Looking for ways to give your wallet an extra boost to help cover the expenses that come with the festive season? One option you may want to consider is selling unwanted items on sites such as Gumtree, eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
If you have a look around your home or clean out the garage you’re bound to find a few things you can list for sale. According to Gumtree’s 2020 Second Hand Economy Report, 85% of Aussies have unwanted items in their home to sell with around 19 pre-loved or unused items per household.
So what items are most in demand? Gumtree provided Canstar with the 10 items most searched for in October and an estimate of how much you may be able to get for them. They are:
1. Boat: $2,000 (Runabout boat)
2. Mountain bike: $300
3. Ride on mower: $1,500
4. Caravan: $30,000
5. Surfboard: $250
6. Kayak: $400
7. Fridge: $250
8. Dining table: $50
9. Lego: $50
10. Outdoor furniture: $300
Even if you don’t have anything on this top 10 list you want to get rid of there is no shortage of goodies you can sell. Think home decor items, appliances, textbooks, sporting equipment, gardening tools and electronic goods to name a few.
Tips for selling on Gumtree
If you are thinking about trying to make some extra cash by selling items on Gumtree you may want to consider these tips from the team at Gumtree.
Be descriptive
Describe the product you’re selling, including its features, a brief history and reasons for selling the item. The more information you provide, the more likely you are to make a sale at the price you’re looking for.
Interact with your buyers
If you want to increase your chances of selling an item, make sure you respond promptly to messages from potential buyers and offer some personality. Make sure you turn your notifications on through the Gumtree app to avoid missing any messages.
Trade safely
When exchanging an item, meet in a neutral place or make sure you have a friend or family member with you. If you would prefer not to meet up, you can add the ‘Contactless Trade’ badge on your listing as a signal to the community that you are following COVID-19 safety precautions and would consider leaving items in an accessible area to exchange or use delivery via Sendle.
Think ahead
When you buy a new item, think about its second life there and then. Protect the item and preserve the original packaging and receipt, in order to potentially re-sell later. This can add huge value at resale time.
List what’s in demand
Think about the items that are in the most demand, whether that be based on seasons or a particular time period.
Package deals
To sell big, think like a retailer. If you’re selling a gaming console, consider throwing in some games, and accessories to seal the deal.
Negotiate on your terms
It’s important to remember that you are selling the item and ultimately have the power to decide on the final price. Don’t offer the lowest price first – control the speed of the negotiation. A good way to do that is to explain why it is worth the amount you have listed before reducing the price. If you aren’t happy with the price someone is offering, it is okay to say no. You can always pause or edit your listing to make the description more detailed and wait for another offer.
Think like a buyer
If you were looking for this item, what would you search? Include those keywords and add your item to the right category to help people find it.
Style the photo
Make sure you take the photo with a blank background or wall to shoot against. Ensure you have natural lighting or use the edit functions on your device to add some extra light.
Cover image source: megerka_megerka (Shutterstock)
This article was reviewed by Editorial Campaigns Manager Maria Bekiaris before it was published as part of our fact-checking process.
The comparison table below shows some of the Savings Accounts on Canstar’s database for a regular saver in NSW with links to the providers’ websites. The results shown are based on an investment of $100,000 in a personal savings account and are sorted by Star Rating (highest to lowest), then provider name (alphabetically). For more information and to confirm whether a particular product will be suitable for you, check upfront with your provider and read the Product Disclosure Statement before making a decision.
About Effie Zahos
Canstar’s Editor-at-Large, Effie Zahos, has more than two decades of experience helping Aussies make the most of their money. Prior to joining Canstar, Effie was the editor of Money Magazine, having helped establish it in 1999. She is an author and one of Australia’s leading personal finance commentators, appearing regularly on TV and radio.
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