This post contains affiliate links. See disclosure.
Like many people, we're resolving to improve our fitness this year (I know, how basic).
We decided on a home gym to facilitate our efforts and we plan to put this monstrosity in the basement.
To make room, we cleared out part of the basement where we were storing our 'maybe one day' items (mostly furniture and decor from our old loft that we love, but has no place in our current home).
In the spirit of our other cliché resolution to save more money this year, we sold the basement excess and will be using the proceeds to fund said home gym (used, of course!).
In this post, I'll share my 10 best tricks for maximizing your profit when selling used stuff online!
You May Also Enjoy
I'm no rookie when it comes to the world of online resale.
Facebook is my platform of choice for selling used stuff online.
I first discovered the utility of local Facebook buy/sell groups shortly after my son was born; I bought gently-used kids' toys and books at a small fraction of retail and picked them up from other moms in the neighbourhood.
When Owen started to outgrow things, I sold them in these same groups. Depending on the item, I’d often recoup up to three quarters of what I'd originally paid.
I enjoyed online wheeling and dealing so much, that I started to collect and re-sell vintage luxury bags (okay, so the collection part may have made re-selling a financial necessity). As it turned out, this was a fairly lucrative side gig. Some days I was making more than my MD salary.
Alas, I found myself getting high on my own supply, and before I knew it, I had a stockpile of luxury bags that I was dragging my feet on reselling.
Like any other 'addiction,' complete abstinence was necessary and I sold (most of) what I had left and extricated myself from that dangerously seductive world.
Photos from a couple of my old online listings.
My sister, Cher, who blogs at House of High/Low, continues to indulge. She wrote a great piece on the ins-and-outs of how to find vintage Chanel purses for a great price online, if you want to check it out! (Yes, blogging, purse-loving and side-gigging run in the family.)
From my experience with online re-selling, I've come up with some valuable tips on how to maximize your earnings when selling used stuff online.
You May Also Enjoy
How to Maximize Your Earnings Selling Used Stuff Online
1. Timing Is Everything
Sell by the season.
Wait to list your kids' outgrown snow pants until the following fall or winter. Though, it's tempting to post winter things in the spring, when your kiddo's done with them for the season, waiting until it's cold out again will garner the most interest.
More demand means you can ask for a better price (Economics 101!).
Same goes for warm weather items like used bikes: even if you've purchased a new one at an end-of-season sale, wait 'til next spring to put your old one on the market.
2. Is It Worth Selling?
Of course, not everything is worth selling online. Something I've found doesn't resell well is clothing in less-than-pristine condition (you're better off donating these once you factor in the time it takes to photograph and list these items vs. the cash return). If you have a lot of used clothes that you're hell-bent on selling, bundled items (in groups of 5 or 10) tend to sell better.
Things I've found sell like hotcakes online:
Gently-used kids' toys and games
Kids' outerwear in very good used condition
Pet stuff (especially crates)
Home decor items (artwork, furniture)
Electronics (old gaming systems, sound systems)
Anything that's unopened or comes with the original packaging
3. Take Exceptional Photos
Notice I didn’t say good, but exceptional!
For each item you list, there are likely dozens of similar listings on whatever platform you’re using.
Superior photos will make your post stand out.
You’d be surprised at the number of listings containing photos that are blurry, poorly lit, or have a messy room as the backdrop—all off-putting to buyers.
Would you want to purchase a dollhouse for little Sally from someone with a pile of dirty laundry in the background?
My Tips for Exceptional Listing Photos:
- Use a clean and tidy background; I use the marble backsplash in our kitchen as the backdrop for most items I’m selling.
- Natural lighting looks best (take photos in the daytime in indirect, natural light).
- Take clear shots with close ups of important details like brand names, dimensions, package descriptions and serial numbers (if applicable).
- Provide photos from different angles.
