We all face too much clutter in our homes. As time goes on we accumulate more things, but were hesitant to part with any of the old stuff. Before you know it there are boxes of junk stacked up in your basement, garage, and/or attic and you have no idea what to do with it all.
While one option would be to simply throw it all away, this isnt your best option. Wouldnt it be better if you could get a little cash for some of it, and learn about eCommerce and online sales in the process? Then youd have some extra money to take a trip or even fund your business. With that in mind, here are 6 things you can likely find in your home that you should sell.
Old Clothes
As we grow older, or our tastes change, or we start to live in a different climate, the clothing we want to wear changes too. This means that you likely have some old clothing stored somewhere in the back of your closet, or at the bottom of a drawer. If any of these clothing items are still in good shape you can likely get some money for them. This will work better on more expensive items such as suits, dresses, etc. rather than things like your old t-shirts or that ripped pair of jeans. Gather together everything you no longer wear, then either start listing them online for sale or consider hosting a garage sale.
Old Electronics
Another thing we all seem to have a lot of is old electronics. As the times change, so too do the electronics we use. Something that was cutting edge a few years ago is now out of date. However, this doesnt make it worthless. You can often find buyers for your old electronics, especially if they are still working. Things like old televisions, video game systems, computers, cameras, and multimedia devices can all be sold, sometimes even if they dont work any longer. Find some things you no longer need, then do a search online for a similar item. This will give you a rough idea as to whether or not you can sell it, and for how much.
Your Extra Car
Do you have an old car just taking up space in your driveway? Why not try to get some money for it? Some people hold onto their old cars, thinking that one day theyll fix them up, or not wanting to deal with the hassle of trying to sell a junk car. If this sounds like you, its time to just get it done with already. Even if your car is in bad shape, you can easily look up “junk my car for cash” online and find some places nearby to sell it. In the end youll have cash in hand, and that old, beaten down car out of your driveway.
Extra Furniture
Sometimes when we upgrade to new furniture, we dont know what to do with the old pieces. We say that well sell it one day, or find another use for it, but we never do. So now its just sitting in your garage gathering dust. If so, now is the time to sell it. Take it out, dust it off, and take some pictures of it. Then post these pictures online along with your asking price. People are always in need of solid furniture at a discount, and you might as well get some money for it rather than having it just sit in your home taking up space.
Books
Books are another item that we tend to collect a lot, until we ultimately run out of room. If your bookshelf is full, and you need to clear some space, consider selling your books. There are places online where you can sell your used books, or you can contact local book stores to see if they are interested. If you find that youre not getting much for your books, your best bet may be to just donate them, and youll at least have your space back.
Old Toys
Finally, for those of you with kids, you might want to consider selling their old toys. As kids grow older they grow out of the toys they once loved, but this doesnt mean someone else wont want them. Go through all of your kids toys, and see which ones they no longer want, and which ones are still in good shape. Youd be surprised at how many people in your area are willing to buy toys at a discount, provided they are clean and in good shape.
You’ll learn a great deal about ecommerce, shipping, and customer service by selling your items online on Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Etsy, and Craigslist. Use the proceeds to invest in your business, pay off any outstanding debts you have, put it towards your 401K / IRA, or into your mortgage.