What (And How) To Sell When Decluttering

Before you decide to sell something, make sure it’s worth your time to sell. Give yourself a minimum—I’ll only sell things I can make at least X amount of money off. Having a rule for yourself keeps you from spending precious time trying to sell things that you’ll only end up making pennies on.

Before you decide to sell:

When you are sorting through your “to sell” pile, make sure to inspect the condition of your items closely. Most likely, if it’s broken, damaged, or stained, it’s not worth taking the time to sell (though there are some exceptions with vintage items that might still be worth something, even if not in perfect condition).

Where to Sell:

• Facebook: While Facebook overall is not my favorite online space, I can’t quite quit because I love to buy and sell on there. Whether you post on marketplace or in a local buy/sell/trade group, it’s an easy way to sell locally with no middleman. You set the terms and you set how you are paid (cash, Venmo, etc). Of course, always keep safety in mind when selling to people you don’t know. Many police stations now offer selling meetup spots for higher dollar items.
• Poshmark: If you have excellent condition clothes, bags, or accessories to sell, Poshmark is a great way to give them a second life. You take photos, write a description, and post. Poshmark handles the payment and sends you a shipping label (with tracking). Print the label, package up your item, put it in the mail, and wait for the buyer to accept your item and your payment to be deposited in your Poshmark account (which can then be sent to your bank account, or used to shop on Poshmark).
• Consignment Stores & Sales: With consignment, you typically drop off at a store or a sale, and make a percentage of the sale. Stores tend to be a little picker about what they’ll accept, but will often handle pricing items for you (most require an appointment, so plan ahead). Sales are a little more work up front, as you often have to hang, price, and tag your own items before dropping them off, but are a good way to sell a lot of stuff at once. Each store and sale is a little different as far as what they accept, so it might take a little research to find the best fit for your items.

Pricing:

Don’t be too precious about your pricing. The money you initially spent on an item is already gone, and it’s unlikely you’ll make that amount back. If you want or need to make a little extra cash while you clear out some space, selling your stuff is a great way to do it, but it does take your time which is valuable—don’t forget to factor that in when you are deciding what to do.

Read more in my decluttering series here:

I Spent Good Money On That · What if I Need it Someday? · Getting Rid of Stuff: Emotional Attachments · 32 Days of Decluttering Kickoff · Clutter is a Thief · Clutter Makes it Hard to Find What You Need · The Container Rule · Decide Before You Start · The Pareto Principle · How to Sort When You Declutter · Where to Donate When You Declutter