25 Jan

How to Make Extra Money on eBay

If you’re like me, your home is probably full of things that you haven’t used in ages, but don’t have the heart to bin or give away. Whether it’s a porcelain figurine or a logo-covered handbag that you never carry anymore, you could turn your old things into cold, hard cash. All you need to do is sign up for eBay!

Although the site might seem intimidating, they make it easy and fairly idiot-proof to sell online. I’ve successfully sold things ranging from a pricey pair of jeans that no longer fit to a Waterford picture frame that didn’t suit my décor.

Start out by taking a look at your wardrobe and other areas of your home and decide what you could sell. Designer handbags and clothing are always popular on eBay; just make sure they’re in good condition. If you have collectables such as vintage games/toys, collectable figurines, royal family memorabilia or comics, even better. Old books are great eBay finds, although don’t expect to make loads of money unless it’s a valuable vintage book or first-edition. You can even sell household tools, appliances or your old mobile phone (as long as they’re working properly). Browse through the site to get some ideas if you’re wondering whether something is worth listing.

No matter what you’re selling, the most important bit is to do your research and find out how much the item is worth before listing them to sell. You don’t want to find out that the childhood toy you sold for £50 is actually worth £300! Looking at similar listings also helps give you an idea of how to present your item in terms of photos and descriptions.

When you’ve decided what you’re going to sell, take clear, quality photos of each item on a clutter-free background (a solid wall or even a white sheet laid over your sofa works). Once your photos are ready, it’s time to get started on the site.

Head to ebay.co.uk and go through the “selling basics” area of the site to learn more about listing your items. Once you’ve read up, register for an eBay account if you don’t already have one, and click on the “sell an item” link. You’ll be walked through the simple process of listing your item, including writing up a description, uploading the photo, and deciding on a minimum price. Be realistic when setting your price, and keep in mind that most products are unlikely to start a bidding war.

Once your auction is over and you have a winning bidder, eBay will provide you with their contact information; send them an invoice through the site, and once their payment comes through, go ahead and ship out their purchase. That’s about it – now you’ll have extra cash in your pocket and a cleaner house. Win-win!