Donate Kitchen Cabinets, Used Appliances & Granite
The time has come. Your kitchen’s got to go. Your contractor can “throw it out for you” but that costs money, is wasteful, and doesn’t benefit you in the slightest. Is there another way? Yes. We’re happy to tell you: You can donate your kitchen for free, skip all demo and disposal costs, and earn a tax write-off on materials you thought you’d have to pay to throw away.
Hey, we've all been there. You move into a house or an apartment, and you love your home, but that kitchen just isn't doing it for you. Maybe it's old, maybe the former owner went a little crazy on the "fun tiles," maybe you just need a change.
So, you spend a lot of time-saving up, researching, dreaming about your favorite styles, making a mood board (just us?) and finally, you're ready to renovate. But there's one issue: how do you get rid of the old kitchen? After all, nothing new can come in until the old stuff is out of there.
Most homeowners don’t think about this step. They defer to their contractor who will get rid of the materials by demolition and disposal. Not only is that wasteful, costing you money. Contractors charge for the labor involved in taking a sledgehammer to that reusable kitchen. Then tack on at least another $600+ for the dumpster rental and some time spent navigating your local village laws and it’s not so convenient or cheap to toss. Ouch.
The good news? In a world where people are clamoring for a deal, know that there are many people who could benefit from the donation of your kitchen cabinets, used appliances, and granite. The best part? By donating your entire kitchen you will earn tax benefits on materials you would have paid your contractor to throw away. Here’s how:
Step 1: Assess What You’ve Got
Even if you think your cabinets are from a bygone style, or your appliances are old, don't count yourself out! Cabinets can be refinished, and, depending on the brand and level of care you gave to your appliances, they can go on to live happy second lives with ease. For example, a properly used SubZero refrigerator is designed to work for 20 years. So, even if it looks to be an older model, someone who can't afford to buy that brand retail would definitely be interested. Also, consider your sink, faucets, and countertops. If the cabinets and appliances are going, it's very likely that the sink and countertops, which are cut to fit that kitchen configuration, would be useful, too.
The main considerations are to donate your kitchen are:
1. Is it complete (no missing parts)?
2. Is it safe (no mold?)
3. Does everything work?
If you can answer "yes" to these questions, your kitchen is a great candidate for donation.
Step 2: Loop in a deconstruction appraiser
Quickly loop in a deconstruction appraisal specialist who can give you the Fair Market Value of your materials which serves as a donation estimate. You’ll need to give them photos and a list of your materials including brand, age, condition, and any model/serial numbers you have. Don’t worry, the donation documentation needed for a write-off will be provided by your Nonprofit recipient once it crosses their threshold. This is just an estimate on what you can expect.
Depending on the size of your kitchen an official appraisal could cost anywhere from $200-$400. Rest-assured, the amount saved in tax benefits far outweighs any appraisal costs. A good CPA will lay this out clearly for you.
♻️ Tip: You may not realize some things in your kitchen are valuable (like those pendant lights above the island, or that nice case window over the sink). Give the appraiser the list of everything that’s going— it may surprise you what it’s worth.
STEP 3: Pick a Non-Profit
Following the donation estimate, you can decide on the outlet you'd like to receive the donation. Habitat for Humanity has locations across the US and will come to pick up your items and haul them away. Beyond Habitat, a simple Google search may reveal a different local donation outlet in your 'hood. Look for organizations that specialize in used building materials. All you need to do is call around, describe your materials, and should they have a use for them, set a pick-up date. And if you think that sounds like an extensive process, it's not. If you have photos and a brief description ready to go, it's about as fast as ordering a pizza.
♻️ Tip: Many donation facilities won’t pick it up or their pick up truck is booked far in advance so do plan ahead!
Step 3: Arrange the Deconstruction (Don’t Demolish!)
Instead of directing your handy contractor- who you've already hired to renovate your kitchen- to use a sledge-hammer to your lovely items, let him know that they should be removed for reuse. This is not a complicated project. The majority of cabinets are installed via screws and nails, meaning taking them down is a matter of using a charged drill and helping hands to lower them to the ground with care. Countertops are often held in place using adhesive. If a contractor knows to recycle them, then rather than use a hammer, a crow bar and wedges can be used to remove the stone with a satisfying "pop!" Seriously, it's a delightful sound. And if the granite breaks? Hey, that happens sometimes. Stone can be fickle, and thinner segments (like what you find at the lip of a sink, of the cut-out of a stove-top) can snap. But here's the cool thing: epoxy. Stone tends to break cleanly, meaning it can be seamed back together using handy-dandy, non-expensive adhesive. People in the construction industry do this a lot.
Deconstruction requires more time and a bit more expertise than demolition so your contractor might charge you more for it.
And there you have it. Truly. That's it. You have a new kitchen coming in. Your old kitchen is out, and you've selected a donation outlet to come pick it up. The final step- at this is super important, but simple to execute- is to make sure you get a donation receipt. Then, you wave that document proudly come tax time (those we don't recommend doing that in a windy or open-flame-y area.)
Donating a kitchen is not only often less complicated than outright disposal; it's a good thing to do. For your finances. For people with limited means seeking to upgrade their own homes. For the Earth.
Cool, right?