What to do with your furniture and appliances before moving out of Colombia

When my flight date was confirmed, the first thing I thought about wasn't the ticket or the insurance. It was the fridge. And the sofa. And the washing machine. And the two tables I bought at the flea market that still look like a work of art to me. Moving out of Colombia—whether permanently or for a few years—means facing a question no one prepares you to answer: what do I do with all this?

The easy answer is "sell it all." But the reality is more complicated: limited time, unpredictable buyers, furniture that doesn't fit in any elevator, and the temptation to give everything away at a bargain price during 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 view 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 have a lot of things accumulated—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 everything down: not just the large furniture, but also small appliances, plants, bicycles, dishes, everything. Mentally separate them into three categories: what is worth selling, what is worth giving away, and what simply needs to be discarded.

What sells best in Colombia is what has the highest replacement cost: refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, sofas, beds with mattresses, desks, and bicycles. What sells the least—and is better to give away—is used clothing, generic dishes, and old mattresses without the bed frame included. Being honest with yourself from the beginning saves you weeks of ads with no response.

How to price without falling 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 is a brand with sustained demand.

To give you concrete figures: a 400-liter Mabe fridge in good condition can go for between $800,000 and $1,200,000. An 18-kilo washing machine with less than three years of use, between $700,000 and $1,000,000. A 55" Samsung TV that is three years old, between $600,000 and $900,000. For furniture, the margin is tighter because they are difficult to transport—a three-seater sofa you bought for $1,500,000 might go for $500,000-$700,000 if the buyer has a way to 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 what others are selling it for. Don't price yours higher—set it the same or 5% cheaper to stand out without giving it away.

The bundle strategy: sell more in less time

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

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

Note: don't make bundles mandatory if the individual items have high demand separately. Fridges 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 receives messages on the first day and one that has gone weeks without any is almost always in the photos. For furniture: photograph from the front, from the side, and a close-up of any visible wear or defect. 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 is a visible model number, that too. Natural light whenever possible, without clothes or boxes in the frame.

Where to post to sell before the move

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

Colombia Move Marketplace is ideal for appliances and furniture because the ads are indexed on Google. That means your fridge can appear when someone searches for "used fridge Medellin" at that moment. No commission, direct contact via WhatsApp, and the possibility of building a seller profile with all your active listings in one place.

Facebook groups by city—"Buy and sell Medellin," "Used things Bogota"—have a lot of traffic but also a lot of noise. Expect 60% of those who ask not to show up. It's frustrating, but it's the game. On the other hand, the building or complex WhatsApp group 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 saves or destroys the process. If you start selling a week before the flight, you are going to sell cheap or leave everything behind. The rule is to start with the large furniture 6-8 weeks before the moving date. With 4-5 weeks, the medium appliances and office furniture. With 2-3 weeks, the small things, bicycles, and plants. The last week: whatever is left drops in price by 30% or is 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 poorly.

If not everything sells—what to do with the rest

Not selling everything isn't a failure. The important thing is not to leave the apartment with items the landlord has to deal with. Compensation funds—Comfama, Compensar, Cafam—accept donations of clothing, furniture, and functional appliances. There are also foundations in Medellín, Bogotá, and Cali that accept appliances in good condition; a quick search for "furniture donation foundation [city]" yields concrete results.

Another option: post leftover items as "free, you pick up" on the marketplace. What you thought nobody wanted will disappear in hours. And for buyers who ask via WhatsApp but take a while 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. This gives you time to wait for a fair price without the pressure of your flight looming. If you have less time, create bundles and lower the price from the start to close deals faster.

❓ Which appliances sell fastest in Colombia?

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

❓ Is it better to sell by piece or in bundles?

It depends on your available time. If you have 6 or more weeks, sell by piece to maximize total income. If you have less than four weeks, create bundles—you'll close deals faster even if you earn a little less per item.

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

Search on Colombia Move and Facebook groups for the same model and look at active prices. If similar items have been posted for weeks without selling, the price is too high. Being 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 there is an elevator available, mention it—it makes a difference. If there is no elevator, lower the price an additional 20% to compensate for the logistical difficulty. As a last resort, compensation funds or some foundations will come to pick them up if you contact them well in advance.

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