If you want someone else to do the work for you, take your items to a consignment shop. They'll sell your stuff in exchange for a cut of the profits, usually 50 percent.
Marcia Turner, a writer and author in Rochester, N.Y., has consigned womens, kids and baby clothes, as well as furniture.
"Go through your closet and identify things you haven't worn in years, or you're tired of but are still in good shape," she says. Turner washes and irons everything so they look ready to put on the racks.
Stores have different policies about taking in clothes. Turner's favorite is Lu's Back Door in Fairport, N.Y. They'll look at your items without an appointment, though some consignment shops won't even talk to you unless you call ahead. Once they go through your pile and pick what they think will sell, all you have to do is wait for a check.
Furniture consignment works the same way. Make sure you call ahead to see if they're buying, or bring pictures into the store before loading it up on the truck, says Turner.