When you are closing, downsizing or moving an office, the first question is usually simple: what happens to all this furniture? The answer depends on what is in the space. Every office is different.
Office Station walks the space for free and recommends the best route for the furniture: resale, a buy, a quote to clear, donation or recycling, or a mix, decided case by case. This page breaks down which items tend to have resale value and which mostly add removal work, so you know what to expect before the walkthrough.
How the recommendation works
Every item in your space shapes the plan in one of two ways.
- Resale value comes from furniture that someone else will buy: recognized brands, current styles, good condition and quantities that can outfit another office.
- Removal cost comes from labor, trucks, disposal, building logistics and time. Heavy, bulky, dated or damaged items raise removal cost without adding much resale value.
A floor full of matching designer workstations and task chairs is a strong candidate for resale. A floor of mismatched, worn furniture may be better suited to donation or recycling. Most offices end up with a mix, and the walkthrough sorts it out.
What has resale value and what adds cost
| Item | Typical route | What makes the difference |
|---|---|---|
| Designer task chairs | Strong resale value | Brands such as Herman Miller, Steelcase, Knoll, Haworth and Humanscale; working controls; clean upholstery |
| Workstations and panel systems | Strong resale value in matching quantities | Recognized systems, complete parts, consistent finishes, reasonable panel heights |
| Height-adjustable desks | Good resale value | Working motors and controls, undamaged tops |
| Steel storage: lateral files, pedestals, lockers | Moderate resale value | Keys present, drawers sliding smoothly, no dents or rust |
| Conference tables and seating | Varies | Brand, size, surface condition; very large tables can be costly to move |
| Private office casegoods | Varies | Veneer and laminate condition, style, whether it disassembles |
| Reception desks and custom millwork | Usually adds cost | Built for one space and hard to reuse elsewhere |
| Worn or broken furniture | Adds cost | Damage, stains, missing parts |
| Computers, monitors, phones, printers | Handled as e-waste | Certificates of data destruction provided |
A room-by-room way to size up your space
Before anyone visits, walk your space with a notepad and sort each area into value or cost. It takes less than an hour for most suites and gives you a realistic expectation.
Open office floor
This is usually where the value lives. Count workstations, note the panel height and worksurface size, and check a few chairs for brand labels. Matching runs of stations and designer seating are the most likely candidates for resale.
Private offices
Desks, credenzas and bookcases vary. Clean, modular pieces that disassemble tend to resell. Heavy, dated or damaged casegoods lean toward removal cost.
Conference and training rooms
Stackable or nesting training tables and matching conference chairs are easier to resell than one oversized boardroom table that needs a crew to move.
Break rooms, reception and storage closets
Break room tables, built-in reception pieces and miscellaneous shelving are often cost items. Old electronics from storage closets belong in the e-waste stream.
How to prepare for the walkthrough
- Keep sets together. Do not give away a few chairs or split a workstation run before the walkthrough. Complete sets resell better.
- Find the keys. Filing cabinets and pedestals without keys are harder to sell.
- Gather parts. Panel connectors, worksurface brackets, power components and keyboard trays belong with their stations.
- Know your brands. Check labels under chair seats and inside drawers. A quick list of manufacturers helps the assessment.
- Give access. Share dock hours, freight elevator rules and COI requirements early so removal can be planned efficiently.
- Allow time. Rushed removals can raise labor cost. Request a walkthrough as soon as your exit date is known.
What happens after the walkthrough
Walkthroughs typically happen within 48 hours in Greater Phoenix and within 2 to 3 business days in other markets. You receive a written recommendation within 5 business days, built on an itemized inventory so you can see what shapes the plan. We clear on your lease deadline.
On removal day, crews can work nights or weekends and coordinate freight elevators and docks with your building. Certificates of insurance are provided for building management. E-waste is handled with certificates of data destruction. When the space is empty, you receive a photo-documented, broom-clean handback and a diversion summary showing where materials went.
Where Office Station liquidates office furniture
Liquidation service is available in these markets:
- Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff
- Las Vegas and Reno
- San Diego, Orange County and Northern California, including the Bay Area and Sacramento
- Denver, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque
When you need more than furniture removal
If you are returning a whole suite to a landlord, liquidation is often one part of a larger office decommissioning project. If you are moving and keeping some pieces, corporate relocation covers moving what you keep while liquidating what you do not. Brokers and property managers can learn about referrals on the partners page.
Frequently asked questions
How do you decide what happens to our furniture?
Every office is different. After a free walkthrough, Office Station recommends the best route for the furniture: resale, a buy, a quote to clear, donation or recycling, or a mix, decided case by case. You get the recommendation in writing before you commit to anything.
Do you take furniture that has no resale value?
Yes, removal can include items with little or no resale value so you get a complete cleanout. Those items add to removal work rather than resale value, which is why the itemized inventory matters. You can see exactly what shapes the plan.
What do you do with computers and electronics?
E-waste is handled separately, and certificates of data destruction are provided. This matters for devices that stored company or client data, so keep those items on your inventory.
How quickly can I get a recommendation?
Walkthroughs typically happen within 48 hours in Greater Phoenix and within 2 to 3 business days in other service markets. You receive a written recommendation within 5 business days.
Which markets does Office Station serve for liquidation?
Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Las Vegas, Reno, San Diego, Orange County, Northern California including the Bay Area and Sacramento, Denver, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque.
