As you worked your way through your home, ruthlessly identifying the items you plan to boot out of your house, you probably found a few things you suspected you could sell. Selling secondhand goods is big business, whether it’s on eBay, in yard sales or at a consignment shop.
Here are some places to sell items:
Craigslist: I’ve found this the best place to sell furniture and larger household items.
eBay: This works well for some people and not for others. See how items like yours are selling before you set up shop. Be sure to check eBay commissions.
Amazon: Selling items on Amazon is easier than selling them on eBay, and it can be an excellent way to sell books, CDs and other items in its database — if you have the right items. Bestsellers and novels often sell for only a penny, while lesser known books sell quite well. I sold an out-of-print commercial real estate textbook for $220, minus Amazon’s cut.
Consignment store: If you have clothing, costume jewelry and household items in good conditions, check with these stores.
Jewelry stores: Start with a reputable local jeweler. Some pieces may be worth more intact, while others are worth only the wholesale value of the gold. It’s OK to get a second opinion. Be wary of companies that ask you to mail in your items.
Yard sale: I swore off yard sales when I netted $25 for two full days of work. But my brother and sister-in-law made $600 from their last sale. It depends on your location and the items you have.
Friends: I’ve sold household items and furniture by sending e-mails to my friends. Your too-small purse may be someone else’s just-the-right-size bag.
If you’re not sure whether the items you want to discard have any monetary value, spend some time on the Internet, checking eBay and other sites to see what people are asking for similar items.
Most important, factor in the time it will take you to sell your stuff, whether it’s holding a yard sale or packing up items and standing in line at the post office.
If you discover that your stuff isn’t worth the time it would take you to sell it, donate it a charity.
Recycling is good for the soul.
