Most companies that want to sell used office furniture start by asking what their workstations and chairs are worth. That is only half the question. Every piece also has to be disassembled, carried out, loaded and hauled, often after hours and under building rules. The honest answer to "what will I get?" is the resale value minus that removal work.
Office Station builds every offer that way and puts it in writing. This page explains how the math works, what moves the number up or down, and how to get an estimate started.
How a written net offer works
A net offer has two sides. The first is resale value: what your furniture can realistically sell for on the pre-owned market, based on brand, model, condition, quantity and demand. The second is removal cost: the labor, trucks, disposal and building logistics needed to clear your space.
Subtract removal from resale and you get the net. If the number is positive, you are paid. If it is negative, the offer tells you plainly what the cleanout would cost, which is still useful when you are budgeting a move or a lease exit.
Two illustrative examples
These numbers are made up to show the math. Your offer depends on your actual inventory and site.
| Scenario | Resale value | Removal cost | Net offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matching branded workstations and task chairs, grade B, ground-floor dock | $18,000 | $7,500 | +$10,500 paid to you |
| Mixed unbranded desks and worn seating, third floor, no freight elevator window | $3,000 | $6,000 | -$3,000 cleanout cost |
Average market rate Prices subject to availability and project pricing.
The second scenario is not a failure. It gives you a fixed, written figure to compare against hauling quotes, and the removal still includes documentation your landlord will want.
What moves the number
You cannot change your furniture's brand after the fact, but you can understand what drives value and cost before you ask for an offer.
Factors that raise resale value
- Recognized commercial brands. Pieces from Herman Miller, Steelcase, Knoll, Haworth, Humanscale, Teknion, Allsteel, Kimball, AIS and Friant are easier to resell.
- Matching quantities. Twenty identical workstations are more marketable than twenty different desks.
- Complete components. Panels, connectors, work surfaces, pedestals and keys all together.
- Condition. We grade pre-owned furniture A (like new), B (very good) or C (good). Heavy staining, broken mechanisms and missing parts pull value down.
Factors that raise removal cost
- Upper floors without a reserved freight elevator
- Night or weekend work required by the building
- Long carries from the suite to the dock
- Large volumes of low-value or damaged items that must be disposed of
- Tight move-out deadlines that require bigger crews
Net offer versus other ways to sell
A net offer is not the only way to sell used office furniture. It helps to compare it honestly with the alternatives.
- Listing pieces yourself. You may get a higher price per item, but you handle photos, buyer questions, no-shows and scheduled pickups, usually in your lease's final weeks. Whatever does not sell still needs removal.
- Hiring a hauler. Fast and simple, but you pay the full removal cost and receive nothing for items that had resale value.
- Donating. Worthwhile for some items, though charities often cannot take large systems furniture, and you still need crews to disassemble and move it.
- A written net offer. One walkthrough, one number that accounts for both value and removal, and a single crew that clears the whole space with documentation.
Many sellers use a combination, such as keeping a few favorite chairs, donating a small set of desks, and taking a net offer on the rest.
The process, step by step
- Tell us what you have. Use the estimator or email a rough count of workstations, chairs, conference and storage pieces, plus your move-out date.
- Walkthrough. Typically within 48 hours in Greater Phoenix and 2 to 3 business days in our other markets. We note brands, models, condition and access.
- Written net offer. Usually within 5 business days, with an itemized inventory so you can see where the value and the cost come from.
- Scheduling and building paperwork. We provide certificates of insurance and coordinate freight elevator and dock time with property management.
- Removal. Nights and weekends crews are available so your team or neighboring tenants are not disrupted.
- Handback. A photo-documented broom-clean space, a diversion summary showing where materials went, and certificates of data destruction for any e-waste.
Checklist before you request an offer
- Count workstations by size and note any that differ in configuration.
- Look for manufacturer labels under work surfaces and chair seats.
- Gather the building's move rules, COI requirements and elevator booking process.
- Decide which items stay, such as leased equipment or pieces going to a new office.
- Confirm your lease surrender date and any restoration obligations.
- List computers, monitors, phones or drives that need data destruction.
If the furniture is part of a larger exit, such as removing cabling or preparing the suite for turnover, see office decommissioning. If you are moving to a new space and only selling what will not fit, corporate relocation covers both halves of the job.
Where we buy used office furniture
Office Station provides liquidation across the Southwest and West: Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Las Vegas, Reno, San Diego, Orange County, Northern California (Bay Area and Sacramento), Denver, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque. See the full office furniture liquidation page for market details.
Brokers and property managers handling multiple exits can learn about working together on the partners page.
Prefer email? Send your inventory and move-out date to hello@officestation.com.
Frequently asked questions
What is a net offer?
A net offer is the resale value of your furniture minus the cost to remove it. If the result is positive, Office Station pays you that amount. If removal costs more than the furniture is worth, the offer shows the difference you would pay, so there are no surprises.
How fast can I get an offer?
Walkthroughs typically happen within 48 hours in Greater Phoenix and within 2 to 3 business days in our other markets. Written offers usually follow within 5 business days of the walkthrough.
Which brands resell best?
Well-known commercial brands such as Herman Miller, Steelcase, Knoll, Haworth, Humanscale, Teknion, Allsteel, Kimball, AIS and Friant tend to hold resale value better than unbranded furniture. Condition, completeness of parts and the quantity of matching pieces matter just as much as the name.
Do I have to sell everything?
No. The walkthrough produces an itemized inventory, so you can see which pieces add value and which add removal cost. Many sellers keep some items, and we can talk through how that changes the net figure.
Where do you buy office furniture?
Office Station provides liquidation in Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Las Vegas, Reno, San Diego, Orange County, Northern California (Bay Area and Sacramento), Denver, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque.
