The Complete Guide To Selling Stuff You Don’t Want

Chances are, there is stuff in your house, basement or garage that you could sell right now. Why would you do this?

• Reduce clutter: Is your home getting cluttered? Do you have stuff around that you don’t use/need/wear anymore? Selling your stuff is a great way to clean out your house.
• Make money: More than likely, there is a buyer out there for some of the stuff you no longer use. Why not make some money by selling it?

Where To Sell Your Stuff

Here are some of the most popular online platforms, apps, and other places to sell your stuff:

Sell Locally

Garage Sales

Garage sales/yard sales are great for selling household items, clothes, shoes, cooking utensils, toys, baby and kids’ clothes, and much more.

In addition to plastering your neighborhood with signs, remember to advertise your garage sale on Craigslist and in the newspaper for more exposure. This is the key to selling as much stuff as possible at garage sales. Check out my guide for getting the best stuff at garage sales.

Book Shops

Selling used books won’t make you rich – but it will clear up a lot of space in your house. Check out local used book stores (such as Half Price Books) or consider selling your used books on Amazon.

Used college textbooks can be sold on Book Scouter, BookFinder.com, or Campus Books. You can also check with local college and university bookstores.

Consignment Shops

Consignment shops are ideal for selling higher-end clothing, shoes, and accessories that are in good condition. Some consignment shops also accept appliances, household items, and furniture.

Last year, I made about $60.00 selling clothes that I no longer wore. Make sure your items are clean and in good condition before consigning them. Some consignment shops require an appointment when bringing in your items, and some are drop-in.

Sell Online, Nationally

Ebay

When it comes to buying and selling stuff online, Ebay has stood the test of time.

Ebay is a person-to-person online auction website. Sellers have the option to run an auction for a set number of days, or set a “buy it now” price.

Ebay is generally a secure site to buy and sell on, in part because of the feedback system. After every transaction, the buyer and seller can leave feedback for each other. The higher the feedback score, the more transactions the buyer or seller has successfully completed.

Pretty much anything can be sold on Ebay (with a few exceptions), but keep in mind that you’ll have to ship it yourself. Keep in mind that Ebay does charge fees for selling.

Etsy

There are three categories of items that can be sold on Etsy:

• Handmade goods
• Vintage items (20 years or older)
• Craft supplies

However, Etsy is perhaps best known as a great site for buying handmade/homemade goods.

If you have antiques or vintage items to sell, or if you are an artist/craft maker who has something to sell, check out Etsy. Etsy also charges fees for selling.

Poshmark

If you have high-quality or brand name clothes and accessories to sell, consider selling on Poshmark. Selling clothes can be difficult, in general, but on Poshmark, you’re reaching an audience that is specifically looking for clothes and accessories. Poshmark charges fees to sell.

ThredUp

ThredUp is another option for selling clothes and accessories. It’s advertised as the largest online consignment and thrift store. As the seller, you send your clothes to ThredUp using a Clean Out Kit they send you. Allowing a few weeks for processing, the accepted clothes will be listed and sold on the website – and you get a cut of the sale price. The rate is pretty low, but Thredup takes care of everything for you. Get more information here.

Decluttr

Decluttr is a great site to sell old phones and tech products, CDs, DVDs, games, books, and Legos. Get rid of tech clutter on Decluttr!

Selling Gift Cards

Do you have gift cards that you won’t use? Consider selling them. There are a number of websites that allow you to sell unwanted gift cards, usually for slightly less than the actual value of the gift card.

Sell Online, Locally

Craigslist

Whether you live in a big city or a small town, you can sell items on Craigslist. All sorts of things can be sold on Craigslist: Electronics, furniture, cars, collectibles, antiques, tickets, household items, and much more. Selling on Craigslist is free.

Facebook Marketplace

Many people are now using Facebook Marketplace instead of Craigslist, because it’s super easy to post, it allows you to see who is selling/buying (whereas Craigslist is totally anonymous), and it’s on a platform that a lot of people are already using (Facebook). Facebook online garage sales are also good for selling items in a particular geographic area. Search for online garage sales in your town or neighborhood. Selling on Facebook Marketplace or Facebook online garage sales is free.

Nextdoor App

The Nextdoor app is a social network that connects neighbors. In addition to allowing neighbors and community members to post announcements, lost dog alerts, and neighborhood happenings, it’s a great platform for selling a variety of items. Selling on Nextdoor is free.

LetGo

The LetGo app allows you to sell stuff locally. It’s an app-only platform, and is free to download and use.

Consider Donating

If your primary goal is to declutter your house – and not to make money – consider donating your stuff to a thrift shop or charity. Remember: Don’t forget to request a tax receipt.

Tips For Listing Items For Sale

A strong listing will help get your stuff sold. Here are some things to consider:

• Photography: Make sure your photos are clear and show the item. Post several photos from different angles, if necessary. Take photos in natural light.
• Keywords: If you’re selling online, make sure your listing describes the item you are selling. Many people search listings by keyword. Don’t overwhelm your listing with keywords – but make sure the most obvious ones are there.
• Dimensions: Unless it’s obvious, include dimensions or otherwise describe the size of the item you are selling.
• Price: I recommend setting a starting price at the high end of what you want to get for the item. You can always reduce the price, but you definitely can’t raise it!

Check out this Web Story on where to sell things you don’t want.

Items I Have Recently Sold

Over the past two months, I have sold $115.00 worth of stuff that I no longer wanted or needed. I have had a lot of luck lately selling things using the sites/methods listed above. Here are a few of them:

Wood bench: Sold for $15.00 on Facebook Marketplace

Various Fiestaware pieces: Sold for $80.00 on Craigslist

Small black bench: Sold for $20.00 on NextDoor

Now I want to hear from you: Where do you sell your used/unwanted stuff? Please share your ideas in the comments section, below.