We all have those things sitting in our home that are too good to throw out – but that we never thought someone would pay for. We leave them there, languishing in a cupboard, even though we never use them, even though we spent money on them, and even though somebody else might want them.
Surprisingly, a lot of the things sitting in your home can prove highly popular when you sell them online, especially when they’re reasonably priced. Think of the old saying, ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure’.
There is a much bigger market than you might think for secondhand goods. While they may not sell for the original price you bought them for, they can definitely rake in a bit of extra cash.
Before you decide to declutter your home or throw out all the ‘useless’ things you have lying around, check out our list of 9 surprising items inside your home that people will pay for.
1. Pre-loved clothes and vintage fashion
Most of us have at least half a dozen things that we rarely wear or, in some cases, don’t wear at all. Maybe it’s the capri jeans that you no longer fit into, or the adorable summer dress that you only wore once or twice.
Rather than letting them clutter up your wardrobe, why don’t you see what you can get for them online?
The process doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming.
Take the example of the baseball jean jacket below. It may not reflect the typical style of the seller – but for a sporty type, it’s the perfect find!
Designer labels and well-kept pieces will always do particularly well, so use this guide to make selling preloved clothing work for you
No matter what you have in your wardrobe, someone else is bound to want it.
2. Health and beauty products
Have you ever been the unhappy recipient of a gift of body lotion or perfume that completely wasn’t your style? A well-meaning family member or friend may have spent a lot of money on it so you accept it through gritted teeth, knowing you’ll never use it and resenting that they didn’t just give you cash.
Well, you don’t have to let it go to waste, and you can still turn it into cash by selling it online!
Many online shoppers look for new or barely used perfumes, bodycare and skincare products because they are typically much cheaper than they are in the shops.
There is even a market for niche items such as bath bombs and hair styling tools.
3. Indoor and outdoor furniture
Surprisingly, furniture is easier to sell than most items as it tends to last longer, and even if it’s been used before, it still looks great if it has been well-maintained.
Take, for instance, someone who may have used a two-seater leather sofa for a few years. They may be ready to upgrade to a bigger model, but they have kept the sofa looking great with leather polish and conditioning cream.
While it’s used, the sofa is still likely to be considered high-quality and, as a bonus, will be much cheaper online than it would be in a furniture store!
Look at your furniture through someone else’s eyes. If your tastes have changed or you’ve updated your decor, your former lounge chair, dining room table, bedside table or coffee table could be exactly what someone else is looking for.
You can even sell tools for DIY or clothes hangers!
4. Gadgets, cables and electronics
While some people may prefer to shop brand-new for electronics and gadgets, plenty of others like to look online for a lower price to get their technological toys.
From iPads to MacBooks; Nintendos to Nixons; speakers to drones, you can sell nearly any electronic item that you have lying around. They might want it for a stage prop, a toy for their kids, you’ll never know if someone is looking specifically for that old gizmo you have.
Provided it functions well and you set a fair price, they’ll get snapped up before you can say ‘go go gadget’. Bonus points if they are a vintage or a discontinued model (like the iPod below).
Keep in mind that the customer may have technical questions and pre-empt some of them by providing a detailed, thorough list of specifications.
5. Antique ceramics and porcelain
Do you have a dusty old high tea set that your grandmother left behind, or a decorative figurine that you suspect may be worth quite a few hundred dollars?
Do your research – you can often even do this online – and turn it into pocket money.
There is a huge group of people dedicated to scouring the internet for antique pottery, porcelain, figures and vases.
Just make sure you know exactly what you are selling. If you feel you have a legitimately rare and precious antique, get a professional to appraise it and give you a final valuation before you sell it.
There has been a huge upsurge in interest in vintage items in recent years. The big boom of hipsters has made old things trendy again, and thanks to fashion trends, your antique items can now earn you a big buck, as long as they are verifiable.
6. Video games and gaming consoles
Looking to clear out space in your games cabinet for new ones? An avid group of gamers are waiting to snap up your used video games online, particularly old or limited-release ones that are now difficult to find.
According to many, video games never go out of style, which means that you can be almost 100% sure that your old video games will sell.
Take, for example, those old-school Nintendo Entertainment System game cartridges which have enjoyed a renaissance on the secondhand market in recent years.
Just remember to use words like ‘retro’ rather than ‘used’ in the description to make your items seem more attractive, and if they are in pristine condition and include an equally undamaged box, be sure to mention that (as well as post clear photos like the seller below)!
7. Books and office stationery
Shoppers who like to read love used books. They’re cheap, you can find titles that are no longer available in bookstores, and environmentally, it’s a considerate choice!
If you have read some of your books too many times to be counted and want to make some space on your bookshelves for new titles, you can bet your bottom dollar that your used books can make you some money.
You can expect to make the best money if you have special editions, signed copies or difficult-to-find books in your collection. There are many book collectors out there who are on the hunt to complete their library.
You may not always realise when you have a valuable book in your possession, so before making a choice to pass on your books or take them to a charity bin, have a look at the name and the author on the jacket to ensure that you aren’t throwing away something that can make you some money.
Unused office stationery can also do well online. Take, for example, the travel journal in mint condition being advertised in the screenshot below. Some people really love collecting stationery!
8. Design and craft items
Whether you are a professional artist or you like to create things with your hands but have never thought seriously about selling your crafts, you may be pleased to learn that there are buyers for your work.
If you have talent, someone else on a website such as Carousell may be highly interested in buying what you have to offer.
Think about it this way: it’s an original, they get to chat to the creator, and they may just get drawn in by the colours or the subject of your composition.
Whatever it is, people’s taste is eclectic, and you may be much better at design, art and crafts than you realise.
Clear up your home now
Never underestimate the value of the everyday items just lying around your home.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: one man’s trash really is another man’s treasure.
Spend a quiet weekend at home grouping together all your unwanted things, snap a pic, and list them online!
It really is that simple.
