Tips for Re-Selling Items:
Sell what you know
The best way to get started with reselling is to look for things that you are already familiar with. For example, if you are an avid cyclist, you may want to start by buying and selling bicycles. As a cyclist, you should have a pretty good idea of what bicycles and parts are selling for, which gives you a leg up on your fellow yard sale shoppers.
Buy Low & Sell High
One of the first things you’ll want to look for are items that are underpriced. Now, most likely you will find many things that are underpriced at a yard sale, but not all of them will be worth picking up to resell. We recommend using mobile apps like Ebay or the Amazon Seller app to determine what the item is worth and if it selling online. If an item is underpriced but no one is buying it online, it may not be worth buying.
Clean & Fix Items
In order to get the best price for your items, you’ll want to make sure to present them in their best light and this means you’ll need to clean, scrub and fix your items.
#1. Online Auctions
Auction sites like Ebay & EstateSales.org give yard sale shoppers an easy-to-use online platform to sell yard sale items. The benefits of using an online auction include access to a wider pool of buyers from across the country and across the world….which can mean a higher sale price.
How it works: In order to sell on an online platform, you usually will have to create a user account first and then upload photos of your items, create a description of the item and then publish it to the platform. Once your item is live on the auction site, buyers will bid on your item until the auction ends. Once the auction ends, the buyer arranges to send over payment and you ship out the item to the winning bidder.
Best for: Some of the best items to sell online are antiques, one of kind items, collectibles, and jewelry. Selling your items online gives your items a larger network of buyers who are more likely to be collectors of your items and want your items.
#2. Consignment Shop
Designer clothing, shoes & accessories are the perfect items to resell to a consignment shop. Selling something on consignment means that you sell your item to a store and then get paid a portion of the profits and the shop owner keeps part of the profit for his role in the sale.
How it works: Once you find a local consignment shop, you’ll want to call ahead of time and see if they take items by appointment or walk-in. When you bring in your item, you can expect to fill out some paperwork. The shop will then display your item for sale in the shop and when it sells, you will get a call informing you that your item has sold and payment is ready to pick up.
Best for: In order to maximize your consignment sales, you’ll want to stick with designer & vintage clothing, shoes & accessories. These types of clothing have a cult-like following and tend to do very well at consignment shops.
#3. Sell it on Craigslist
Craigslist is a free online platform available to sellers interested in selling items. Each major city in the United States has a dedicated Craigslist page allowing users to sell items to others in their local area.
The nice thing about selling on Craigslist is that it free to do so. Plus you can easily and quickly sell the item to someone in your local area.
How it works: Visit your local Craigslist site (example: Austin.Craigslist.org) and navigate to the appropriate category. For example, if you are selling furniture, you will want to navigate the furniture section and then click on the “Post” link in the top right corner. From there you will enter the details of your item and upload photos and post your item for sale.
Best for: Items that are too large to sell online can be sold on Craiglist.
#4. Facebook Buy/Sell Groups
Ever since Facebook introduced Buy/Sell groups to its platform, peer-to-peer sales have skyrocketed. It’s been a great way for users to make some extra money with items they have around the house or found at yard sales.
How it works: You can usually find a handful of local buy/swap/sell groups on Facebook by searching for “your town” + “Buy/Sell”. Once you find some groups to join, you may have to ask permission to join. Once your invitation is accepted, you can starting selling items in the group.
Best for: Baby items, toys, clothing & lower priced items.
#5. Fix it up and use it
Need a new dresser? Find a dresser at a yard sale and fix it up to suit your taste and your home decor and voila, you have yourself a brand new dresser that you paid well below retail value for. Saving money is the same as making money..it’s money in your pocket.
Anytime you can find an item at a yard sale that you would have to pay retail price for, but you can get for below retail price, those savings will add up to more money in your pockets.
