What to do with your furniture and appliances before moving from Colombia

When they confirmed my flight date, the first thing I thought about wasn't the ticket or insurance. It was the refrigerator. And the sofa. And the washing machine. And the two tables I bought at the flea market that still look like works of art to me. Moving out of Colombia — whether permanently or for a few years — means facing a question nobody prepares you to answer: what do I do with all this?

The easy answer is "sell everything." But reality is more complicated: limited time, unpredictable buyers, furniture that doesn't fit in any elevator, and the temptation to give everything away at bargain prices the last week. This guide gives you a clear plan to avoid that scenario. If you want to see real options right now, you can see apartments and houses on Colombia Move — posting is completely free.

If you've been in Colombia for months and have a furnished apartment — or simply lots of accumulated things — this is what works.

First things first: the realistic inventory

Before posting a single ad, sit down with your phone and take a complete tour of the apartment. Write down everything: not just the big furniture, but also small appliances, plants, bicycles, dishes, everything. Mentally separate into three categories: what's worth selling, what's better to give away, and what simply needs to be discarded.

What sells the most in Colombia is what has the highest replacement cost: refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, sofas, beds with mattress, desks and bicycles. What sells the least — and is better to give away — is used clothing, generic dishes, and old mattresses without a bed included. Being honest with yourself from the start saves you weeks of unanswered ads.

How to price it without selling short or scaring off buyers

The most common mistake when an expat sells in Colombia is setting "catalog" prices. The second-hand market here values practicality more than brand. A reasonable guide for appliances in good condition: with 1-2 years of use, ask for between 50% and 60% of the original price. With 3-4 years, between 35% and 45%. With 5 or more years, no more than 30%, unless it's a brand with sustained demand.

To give you concrete figures: a Mabe refrigerator of 400 liters in good condition can go for between $800,000 and $1,200,000. A 18-kilo washing machine with less than three years of use, between $700,000 and $1,000,000. A 55" Samsung television three years old, between $600,000 and $900,000. For furniture the margin is tighter because they're difficult to transport — a three-seater sofa you bought for $1,500,000 can go for $500,000-$700,000 if the buyer can pick it up.

Concrete tip: before setting your price, search on Colombia Move or in Facebook groups for the same model you have and see how much others are selling it for. Don't price yours higher — price it the same or 5% cheaper to stand out without giving it away.

The package strategy: sell more in less time

Here's something that works much better than it seems: selling in packages. Instead of posting the sofa alone, the table alone and the chairs alone, group them in an ad for "complete living room." You save the buyer the work of searching for each piece separately, and you close the sale all at once with less negotiation.

Some packages that work well: complete living room (sofa + coffee table + shelves), complete dining room (table + chairs + buffet furniture), or kitchen package (refrigerator + stove + microwave). The total price of the package should be a bit cheaper than selling it by pieces — a 10-15% discount is enough. The convenience for the buyer justifies that sacrifice, and you move everything in fewer meetings.

Heads up: don't make packages mandatory if individual items have high demand separately. Refrigerators and washing machines almost always sell better alone than in a combo because buyers already have the other appliance.

Photos do half the work

The difference between an ad that gets messages on the first day and one that goes weeks without any is almost always in the photos. For furniture: front photo, side photo, and a close-up of any visible wear or defects. Including the defects prevents the buyer from arriving and feeling deceived. For appliances: photo of the exterior, photo of the screen or controls turned on, and if there's a visible model number, that too. Natural light whenever possible, without clothes or boxes in the frame.

Where to post to sell before moving

There are three channels that really work in Colombia and it's worth using all three in parallel:

Colombia Move Marketplace is ideal for appliances and furniture because ads are indexed in Google. That means your refrigerator can appear when someone searches for "used refrigerator Medellín" right now. No commission, direct contact via WhatsApp, and the ability to build a seller profile with all your active listings in one place.

Facebook groups by city — "Buy and sell Medellín," "Used things Bogotá" — have lots of traffic but also lots of noise. Expect 60% of those who ask won't show up. It's frustrating but that's the game. On the other hand, the WhatsApp group of your building or complex is underestimated: if you live in a horizontal property, a photo to the residents group can generate a sale in hours without anyone having to transport the furniture far.

Timing is everything

This point makes or breaks the process. If you start selling a week before your flight, you're going to sell cheap or leave everything behind. The rule is to start with big furniture 6-8 weeks before your moving date. With 4-5 weeks, medium appliances and office furniture. With 2-3 weeks, small things, bicycles and plants. The last week: whatever's left drops 30% in price or gets given away directly.

The most common mistake I see: wanting to sell everything in the last two weeks. Second-hand buyers in Colombia know when someone is against the clock. And they offer you half. Starting early is the difference between selling well and selling cheap.

If not everything sells — what to do with the rest

Not everything selling is not failure. What matters is not leaving the apartment with things the landlord has to manage. Compensation funds—Comfama, Compensar, Cafam—accept donations of clothing, furniture, and functional appliances. There are also foundations in Medellín, Bogotá, and Cali that receive appliances in good condition; a quick search for "furniture donation foundation [city]" gives concrete results.

Another option: post leftover items as "free, you pick up" on the marketplace. What you thought nobody wanted disappears in hours. And with buyers who message on WhatsApp but take time to confirm, there are templates that save a lot of time:

Frequently asked questions

❓ How far in advance should I start selling my things before moving?

Ideally start 6-8 weeks before your moving date with large furniture and appliances. That way you have time to wait for the right price without flight pressure. If you have less time, bundle items and lower the price from the start to close faster.

❓ What appliances sell fastest in Colombia?

Refrigerators and washing machines have the most demand—they almost always sell in less than two weeks if the price is right. Televisions also move quickly. Air conditioners have demand but it's more specific because it depends on the type of installation. Microwaves and blenders have demand but their resale value is low.

❓ Is it better to sell by individual items or in bundles?

It depends on your available time. If you have 6 or more weeks, sell individual items to maximize total income. If you have less than four weeks, bundle items—you close faster even though you earn a bit less per item.

❓ How do I know if the price I'm asking is reasonable?

Search Colombia Move and Facebook groups for the same model and check active prices. If similar items have been posted for weeks without selling, the price is too high. About 5-10% below the active average is usually enough to stand out and close faster.

❓ What do I do with very large furniture that nobody wants to pick up?

Be explicit in the ad: "buyer picks up." If an elevator is available, mention it—it makes a difference. If there's no elevator, lower the price an additional 20% to compensate for the logistics difficulty. As a last resort, compensation funds or some foundations will pick up if you contact them with enough advance notice.

Do you have questions about selling your things before an international move? Head over to colombiamove.com/comunidad—the community can guide you with specific recommendations for your city and type of item.