Enough is enough - the great declutter

missyg_3

Hi Zebedy

I don't think it's cheeky at all, in fact I think it's a little cheeky that your mum's neighbour hasn't offered to split the profits in the first place.

Ebay does take time, and it can certainly add up to the equivalent of several whole working days for you, whereas the person whose stuff it is, just gives it to you and sits back doing nothing!

I think 50% (after all fees) is a fair price for you doing the hard part. 10% is much too low for the effort involved (unless they have REALLY valuable stuff! Hehe!). Or I'd negotiate a return favour, for me this might be helping out with some decorating.

When doing stuff for other people I'd consider setting up a separate ebay account in their name (even if you do all the running of it), so that your feedback isn't at risk, say, if they misdescribed something and you end up with a dispute on your hands.

Let us know how you get on!

missyg_3

I can see I'm never going to make it as a professional declutterer with you lot undercutting my rate

pigpen

missyg wrote: »

I can see I'm never going to make it as a professional declutterer with you lot undercutting my rate

Sorry lol.. you can be a statistic while we are coining it in decluttering peoples hovels.. lol

I usually only list stuff for family.. when I did take 10% and my college tutor when I took 20%

Clutterfree

pigpen wrote: »

The sofa from the other day is being unearthed this afternoon and freecycled.. incentive to sort through this back room.. I am determined to have no furniture left!!! lol I will watch ebay for a local to pick up dining table and chairs to replace it.. I am demanding floor space!

I bet your children daren't sit still for too long PP for fear of being Freecycled! :rotfl:

pigpen

They run when I get the camera out as they think they are going on ebay lol

Clutterfree

zebedy wrote: »

Hi,

I have helped my mum declutter (as I love decluttering) and have got rid of her junk by ebaying, selling books on Green Metropolis, and freecycling to try and keep from throwing things away. She is really pleased to have more space and i made her a couple of hundred pounds (setting up ebay seller account and paypal etc would be beyond her).

Her neighbour (and family friend) has now asked if i can help her too. I'd be really happy to and would do the physical decluttering for free but as the selling on ebay and being in for freecycle pick-ups etc takes a bit of time. I am tempted to ask for 10% of the money she makes (ie. money gained, take off ebay fees, p&p etc and the remainder is her profit but i would get 10% of that profit).

Do you think it is cheeky to ask for this - I'd really like your thoughts. If I do and she is happy I can ask Mum and her to recommend me to other friends and make a bit of money on the side doing something i enjoy.

It would have to be firends and friends of friends really as there is an element of trust involved. I will be taking their junk away and they will trust me that I am getting the best amount i reasonably can for it and being honest in telling them "this is how much you've made..., so my cut is...."

Mum said i was good at helping her to part with some things but understanding enough to let her keep others for sentimental value etc. So not as brutal as those TV programmes but still freeing up lots of space.

All thoughts welcome

Hi Zebedy,
I also don't think 10% is enough to ask.
I know you didn't charge your Mum but say you did, at 10% you'd have made £20. Now how long in hours did it take you to declutter, list and post all the items?
Even if it was only 4 hours (and I am sure it was MUCH more than that!) then you would have be getting just £5 an hour.
You are providing a service, albeit doing something you love, but don't sell yourself short.
It may also be worthwhile saying X% of sales but with a minimum of £X, just to cover yourself in case it is a load of rubbish as then you'd get nothing. You could also have a maximum of £X if it makes you feel better and they won't think you are ripping them off if you discovered a Ming vase!
Good luck and go for it! :T

missyg_3

Or how about a set fee per 50 items listed plus 10% of profits?

bails

pigpen wrote: »

I have a 1 + 2+ 3 seater int he front room.

the back room has the bunnies, the pc a tumble dryer and a 3 seater sofa in it.. that looks like this... ALL the time!!!



I would like a table and chairs in here..

The children sit on the arms of the sofa to watch films on the pc.. but they would be better on dining chairs.. or bean bags.. or anything..

Pigpen, thankyou for posting this, you've made my (rather miserable) day! I'm glad I'm not the only one with areas in a piggle (I know that's the point of this thread but hard photographic evidence definitely helps)

bails

Zebedy, you would be my new best friend if you lived close enough to come and delcutter my stuff *goes off to check Zebedy's location* Darn not close enough, I guess I'll have to do it myself :doh: Definitely take the others' advice and charge more, it's a lot of hard work even if you enjoy the decluttering - I'd certainly expect to pay more than 10% if I got someone to do it (now who can I ask? Missy, fancy a hol in Bath?;))
ROFLing at the thought of Ebaying your own kids PP!

zebedy

thanks for all your suggestions.
I think what i'll do for my Mum's neighbour is say I'll help her declutter etc for 20% of her "takings". (she's been very good to me in the past and has passed on clothes etc and her daughter is my best friend) so I don't want to ask much.

If it's successful (I've only decluttered family before) then I'll have a re-think before going on to do anyone else's decluttering but i like the idea of flat fee of £XX plus XX% of takings.

maybe it'll take off