After looking around your house and deciding what you don’t need, you might be tempted to go through every room with a black bin liner and get rid of everything that isn’t nailed to the floor.

After an indulgent holiday season, struggling to find space for the new toys and gifts that you have acquired provides the perfect opportunity to check of each room in your house and commit to selling, donating or gifting anything that’s no longer useful or brings you joy.

Whether or not you are inspired to declutter your life, it may interest you to know that if you do, you could make some money. 

Some of the best ways to advertise and sell your unwanted goods are to join specific secondhand groups on Facebook that are for buyers and sellers close to you – this provides you with a group of buyers in your area. Other online marketplaces include:

• Gumtree
• Facebook Marketplace
• BidorBuy
• Cash Crusaders
• Letgo 

Once you’ve looked at the various options available, here are 5 things you should consider before posting your ad. 

1. Consider who may want to buy your items

What kind of person would want to buy what you are selling? Think about how best to write your ad and what details to include.

2. Take lots of photos

Take pictures of the items from all angles so that people can clearly see what it looks like. Take the photos when the lighting is good, and remember that the higher the quality of the images, the more likely a potential buyer will click on it to find out more.

3. Check your ad for mistakes

Don’t post ads with mistakes or incorrect details like measurements. Carefully read through your ad before posting.

4. Do your research

Check other ads that are selling similar products. What drew your attention to the ad, or what put you off? Ensure that your ad stands out from the crowd. Do this by using great photos, clear descriptions and a reasonable price for the product.

5. Safety first

Remember, you are probably going to be selling to a total stranger, so arrange to meet in a safe, public space and bring a friend along. If the product is too large and the potential buyer needs to meet at your home, ensure there are others in the house at the time. Also, call the buyer beforehand to confirm the phone number is legitimate. If you feel uneasy, then trust your gut, cancel and find another buyer. 

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