Need to Make Some Cash? 4 Easy Places & 5 Tips to Sell Your Stuff

By Sara

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Last Updated: March 15, 2024

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If you're looking for a way to get some extra cash but don't have a side hustle, you might want to try selling your stuff.

You know what I mean - gifts you never opened, something you bought on sale that you never used. 

Look around your basement, closets and garage - you may be sitting on a pile of cash at home!

You can turn your stuff into cash in as quickly as a day, depending on how you do it. If you have unused specialty items, you may be able to sell these for a lot of money, but it can take time.

 

 

What Kinds of Things Can You Sell? 

Almost everything that you don't use can be sold.

This is because someone in the world is looking for the item you don't want.

Go through your house and set aside anything that you don't use. Nothing is too small.

  • Do you have the metal balls from BlenderBottles? Those can be sold!
  • Do you have a lot of office supplies like paperclips? Those can be sold!
  • Furniture, clothes, and kitchen gadgets? Also can be sold! 

Everyday items are the easiest things to sell. Most people are looking for a deal when it comes to clothes (especially name brand, lightly used or new), furniture, kitchen items, and baby clothes.

Try to list almost everything that you don't use.

We often buy things that we never use, and those can easily be sold to a new home rather than throwing them out in the trash. 

Specialty items are also great to sell, but they take more time because it's for a specific audience.

These can be things like:

  • antique furniture
  • musical instruments
  • art
  • and collectibles

Again, selling these items will take more time from researching the item, finding the right selling price, and finding a seller. 

 

 

The 5 Best Practices for Selling Used Items 

To have the best chance of selling your items, it's good to follow certain rules on what to sell and how to list them.

This will ensure that you will get the most money out of the item you are selling, as well as have a good transaction with the person buying it from you.

 

1. Condition 

While anything can be sold, certain condition levels sell better.

If you have unused, brand-new items, these are the easiest to sell. Lightly used or almost like new is also easy to sell. If you have a heavily used item, it can be sold, but you need to be open about any damage to the person who is buying this. 

 

2. Cleaning 

Make sure whatever it is you are selling is clean!

If it's a kitchen tool, run it in the dishwasher to make sure it's clean. If it's clothes, make sure to get rid of any stains or odors and wash them. Remove any dust or marks if you can. Not every flaw can be fixed; if that is the case, make sure to disclose this. 

 

3. Pricing 

Do your research and see what the item you are selling has been sold for or is listed for.

This will give you a good idea of the price people are willing to buy this for. It's easier to find the prices on common items like clothes, furniture, and household products.

It will take more research to sell antique, vintage, or specialty items.

Pro tip: Always list the item on the higher end to allow a buyer to negotiate the price you'd really like to sell it at. 

 

4. Description 

Descriptions will help you sell items a lot faster.

People want to know what the item is, what is so great about it, and the condition. Use this area to also list any flaws in a product. For example, you can sell furniture that has light wear and tear. It won't be able to sell for the highest price, but you can still sell it.

People might use it for parts or a DIY project.

Pro tip: Include if you live in a smoke-free and/or pet-free house as well. 

 

5. Photos 

This is the most important aspect of selling an item online because this is what sells someone on what you've got to offer.

Make sure to clean your space, clean the item, and have good lighting. Take photos from multiple angles and even close-up photos. If there is any damage, take a photo. Think about what you would want to know about if you were the seller.

Leave nothing out, it's better to tell people up front than leave something out. They will notice once they have it anyway!

 

 

What are the best platforms to sell on? 

There are many ways to sell items, from garage sales to online platforms.

Deciding what is right for you depends on how much you are selling and how much time you have to sell. 

Garage Sales

Garage sales are a quick and easy way to sell a large number of items at one time.

You can share if you are having a garage sale online or have posters around the neighborhood. You will probably not get the most amount of money for your items, but you should be able to sell a large number of items if you are moving and need things sold quickly. 

 

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is great for selling things like furniture and household products.

You can sell to people in your area, and they can pick it up, or you can drop it off. People will usually ask for your lowest price, so make sure you have that price in mind. People will pay in cash or Venmo.

If you are selling something for a hundred or more, try to get this in Venmo over cash. People can sometimes use fake money. 

Read this before you start selling: 4 Ways to Protect Yourself When You're Buying/Selling Online→

 

eBay 

eBay is another great platform to sell your unused items, specifically antique, rare, and specialty items.

This is a global audience that you can reach. You will have to ship the items, but this is a great way to sell something that is harder to sell in your local area. There are fees on eBay to be mindful of. For every sale, you will have to pay a fee, which is a percentage of the total amount and $.30 per order.

Check out the eBay selling fees website to find out more specifics on this. 

 

Mercari 

Mercari is an online platform that allows you to sell your items to the entire US.

This is a great way to sell more specific items that aren't selling on FB Marketplace. You can decide if you want to pay for shipping or if you want the seller to pay for shipping. Keep any old boxes you have to lower your shipping costs.

Mercari will take a 10% commission on sales, but you'll work through them for payment. Once your item has been delivered and reviewed, you'll be paid, and that money will go directly to your bank. 

 

 

Sell Your Stuff to Make Extra Cash 

Whether you need to pay off your debt or reach a financial goal, selling the things you don't use is a great way to earn some extra cash.

You may even find you love selling things and pick up a side hustle to buy and flip items. Most of the things in your house can be sold, but make sure to take good photos and describe the item accurately to have a successful sale.

There are so many platforms that you can sell on, and you can find out what works best for you! Happy selling! 

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo

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One comment on “Need to Make Some Cash? 4 Easy Places & 5 Tips to Sell Your Stuff”

  1. Your articles are so helpful for me..I can now understand my finances a lot better..being a widow never having th o deal with it..this helps me tremendously..thanks so much

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