This is a guest post. I am currently working on a new guest post policy that is in line with an idea I have about sharing different paths to financial independence. If you are interested in writing a guest post you may still use the old guidelines until the new ones are posted.
Are you looking to de-clutter your home a little bit and perhaps make some extra cash in the process? Cash that could potentially help you build your emergency fund or help to pay down credit card debt. Here are five tricks that I have used successfully over the years to turn unwanted stuff into cold hard cash.
Figure Out Where to Sell It
The outlet you are going to use to sell your stuff depends entirely on what you want to sell. Consider selling big and bulky items on Craigslist to local buyers as the shipping charges from selling nationwide on eBay are going to be deal breakers for most buyers. Stuff that sells really well on Craigslist includes kid’s bikes, play structures, large sporting equipment, furniture, and appliances. Also, another great option for larger items is to host a yard sale. You won’t be able to get as good of a price compared to selling on Craigslist, but you’ll be able to sell more stuff in a shorter period of time.
Smaller items like portable electronics, gently used clothing, DVDs, books, toys, and home decor sell really well on eBay. Determine what dollar amount items might sell for by searching ‘Completed Listings’ within the eBay interface. This will also give you a good idea about what you should be charging for shipping fees.
Take a Good Picture
I can’t tell you how many times I have decided not to make a purchase on eBay or Craigslist because the picture provided by the seller was terrible and didn’t really match the description. This should always serve as a big red flag. Always take the time to snap a simple, well lit photo of the items you are selling. Make sure the photo takes into account any flaws in the item. For example, if you are selling a couple pairs of Levi jeans and one pair has a small hole, make sure you click a separate photo of the hole so the buyer knows exactly what they are getting. Believe me, honesty is always the best policy and will avoid a ton of hassles down the line when you have an angry buyer who receives items that were misrepresented.
Write a Great Description
A good description of the item written by you, rather than copied and pasted from a similar auction is a great way to build your credibility as a reputable seller. Also, feel free to write about why you are selling the item and how you determined the price or starting bid. The more detail you can write about the item the more potential buyers are going to trust you.
Always Be Honest
If a potential buyer has a question about one of the items you are selling always answer them with complete honesty. It is better to have them not buy because you were honest then misleading them into buying and creating huge problems down the road.
Always Protect Yourself
Unfortunately, when dealing with complete strangers you’re going to run into people that want to take the money you rightfully earned away from you. When selling on Craiglist it is important to protect yourself by agreeing to finalize the sale at public place like a busy parking lot. Some items are just too big to haul to the local mall parking lot in which case they will have to come to your home to finish the sale. In these instances make sure you are not alone and meet them outside, don’t let them into your home unless it is totally necessary.
When selling on eBay, protect yourself by using PayPal. Never ship items until the buyer has paid in full via PayPal. Also, it is your prerogative to not accept bids from potential buyer with terrible feedback. You can quickly cancel bids from buyers with a feedback score of zero. Also, when writing your item description I would recommend adding the sentence that you will “not accept bids from buyers with zero feedback”.
Have you had success selling stuff online for extra cash? If so, did any of these tips help you maximize your profits?
Author Bio: Since 2000, Kyle James has operated a site called www.Rather-Be-Shopping.com with specializes in online, mobile, and printable coupons to over 800 retailers.
Photo Provided By: Diana Parkhouse
I have sold soooooooooo many things on craigslist! It is so easy since I live near a big city.
Holly@ClubThrifty recently posted..Extreme Hoarding: Pregnancy Edition…..and a Giveaway!
Me too Holly. It is amazing how fast a lot of it sells. I just old our old minivan in less than 48 hours on CraigsList. Did I mention it is FREE!!
Kyle James | Rather-Be-Shopping.com recently posted..Frugal Hack #6: Go Social and Save Money
I also look at the quality of the picture and make a very quick judgement on it. Interestingly I had never really thought about it until you raised it though.
Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank recently posted..The First Child: Opportunities for Savings
The picture is kind of like the first impression when you meet someone. It sticks with ya!
We have a HUGE pile of boxes of things we need to sell. We are going to start with a garage sale (except for bigger items like some of the brand new $100+ products we won in giveaways, those will be sold online) then try ebay and craigslist. Hopefully we can make some cash and clear up some space in our basement.
DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted..$500 Cash Giveaway – Save Money with Coupon Codes
Garage sale is great for the quick sale of a lot of stuff, but I have found that people will dicker with you all day and are not willing to pay what you can get on Craigslist or eBay.
These are all great tips Kyle! We sell stuff on Craigslist several times a year in order to decrapify the house. Taking pictures are huge as is having a good description. That’ll weed out 90% of the scammers out there.
John S @ Frugal Rules recently posted..Giveaway: An Online Shopping Tool for Frugal Shoppers
Decrapify, I LIKE it! I might have to steal that one John!
Kyle James | Rather-Be-Shopping.com recently posted..Frugal Hack #6: Go Social and Save Money
Great tips Kyle. I sell quite a bit online and find that you just have to be honest, but place some conditions in there in order to protect yourself such as no warranty, no returns, and sold as is. These have helped protect me in case any seller was not happy later down the road.
Debt Roundup recently posted..My Number One Shopping Tip + $500 Giveaway
Good points Grayson! I should have added that to my post. Sold as-is is something you should definitely add to your descriptions.
Kyle James | Rather-Be-Shopping.com recently posted..Frugal Hack #6: Go Social and Save Money
Pictures and honesty are so important to help both the buyer and yourself (saving time and headaches). I have not used ads sites in a while but last time I bought a dryer for $2 and sold it for $20 after a year!
Pauline recently posted..Save money with online shopping and a $500 giveaway!
I have bought and sold many items online and one thing I always suggest is a good picture. People are all about the visuals and the same goes for a blog. I’m apt to click on a blog post only after reading the heading and looking at the photo without one it’s slim. If you want people to notice your ad, a good piccie and a great description go hand in hand. Great post.
Canadian Budget Binder recently posted..Shopping Tips We Use To Save Money
Kyle, thanks for writing such a killer post. These are some great tips that I will definitely use when I start selling on E-bay.
I like the audience and marketplace ebay has readily available but the fees are astronomical. I have looked at started an ebay business but the profit margins were decimated after I factored ebay fees, shipping, and the time invested.
Brick By Brick Investing | Marvin recently posted..How To Sell Options Successfully
I’ve been selling more and more on Craigslist. It’s a bit of a hassle dealing with buyers at point, but I’m happy to exchange my clutter for their cash *grin*
Alex recently posted..Happy Thought of the Day: Snow Days
I’ve never used Craigslist myself, but have heard from others who have made a decent amount of cash for their junk. It can be fun to read through some of the listings though.