It should go without saying; many of us have too much stuff. In fact, Americans spend over one trillion a year on things we do not need, according to the Wall Street Journal. If you have items you do not need any longer, and they are just sitting there collecting dust, why not sell them and make some money?
Here are some tips on how to resell your stuff.
Getting Organized
So, how do you know what you should sell? Well, if you have not used or worn something in a couple of years, chances are you do not need it. Go throughout your home and collect the things you do not need or want and get them organized in a central location. Look them up online to figure out approximately what you can get for each item and then figure out where you want to sell them.
Where to Sell
There are many different places you can sell your stuff.
Yard Sale / Garage Sale
Yard sales and garage sales are usually reliable places to start. Set up your items neatly on a table and make sure visitors can see the price. Place 'big ticket' items out front to entice customers.
eBay
With eBay, you just create an account and list your items with pictures. You now are in front of a vast marketplace of hungry buyers.
Smartphone Apps
You will find many location-based smartphone apps where you can sell your stuff quickly to people who live in your neighborhood. A few apps include:
- LetGo
- Listia
- OfferUp
- Poshmark
Just remember to follow the safety guidelines of the app you are using, especially if you have people coming to your house to see what you are selling.
Sell your items on the Facebook Marketplace, or you can find loads of Facebook yard sale groups to join and sell on, although you will need to abide by their rules.
Craigslist
Craigslist is an excellent platform if you are selling higher-priced items. Smaller items might not be worth your time listing them on Craigslist.
Getting Top Dollar
Before you get started, consider what you paid for each item. If you did not pay much, to begin with, you are probably not going to get top dollar when you resell it. You will likely make more money with brand names than you will with generic labels.
Clean your stuff well. The cleaner you can get an item, the more money you may make and the quicker it may sell.
Do your research to get as many details as you can on what you are selling. For instance, what year was it made? What are its features? What is its country of origin? What are its measurements? The more you know, the better you will be able to answer questions about the item, which, of course, helps make the sale. Take quality pictures of each piece. You can make the sale item stand out by placing it in front of a plain or white background.
Add as many details to the description of your item as possible. Place as much specific information, such as size, model, age, and condition, as permitted in the ad.
Let people know things such as if your item is rare, used, or its condition. It is always proper to be honest since damaged items sell too and you want to avoid returns after you make the sale.
With collectibles, you can use websites like Collectors.com to find the value of your item and ensure you are getting top dollar for it. For any piece over $1000, you will want to get an appraisal. Gold refiners are an excellent place to sell your gold and get top dollar.
Reselling your stuff can make you money if you prepare correctly. That means, learning more about your item, making sure it is in the best condition possible, knowing where to sell it, and applying practical tips to get top dollar.