The Ultimate Guide to Selling Unwanted Items: Tips & Tricks For Top Dollar

People have a hard time getting rid of things because they look at something that they don’t particularly need and am reminded of how much time, money and energy they spent getting it. And so they hold onto it.

While nothing can give you back your time and energy, you can get some of your money back by reselling the things you no longer want. Keep reading for tips and tricks to selling your old things for top dollar.

Pricing Things

Unfortunately, not everything you want to get rid of is going to have value. Here, I’ll cover how you can look at what you think is garbage and figure out how much someone else might be willing to pay for it.

• Research the item’s retail value, brand new. Find out how much it would cost you to replace that very same item you want to get rid of. Factor in how easy it is to buy the item new. If you can’t locate the exact item, look at similar ones and note their cost.
• Look up the item’s sale value, used. Now get yourself to online marketplaces that sell used items – like Craigslist, eBay and Amazon. Check how much your item is going for. If you find your item at an auction, make note of how much the seller is asking for and at what price the auction closed at. Also, be sure to find out how many people are selling the item and the condition of their item.
• Set your selling price. If your item can be easily found new, but there aren’t a lot of used versions around, you’ll probably sell it quickly given the right price. Conversely, if your item isn’t easily found new, but there’s a bunch of it used, then you’ll probably have a hard time selling it unless you drop your pricing. In the last scenario, if your item is tough to find both new and used, then you’ve got yourself something special and can probably price it high.

Keep in mind these other pricing factors:

• If you’re selling online, you should also account for shipping and insurance.
• If you’re selling locally, people may expect extremely good deals, so expect some haggling.

And don’t forget, your time has value. Before you list your item, you need to decide if it’s worth your time to sell it. Take, for example, an item you can sell for $5 in a minute, versus an hour of time to sell it for $10. With an hour’s worth of work, you managed to sell it for $5 more, but that also means that hour spent is valued at just $5. Is it worth it? That’s up to you to decide.

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Where to Sell

There are plenty of places to sell your unwanted things, especially online. Where to sell depends on the type of item you’re trying to get rid of.

Electronics, Computer Equipment, Books & Video Games

Here’s a little synopsis on your best options for selling used consumer electronics and the like:

• Amazon. This is my favorite because it has the best overall selling experience. Not only can you sell your unwanted electronics and consumer goods, Amazon will even help you price your items. The coolest thing about Amazon Marketplace is that it will link your item directly to the product listings, so anyone searching for it will see your item along other used and new ones. You’ll want to keep an eye out for Amazon’s commission fees, however, because they can cost a pretty penny.
• eBay. Although the site has gone through a lot of changes over the years and is now not-so-friendly to sellers, it’s still a popular place to unload your unwanted goods. Make sure to price your items close to or better than your competition, and it’ll sell in no time. Like Amazon Marketplace, you should watch out for eBay’s fees, plus you’ll probably have to use PayPal to process payments which comes with its own costs.
• Craigslist. Going through this site is great because you get to set your own price and no one takes commission. The downside, however, is that it might take months before you get a decent offer.

If you’re selling used video games, cell phones or textbooks, you’ll want to consider the specialty sites below:

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Clothes & Accessories

Clothing is more difficult to sell than electronics, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get decent cash for it. To yield the best results, you’ll want to set up shop with the right conditions. Follow my tips below:

• Etsy. Although established as a DIY marketplace, this site also allows you to sell used clothing. Those that specialize in vintage and unique clothing do particularly well.
• Craigslist and eBay. You won’t get a lot of bang for your buck on these sites, but they’re good places to lot your used clothing together and sell it all to one person. They’re great for children’s and baby’s clothing.
• Yard sale. With clothing, most people want to see it before they buy it. Organizing a yard sale might be your best bet to getting rid of your used clothing quickly.

Toys & Games

Children’s items also sell pretty well. As I mentioned in the pricing section above, you’ll want to do your research before you list secondhand toys and games. You don’t want to make the mistake of selling a rare toy for ten bucks in a lot on Craigslist when you could be selling it for a hundred bucks apiece. If what you have is in good condition, I recommend selling via:

• Amazon. This is a great site for selling toys and games because the items are marked with clear names and descriptions. You’ll be able to sell your used items as long as they’re in good condition and easy-to-package. Items like a put-together playset or an action figure out of its packaging will be harder to sell. As mentioned before, watch out for Amazon’s seller fees.
• eBay. There are plenty of people on this site looking for specific toys and games for a decent price. With that audience, it’s a great place to get rid of items that have become collectibles. Once again, watch out for fees from both eBay and PayPal and price your items accordingly.
• Consignment shop. If you don’t have time to post online or set up a yard sale, then enlist the help of a consignment shop to sell your used toys and games for you. Do a simple search on Yelp to find a shop near you that accepts secondhand items.

Small Appliances & Household Items

Secondhand blenders, microwave ovens, humidifiers, space heaters, vacuum cleaners, and other small appliances and household items sell pretty well online and in person. In particular, I recommend these two routes:

• Amazon. Tie your item directly, and automatically, to an Amazon product listing, which gets your item “seen,” along with other new and used options. Keep in mind, Amazon takes a cut for selling on its platform.
• Yard sale. Although great for those that like to touch, feel and test out the item before they purchase it, you’ll probably be able to sell the item for the same price or better online. You’ll want to go the yard sale route, however,  if getting rid of a large set of items quickly is a priority.

Large Appliances & Furniture

I’ve put these in a separate category from “small appliances and household items” because these don’t make sense to ship. Because of this, you’ll want to consider the platforms below:

• Craigslist. If you want to sell couches, entertainment centers, beds, dressers, large TVs and etc. for a good price, you’ll want to list here. Because your post will be shown to the neighborhood of your choice, you can ask buyers to pick up the item so you don’t have to worry about shipping.
• Moving sale. You’ll be able to offload your big items quickly, but you’ll also have to deal with strangers in your home, and of course, the haggling.

Art & Collectibles

This category is a lot trickier to sell because your audience – the people who explicitly want the particular item – is a lot smaller. Here, it is essential that you do your research and know the proper value of your item before you try to sell it.

If you need help, you can always get it appraised by a professional. The expert can also give you advice on how to best care for your item to keep it in good condition and where to sell your item to yield the best results. They can even sell it for you in an auction or a private sale for a cut of the revenue, of course.

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Tips for Listing Items

When you craft your listing, you’ll need to ensure that people can easily find your item. All you need is the following:

• Good photos. Make sure they’re clear and that they cover different angles.
• Catchy wording. Your headline needs to stand out, as well as your description.
• Keywords. Make sure to use keywords in your description, since people are using them to search for items. Be careful, though, you don’t want to overdo it.
• Dimensions. Obviously a must. Be as descriptive about the item as you can. Include the model number and the condition of the item.

You’ll also want to maximize your reach by posting multiple listings for the same product, but in different categories. A Bluetooth headset can be listed in Audio, Electronics, and Smartphone Accessories. On Craigslist, it’s free to post, so don’t hesitate to copy, paste, and tweak the headline and description to cater to the category. You can also post to different neighborhoods nearby to widen your reach.

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Consider Donating

If your first and foremost goal is to declutter your home (and not to make money), then you should consider donating your unwanted things to a thrift store or charity.

Don’t forget to ask for a tax receipt when you drop your stuff off.

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Bottom Line

There are plenty of ways for you to get rid of all the things you don’t need anymore. Just remember, the best way to sell your children’s things isn’t necessarily the best way to sell your secondhand designer clothing.

No matter what you sell and which platform you choose, you should do your homework, price your used items properly, and list them in a way that stands out from the crowd. In the end, you’ll have a home that’s free that’s from clutter and a little extra cash in your pocket. Learn more ways to save money in our post 99 Tips, Tricks, And Easy Ways To Save Your Cash.

READ MORE: SEE THE BEST BANK BONUSES HERE AND THE BEST INVESTING BONUSES HERE.