Sell a Used Cupboard or Almirah: Size, Keys and Pickup

A used steel almirah can be the right size for a buyer's room and still be awkward to collect from your flat. Before you put it up for sale, measure the cupboard and the route out. Then show the shelves, doors and keys so the buyer can see what they are paying for.

Give two sets of dimensions#

Start with the outside height, width and depth, all in centimetres or all in inches. Include the feet, top ledge or handle where they make the overall size bigger. If you give depth without the handle, add a separate figure with it. Say whether the doors are hinged or sliding. A buyer with a narrow bedroom may also need to know how far a hinged door opens and how much room a drawer needs.

Next, show the usable space inside. Give the width and depth of a shelf and the hanging space under the rail if those are useful. Mention how many shelves there are, whether they can be moved and whether the locker or mirror comes with the cupboard. For an office cabinet, measure the shelf opening so a buyer can compare it with their files. Describe the material from the label or purchase information if you have it. If you are unsure what sits under a wood finish, say so.

Check the outside lock and the inside locker separately#

Open each door and drawer if it is safe to do so. Check whether the hinges and handles feel secure and whether the doors scrape. With the compartments empty, check which key works in which lock and count the keys you will hand over. Say “two main-door keys, locker key missing” if that is the situation. Empty the cupboard before photos and pickup, including the top shelf, drawer backs and locker. Keep papers, names and addresses out of the photographs.

Show the wear that matters#

On a steel almirah, photograph the base, lower corners, hinges and the back where you can reach them without tipping the cabinet. Show dents, visible rust, holes, welding or repainting. On a wooden or board unit, show any swollen edges, loose joints, chips or peeling. If there is cracked glass or a loose mirror, say so and get suitable help for handling it. Keep an unstable cupboard in place until someone competent can assess it.

Take one full photo with the doors closed and another with them open. Then add the actual damage, locks and shelves in daylight. The used-item photo guide can help you show a dark corner without hiding the condition.

Compare similar storage, then write the ad#

Browse cupboards and storage listings with a comparable size, material and shelf layout. A three-door wardrobe, a two-door steel almirah and a short office filing cabinet solve different problems. Allow for a missing key, lock repair, damaged shelf or the buyer's collection cost. Use the pricing guide if you need a way to compare asking prices. For several pieces of furniture, the furniture selling guide covers how to describe them separately.

An example ad could say: “Two-door steel almirah, 185 cm high × 88 cm wide × 52 cm deep including the handles. Three shelves and one hanging rail. Two main-door keys, inner locker key missing. Small rust patch at the bottom, shown in the photo. Pickup from the second floor.” Use your own measurements and add an asking price and pickup area.

Check the exit route with the person moving it#

Measure the clear door opening, tight turns and lift opening and cabin. Tell the buyer the floor, whether stairs are involved, where a tempo can stop and whether your building restricts collection times. A lift opening measurement alone does not tell you if a tall cupboard can turn into the lift. If you are unsure, send the measurements and let a mover assess the route before a vehicle is booked.

Say whether the cupboard is freestanding, anchored to the wall or built into the room. Do not undo wall fixings or take doors off just to see if it fits. If removal or dismantling is needed, agree who will arrange suitable help and who pays. Confirm the scope before accepting money or booking pickup.

Post your cupboard on Zutilo with the measurements, condition, asking price and pickup details. Free posting is available within the current category allowance. Check payment in your own account before handover and update the ad once the cupboard is collected.