It’s fair to say that many of us have a lot of unused, old, or even partially broken items simply lying about our house. These might be for sentimental reasons, but most of the time it’s because we just don’t know what to do with them! Old watches, books, clothing, or perhaps kitchenware – whatever the item, there comes a time when you’ve had enough of seeing it in your house and wish to get some money by selling it.
As we’ve discussed before, knowing how to sell your used car online is not as hard as you may have thought, and the same goes for your old items scattered about your house. In this piece, we’ll provide you with five useful tips for when you decide to actually sell some old items, thereby freeing up some space and making some cash. Win-win!
Can it actually be sold?
First off, decide if your old item is genuinely in good condition, otherwise, it’s probably not worth the effort of trying to sell it at all! Check for cracks, blemishes, chips, etc., and ask yourself whether you would actually buy this item if you saw it advertised online. People sometimes buy items simply to get access to the parts inside (sections from one car could be fitted into another, for example), so it still can be worth putting the item up if only for this purpose.
How much are similar items being sold for?
If you bought something a long time ago, let’s say a watch, then it’s about time you checked some websites to see if anyone else is selling that same watch. This will give you a good indication as to the market demand and also price that people would expect. It could be that this particular watch is very rare nowadays, in which case, a high price is certainly acceptable. However, it could also be that this watch was sold everywhere and anywhere (like fidget spinners!) and might not actually be exceptional, so it’s likely not many people would be interested in such a prevalent item. If that’s the case, then don’t set your selling price too high.
eBay isn’t the only option
Most of the world is familiar with ebay.com, but that’s not to suggest that they are the sole online marketplace for used items. If we go with the watch example once more, you’ll find that it’s often better to sell your timepiece on a website that solely deals with trading new and used watches. As you can see with their Tag Heuer page, online marketplace Chrono24 allow watch buyers to narrow their search considerably by a specific brand, as well as the model, year, price, and even case diameter as filters. This means that the more specific you are about describing your watch, the more likely it is that someone who is interested will find it.
Take great pictures and be honest
To save yourself endless messages back and forth to potential buyers, you’re best to simply give as much useful info up-front, thereby decreasing the likelihood of receiving inquiries asking for more info! If there is indeed damage to your item, then it’s no good trying to hide it in photos. Be as honest as you can, and take several high-quality images in natural lighting and in different angles. This honesty should also extend to shipping and handling costs, as online shoppers hate it when the item seems cheap at first, but gets wildly raised when the extra fees are added on.
Be fast with any questions and with sending the item
Another thing online shoppers despise is slow communication. Schedule permitting, you should be replying to any questions ASAP, because this will only increase the chances of a sale. Likewise, if you’re lucky enough to have sold your item, then don’t simply celebrate and close your computer! Ship it as quick as you can and in a sturdy box because don’t expect good feedback if your item arrives damaged or incredibly late.
