Cash for Clutter

eBay used to dominate the online selling market, but nowadays you’re spoilt for choice on where to swap your clutter for cash. So, where are the best places to advertise and how can you make sure you’re getting the right price? Whether you’re moving house, redecorating or just trying to live more minimally, we’ve gathered together some of the best websites and ways to rehome your clutter at a profit.

Top places to sell

From sofas and desks to cars, pets and even rooms to rent, Gumtree has it all. Despite its broad appeal, it mainly specialises in selling second-hand items. Unlike eBay, people use Gumtree to look for items locally, so putting your postcode in the listing is paramount. It’s also best to start with a higher price, as most Gumtree buyers love to haggle. If you want your ad to get some extra attention, you can put some money behind it, but other than that Gumtree won’t charge you for selling. Paypal take a small cut, but to avoid this you can ask your buyer to pay by cash or bank transfer.

Shpock is a bit like your local car boot sale: cheap, local, and full of surprises. It’s your place to get rid of those smaller items that won’t get much attention on bigger sites like Gumtree or eBay, from cushions to children’s clothes and everything in between. That’s not to say you can’t sell bigger things on there too. It’s completely free to list, unless you want to promote an item. Shpock doesn’t get involved in the payment process either. Once a price has been negotiated, it’s up to the buyer and seller to reach an agreement about delivery and payment.

A must-download if you’re into vintage fashion, Depop is the place to sell your unwanted clothes, shoes and accessories. Think vintage, young, trendy and homemade – the quirkier, the better. Listing your items is free, but once an item sells, Depop will charge a 10% fee on the sale price (including the shipping costs). Then there’s also a small PayPal transaction fee to be aware of. However, selling items on Depop can fetch you a high price. With over 18 million users, it’s one of the most popular online marketplaces right now.

Local Facebook selling groups (search for Facebay + your area name) and Facebook Marketplace are hot on eBay’s heels. The best bit is there are no fees, so the profit’s all yours. Like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace is used to sell locally. This makes it perfect for selling larger items without worrying about shipping. Of course though, one of the most appealing parts of using Facebook Marketplace is that it’s a platform many of us are already familiar with. Keep up to date with friends and family, and clear some space in your house, all from one website!

Similar to Depop, but with a slightly older target audience, Vinted is a huge online marketplace for selling clothes, with millions of users. Unlike Depop, however, upmarket high street brands tend to do better. Bagged a popular Zara handbag that sold out within days? You can probably sell it for twice the price on Vinted! Even better – there are no fees for uploading or selling your items on Vinted either, so what you see is what you get.

Top tips for selling

Spend time taking good pictures

Photograph your items in a well-lit area of your house or garden, and from multiple angles. It’s also a good idea to get photos of any defects, so as not to waste your – or anyone else’s – time.

The more descriptive, the better

Pad out your listing with as much information as you can, including dimensions, condition and your reason for selling.

Be honest

An item doesn’t need to be in perfect condition to get attention online, but it’s important to be honest from the get-go. Reviews are key to building your online selling profile, so avoid the temptation to skim over any defects in your listing.

Think seasonally

Certain items, like garden furniture, will fetch a higher price in the summer, while warm woolly jumpers and Christmas decorations will naturally do better in the winter. Sometimes it’s worth keeping something in the loft a little longer to earn that extra cash.