age and condition clearly. $100–$300 on Marketplace.
Mattress (5+ years old)	Donate	Some charities accept; others don't. Call ahead. Otherwise bulk trash pickup.
Dressers / chests of drawers	Sell	Solid wood: $80–$250. Laminate: $20–$60. Dovetail joints = higher price.
Nightstands (matching pair)	Sell	Pairs sell for nearly double singles. $30–$80 a pair.
Clothing (wearable)	Donate	Thrift Positive, Goodwill. Brand-name or designer: ThredUp or Poshmark.
Jewelry (costume)	Donate	Pawn shops for gold/silver. Estate buyers for collectible pieces.
Fine jewelry / watches	Sell	eBay, Worthy.com, or a local estate jewelry buyer. Get 2–3 quotes.
Linens, towels, pillows	Donate	Animal shelters often need these more than thrift stores.

Kitchen

Item	Action	Notes
Dining table + chairs (complete set)	Sell	Complete sets command strong prices: $100–$400 for mid-range sets.
Small appliances (good condition)	Sell	KitchenAid mixers: $80–$150. Coffee makers: $20–$50. Blenders: $15–$40.
Generic small appliances (worn)	Donate	Goodwill accepts working appliances. Discard broken ones.
Cookware sets (Le Creuset, All-Clad)	Sell	Premium cookware holds value. Le Creuset dutch oven: $80–$180 used.
Generic cookware / bakeware	Donate	Rarely worth listing individually. Donate as a lot.
Fine china / formal dishware sets	Sell	eBay for named patterns. Replacements.com buys individual pieces too.
Everyday dishes, glasses	Donate	Complete sets donate faster than mixed lots.
Pantry food / dry goods	Donate	Food banks. Check expiration dates before donating.

Garage / Basement / Storage

Item	Action	Notes
Power tools (working condition)	Sell	High sell-through on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Brand matters: DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee fetch $40–$200+ per tool.
Hand tools (sets)	Sell	Socket sets, wrench sets: $20–$80. Sell as lots, not individual tools.
Lawn & garden equipment	Sell	Gas mowers: $80–$200. Electric: $40–$150. Sell in spring for best prices.
Bicycles	Sell	Name brands (Trek, Specialized, Giant): OfferUp or Craigslist. $50–$300 depending on condition.
Holiday decorations	Donate	Unless vintage/collectible (vintage Shiny Brite ornaments fetch real money on eBay).
Collectibles / antiques	Sell	eBay for national reach. Get an appraisal for anything potentially valuable before pricing.
Sporting goods	Sell	Golf clubs: eBay or local pro shop. Exercise equipment: Craigslist or Marketplace.
Books (general)	Donate	Library book sales or Little Free Libraries. Rare/first editions: eBay or AbeBooks.

How to Price the Items You Decide to Sell

Pricing is where most downsizers leave money on the table — or price so high that nothing sells and they end up donating everything in a panic two days before the move.

The core rule: used items sell for 20–50% of their original retail price, depending on condition and desirability. A $400 couch in great shape lists at $120–$200. A $1,200 KitchenAid mixer from five years ago lists at $240–$480. See our complete room-by-room pricing guide for exact ranges by item category.

The 3-Step Pricing Process

1. Find sold comps, not active listings. On eBay, filter by "Sold Items." On Facebook Marketplace, search your area and look at recently sold posts (marked SOLD). Active listings tell you what people are asking — sold listings tell you what people are actually paying. That's a big difference.
2. Build in 10–15% negotiation room. Buyers on local platforms almost always make an offer. If your target is $100, list at $110–$115. You'll close at your number without feeling like you gave something away.
3. Check the condition honestly. "Good condition" with a visible stain is actually "fair condition." Mispricing condition erodes trust and kills deals. Use our pricing guide's condition framework to calibrate.

When to Hire an Estate Sale Company

If you have a large volume of items — a full house worth — an estate sale company may net more than selling individually. They handle setup, pricing, advertising, and the sale itself. They typically take 30–40% commission but they also have built-in buyer networks and handle the logistics.

Compare this to doing it yourself: see our estate sale vs. Facebook Marketplace comparison to know which route makes more sense for your specific situation.

Best Platforms for Selling Each Category

Not every platform is right for every type of item. A vintage collectible sells for 3x more on eBay than Craigslist because eBay reaches national buyers who specifically want that item. A sectional couch is the opposite — it needs a local buyer who can haul it, so Marketplace wins.

Category	Best Platform	Why	Typical Price Range
Furniture (sofas, beds, dressers)	Facebook Marketplace	Local buyers, free pickup, massive reach	20–35% of retail
Electronics (TVs, laptops, phones)	Facebook Marketplace / OfferUp	Fast-moving, price-sensitive buyers nearby	30–50% of retail if recent model
Collectibles, antiques, vintage	eBay	National reach, motivated niche buyers, bidding drives price up	Highly variable — research sold comps
Fine jewelry / watches	eBay or Worthy.com	Authenticated buyers, higher trust for expensive items	50–75% of appraised value
Power tools	Facebook Marketplace / Craigslist	Local contractors and DIYers check daily	40–60% of retail for name brands
Clothing (designer / brand-name)	Poshmark / ThredUp	Fashion-specific buyers, brand recognition drives price	20–40% of retail
Books (rare / first editions)	eBay / AbeBooks	Collectors pay premium; need national reach	Highly variable
Large appliances (washer, dryer, fridge)	Facebook Marketplace / Craigslist	Buyers need local pickup; free delivery listings get 2x inquiries	$50–$300 depending on age/brand
Sporting goods / bikes	Craigslist / OfferUp	Active buyers who want to test before buying; local only	30–50% of retail
Premium cookware (Le Creuset, etc.)	Facebook Marketplace / eBay	Brand recognition; buyers know exactly what they want	40–60% of retail

Read our full guide to selling furniture on Facebook Marketplace for detailed tips on photos, descriptions, and getting more inquiries on your largest items.

The 4-Week Downsizing Plan

The biggest mistake is trying to do everything at once. Four weeks gives you enough time to sell items properly (not panic-donate everything) without burning out.

Common Downsizing Mistakes to Avoid

These are the moves that cost people time, money, or sanity. Most are avoidable.

• Starting with sentimental items. Do the easy rooms first (garage, basement, guest room). Tackle the emotionally loaded spaces — primary bedroom, home office — once you've built momentum and a decision habit.
• Trying to sell everything individually. Anything under $15 isn't worth your time to photograph, list, and coordinate pickup. Bundle low-value items into lots or donate directly.
• Pricing based on what you paid. What you paid is irrelevant to what a buyer will pay. Research sold comps, not what you feel the item deserves.
• Using photos taken in dim rooms or against cluttered backgrounds. Poor photos are the #1 reason good items don't sell. One bright, clean photo adds $20–$40 to what buyers will pay.
• Waiting until the last two weeks. Furniture takes 1–3 weeks to sell even with good listings. Start selling 4–6 weeks before your move date.
• Ignoring platform fees. eBay charges ~13% seller fees. Facebook Marketplace is free for local sales. OfferUp charges 12.9% for shipped items. Factor fees into your pricing.
• Not offering delivery for large items. Listings that offer free local delivery or delivery for a fee get significantly more inquiries for large furniture. If you're already renting a moving truck, one extra stop is low effort.
• Skipping the lot-sale option. When move day approaches and you still have unsold items, posting a "moving sale lot — $[X] takes everything" listing often clears remaining items in 24 hours.