Tips for Selling Items for Top $

As a professional organizer I have sold 1000s of items for clients over the years. I’ve gained some valuable experience for getting top dollar for items. Read Where to sell your stuff to learn the best place to sell your items. Then follow the tips below for safe and effective selling. I’d love to learn you tips and ideas too! Please comment below. Thanks!!

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1.   Sell a clean item

Make sure the item is spotless. If possible do touch-ups, remove stains, wash it, iron it, Fabreze it, etc. The better it presents the more likely it is to sell. For outdoor items, a pressure washer is your best friend. Some of my favorite products are OxyClean, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, Murphy’s Oil Soap, Furniture Repair Markers, and Restor-a-Finish & Citrus Shield.  You can read about Restoring and Cleaning Wood.

2.   Price to sell

We tend to think our things are worth more than they actually are for a couple of reasons. First, we know how much we paid for it new and second, we may be sentimentally attached to the item. Get over it. Research the price by comparing other items for sale, check out e-Bay to see a selling price, or price it at 25% of the original price if it is in excellent condition or 20% if it is in good condition. Sometimes you’ll sell something that is almost new and then it may sell for close to 40% of the original cost. For example, we recently sold a child’s kayak that had been used a handful of times. I found the exact one on Walmart.com for $79 for the kayak and paddle. On Facebook, I listed it along with a few photos for $35. It sold within hours for $35. When listing I usually say something like “$79 new / selling $35.”

3. Take multiple photos in bright light

Take good, clear, bright photos of your items from multiple angles. Natural daylight is the best option. Open the blinds and let the sunshine in. Declutter around the item you are photographing. Take photos of unique details and even blemishes. I try to add a professional photo from another source if possible.

4. Take measurements

Measure furniture and any larger items. Potential buyers want to be sure it will fit before making the drive to your house. Sometimes the manufacturer’s description will have all the details. Other times you’ll need to measure yourself.

 5. Write a great description

Include brand names in your listing. If it’s an item that is still available in stores, I use keywords from the manufacturer’s description and provide a link for them to learn more. This helps people know the price for new and what a great deal it is buying it used. Other words to use “excellent condition, barely used, new with tags, smoke-free home, pet-free home.”

6. Be upfront about the condition

Let potential buyers know if there are scratches, stains, mars, or if it is broken in any way. Do this through words and/or photos. I usually get a little personal telling them why I am selling an item (kids outgrew it, changing styles, moving and can’t take it, downsizing) so that people understand that there is nothing wrong with the item. People don’t want to drive all the way to your location just to find out it’s not in the condition you say it is.

7.  Post unrelated items separately

It’s ok to post a bunch of children’s clothes and toys in one post, or yard tools, or books/DVDs. But, don’t post unrelated items in the same post. You would never post toys and yard tools in one post. You can use hashtags too! Some Facebook people search for items and the # helps find those items. People are usually looking for specific items and will not take the time to scroll through a long list of items or photos for sale.

8. Cash only

Add this to every post. I also make sure I have change for a $20 and $10. If I list an item for $25 someone will come with two $20s and expect me to sell it to them for $20, not $25. So have change on hand. I will do Venmo or Zelle with neighbors and people I know. I also post the price a little more than I’m willing to take because people love to haggle.

9. Post details on Social Media

I tend to post on my neighborhood and church Facebook or Nextdoor pages before going to the whole community. I feel safer doing this, usually know the people, and get the full asking price. Then the next day I go to community posts like local Facebook groups (for me it’s Huntersville Free Online Yardsale). You can find a group by typing in the search field: yardsale + your county or city name. Request to join. Once you’re approved you may begin posting. Before posting on any selling platform read through their rules. Where to sell your stuff

One tricky thing about Facebook. If you are not “friends” with the person messaging you their message will go the “message request” folder and you will not receive a notice from Facebook. This is why people say “I just messaged you”.  If you don’t check that folder, you’ll likely miss out on an immediate sale.

I’m not crazy about Craigslist so it’s my last resort but I do use it often for clients. I usually request that people text me not email.

I have use LetGo for clients but not personally mainly because I live a little rural and feel it works better in trendy/young areas. It’s super easy because it does auto recognition on your photos and tags and titles your stuff for you. (There are apps for all of these! So you can just add photos from your phone.)

10. Keep posts visual

There are ways to keep your listings at the top of the page. On Craigslist, you can manually refresh daily by going to your listing and clicking refresh.

On Facebook, your listing is pulled back to the top of the feed when a comment is made. You can help “bump” your listing to the top by answering questions, adding additional photos. Some people like to say “bump” or add a “.” in comments to get their ad back at the top. I have not done this as my items tend to sell quickly.

11. For safety bring the item to your porch or driveway

I feel uncomfortable going into someone’s home and uncomfortable having someone come into my home. That’s why I place smaller items on the porch and larger items near the garage or sometimes in the garage. I do this right before the scheduled pickup time. I don’t give out my address until a pick-up time is arranged. I rarely will meet someone to sell an item. But if you do make sure it’s in a very public place.

12. It’s not sold until you have money in your hand

Many people will sound very enthusiastic and will set up a time to pay for and pick up an item. I’m sure they have good intentions but an item isn’t sold until you have money in your hand. If you set up an appointment and they miss it go to the next person in line immediately. After setting up a time, I text/message the next person in line something like “Someone is looking at it at 4 pm. I’ll let you know by 5 pm if it has sold.” It tells the first person you will move on immediately if they are a no show and lets the next people know it may still be available. I have heard all kinds of fantastic excuses for why people don’t show up and I don’t care … I just move on.

Following these tips you’ll have better luck selling your items and for more cash. I’d love to know your tips about how and where to sell items. Pleae comment below. Thanks.