Housing ReliefWhy do so many people go into deep debt and ruin their credit in the process, making their financial future less than ideal? Besides buying expensive things that don’t fit their budget, it’s not having enough cash to match their monthly bills.
If your bills are getting out of hand and you need quick cash to come to the rescue, avoid personal loans or using your credit card until you’ve tried this: Selling stuff you no longer use or don’t need. Doing it is a lot easier than you think, and since you have both online and local options, you should have plenty of buyers.
If you’ve never sold your used stuff before, you may be wondering where to start. Here are some pointers to give you some direction.
How To Sell Your Stuff on the Internet
You don’t have to be tech-savvy to start selling your items online for additional income. As long as you have a smartphone to snap some pics, you can start making sales today.
Speaking of pics, take as many as possible that show different angles of your product. The idea is to show its condition, so potential buyers know exactly what they’re getting. Make it a point also to write solid, detailed descriptions of each product. Comment on its condition and add any words you think could convince people to make the purchase.
When making your listings, imagine that you’re browsing the site. Would you pull the trigger on that listing? Is something missing? If so, beef up the listing to increase your chances of getting a sale.
As for where to sell your stuff on the Internet, here are some of the most popular options:
- Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist – Great for quick sales and local pickups.
- eBay – Offers tons of traffic, if you don’t mind shipping to the buyers.
- Decluttr – Use this if you want a single payment for all of your stuff without having to list it separately.
How To Sell Your Stuff via Garage and Yard Sales
You may feel more comfortable selling your stuff via good old fashioned yard sales. If so, here are some tips to remember:
- Make sure your neighborhood allows for yard or garage sales. Some do not.
- Set your garage sales for the weekend when people are out and about and have time to browse your items. Three-day weekends are even better.
- Price your items according to the market. You can figure this out by seeing similar items for sale through local sellers on Craigslist.
- To maximize your earnings, price items at 10-15 percent higher than the lowest price you’re willing to accept. This leaves room for hagglers.
- Get traffic to your sale via street signs on several corners near your home. You can also put ads on Craigslist or in your local newspaper.
- If you plan on having several yard sales, you may want to consider a point-of-sale system like Square that accepts credit cards. It could lead to easier sales and increase your bottom line.
