If you have rugs you no longer want, here are some tips to sell or donate them so they can be useful to someone else.
Photos. Take a photo of the top side from both ends (colors will be different) Take a photo of the overall back and a close up photo of a back corner so shoppers can see the construction of the rug. Include a photo of the manufacturer label if there is one on the back. Take photos in good lighting without shadows so the color of the rug is accurate.
Describe the type, construction, fiber and size of the rug. Is the rug tufted, machine made or hand made (learn more about construction here) If there is a label on the back of the rug it may indicate what fiber the rug is such as wool, olefin, polyester, polyproplene. Include the width and length of the rug, example 4′ 2″ x 6’5″ (4 feet 2 inches x 6 feet 5 inches)
Describe the condition of the rug. Is there any damage? Is the rug from a pet and smoke free home in good condition? Does the rug have stains, spots or odors?
Clean the rug. Vacuum the front and the back. If a rug is dirty, there won’t be much interest or the price someone is willing to pay will be much less. Get an estimate for professional rug cleaning here. If you don’t live near Fort Wayne, Indiana find another rug cleaning specialist on the ARCS website here.
Price Your Rug. If your rug is antique or hand made, contact an appraiser. You will want two values – “replacement value” will be for DONATION purposes if you decide to donate the rug rather than selling. The second is “cash value.” and will be what rugs like this are actually selling for in today’s market. These values can be very different, so be prepared. In Fort Wayne, Indiana you can take your rug to Aarons Fine Rug Gallery for an appraisal. You could share any original sales receipts documenting the type of rug or amount paid when new.
If your rug is contemporary, you can search for similar rugs on-line to see what they are selling for new, and determine what a reasonable asking price is based on this. Click here to see the current rugs for sale on Facebook Marketplace in the Fort Wayne area. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/fort-wayne/area-rugs/
Choose where to sell your rug.
Post on Facebook Marketplace. If you choose the option for in person pickup instead of shipping, scams can be avoided since the shopper will be able to see the rug in person, pay with cash and transport it themselves. For maximum visibility be sure your listing is in the Category > Home & Kitchen > Home Decor > Rugs & Carpets > Area Rugs
Ebay. Keep in mind if the shopper isnt local the rug would need shipped which can add considerable cost. If the rug is valuable and hand made it can be folded up to a surprisingly small size to be shipped, but this can not be done with all rugs. Learn which rugs can be folded or rolled here.
Consignment store.
Gift to family or friends. This is a great option if there is a story behind the rug like where it was made or where it was purchased. Quality rugs can be a handed down to the next generation in the family and are easy to stay with someone even if they move to different homes.
Charitable Donation If the rug won’t sell for much or you don’t want the hassle of selling the rug, consider donating the rug to a non profit. You may be able to get a tax deduction and the organization can use the rug or sell it to generate funds for their operation. If the rug is dirty they may not accept it so consider having the rug cleaned.
Distinctive may accept your rug donation and pick it up from your home, to see if your rug qualifies, contact us and send a photo of the front and back of the rug.
Proper Rug Storage – Until your unused rugs are sold, be sure to store them properly so unintentional damage doesnt occur. Learn Rug Storage Tips Here.