Downsizing, and selling off house contents

jakem_2

I would like some advice as dont know the best way to go about this.

I am downsizing in the next couple of months and need to sell quite a lot of my furniture, ie light solid oak wall cabinet, sideboard, table and chairs, plus bedroom furniture, and garden stuff, ie plant pots, karcher, petrol strimmer, garden table and chairs.

I dont want to advertise it on Ebay, as cost a fortune in fees, so what is the best way to sell.
Do I advertise in the local paper, do I have an open house for the one day, or do I have st individual times for people who show an interest.
Has anyone did this, and was okay, or did it do your head in, I would like to hear from anyone who has sold thier contents like this and was it sucessful?

SailorSam

If you live on a main road maybe you could put a sign up to say 'house clearance sale next weekend'
I think you may have to end up giving lots away on Freecycle

summerof0763

try using gumtree

JodyBPM

Despite the fees, I think you will get more money for your stuff on ebay rather than anywhere else.

Is your main priority to get rid of the stuff, or to make as much money as possible?

If you just want rid, then a house sale followed by freecycling anything left over would probably be the way to go. For the most money, ebay probably is your best bet.

Second hand furniture is unlikely to get you much money, however good condition it is in and however much it cost you when new. But stuff like garden furniture, strimmer, gardening equipment etc should get a reasonable amount on ebay.

ilikewatch

JodyBPM wrote: »

Despite the fees, I think you will get more money for your stuff on ebay rather than anywhere else.

I quite agree, - some years ago my mum downsized and after trying to sell her things locally she eventually agreed to put her things on eBay. A Honda lawnmower which had been advertised at £200 in the local paper sold for over £350, and some oak furniture that had also been advertised in the local paper also sold for considerably more than it had been advertised at
A bonus was that some people who came to collect items that had been won on eBay offered to buy other items (which had not been listed) when they came to collect - thus completely avoiding the fees.

jakem_2

Thankyou so far for your replies

Jody, I want to make as much money and get rid, the Oak furniture is not that old, and it is really gorgeous stuff, and would break my heart to let it go too cheaply, I have always wanted light oak and took me years to get it, but now cause of having to sell the house I have to part with it.

ilikewatch, yes Ebay does seem the better option, I have sold bits and pieces on it before, but nothing on this scale, I have looked at the prices of the stuff I would be selling and new they are going for a very high amout, my stuff looks like new, not a mark on it.

I really need to think of the fees, as its not just Ebay, its paypal fees as well, and of course the more you sell it for the higher you pay, but I will take on board all what you all have said, and really think about how I am going to sell it.

Evansangel

Jakem, you can ask for Cash On Collection and that will avoid Paypal Fees

ilikewatch

jakem wrote: »

I really need to think of the fees, as its not just Ebay, its paypal fees as well, and of course the more you sell it for the higher you pay, but I will take on board all what you all have said, and really think about how I am going to sell it.

A word of advice - refuse to accept Paypal from anyone who collects in person, you leave yourself wide open to customers fraudulently obtaining refunds as you would be unable to supply proof of delivery :-)

Doozergirl

Put Cash on Collection for your items. I sell and buy a lot of furniture on eBay and it's totally normal for people to do the cash on collection thing - it is very unusual not to, in fact.

A lot of the time, you'll get messages asking if you have a "buy it now" price so the potential is there to sell to people without incurring any fees at all. I either set a Buy it Now price for things rather than a high starting price or if I know that something is worth quite a bit, I'll just set it at 99p, no reserve which really gets you a lot of watchers and has never failed to get me a good price for things. I wouldn't consider selling anywhere else.

newcook

Jakem - where about in the country are you?!!? I have recently moved and on the lookout for garden furniture!

Bloomin_Freezing2

I've just started using gumtree too, for selling and looking for the odd few bits to buy. It is free to list and you can have 9 photos.

What about your local paper? Most of ours are free to list items for sale unless you are asking over 50.00