Selling Online Vs A Garage Sale
With one of the greatest transfers of personal property in history underway, people have more stuff than ever to get rid of. Whether You've inherited things from parents or grandparents, or have just decided that your own stuff has got to go, you have more choices than before when it comes to disposing of them.
The big decision is whether you want to sell your items online via sites like eBay or Craigslist, or to have a big garage sale, here are a few guidelines to help you decide
Selling online requires some skills such as writing and photography in order to get top dollar. This not only makes buyers more willing to buy, but it brings items to buyers' attention faster. Otherwise online selling takes longer than selling locally. These items tend to do better online:
* Items with a global following instead of just a local one. Many collectibles fall into this category, with the more unique and higher-end items requiring the broadest possible marketplace in order to get a good price for it.
* High-priced items, especially if globally desirable. You tend to get more money for items sold online, especially in an auction format when buyers are competing with each other.
* Items that are small and easy to ship. Shipping costs are going through the roof, and buyers shy away from items that are expensive to ship. The exception is items that are rare and in high demand; buyers are more willing to pay up for shipping in these cases.
* Items that are in excellent condition with few or no faults, unless you can take EXCELLENT professional quality photos of the flaws. Online buyers are not forgiving when important features are not described and shown clearly. This takes some skill in both writing and photography.
A garage sale is the way to go if you have a lot of ordinary items that fall into the non-antique, non-collectible area. Here are some factors that make a local sale a better choice:
- When an item is contemporary and common, such as large and small household appliances, kitchenware, home decor items.
- Large and/or heavy items like furniture, or large power tools
- When you want to clear the place out quickly and you're not concerned about the money
- When an item has imperfections that a potential buyer would want to see before buying.
- If you enjoy the social aspects of a personal sale, meeting people and the interaction of selling.
- If you have the time and energy AND HELPERS to organize and hold a one- or two-day sale. Sometimes friends and neighbors are willing to pitch in and help you hold a multi-family sale which can help draw more buyers.
- If you have a lot of different types of items, for example a garage full of small and large hand tools, power tools, outdoor living items, gardening tools and equipment, etc. A local sale will clear out most of these things in just a couple of days.
