RoxanneIt seems like most of us could use more money nowadays. And even though evictions were put on hold, stimulus checks were distributed, unemployment benefits went out, and child tax credit payments hit bank accounts, we may still need more to meet our monthly expenses.
Where can you get that extra cash to get your finances in order? From sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, as both make it easy to sell your stuff to eager buyers.
Here are some tips to get started with selling on those sites. You can follow them to make cash in a pinch for an emergency, or turn online selling into a side hustle or a full-time, work-from-home job.
Why You Should Sell Items on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace
Can you sell stuff on eBay or similar sites? Sure, but eBay can take a chunk of your profits, and having to ship items can be costly and time-consuming. That’s why if you want hassle-free online selling, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are your best bets.
While you can ship items to sellers across the country on Facebook Marketplace, we’ll discuss it and Craigslist in terms of local transactions. In other words, you can list an item today and have someone pick it up with cash in hand within 24 hours, so there’s no shipping or waiting involved.
The Best Items to Sell
Provided it’s legal, there’s hardly a limit on what you can sell online. What sells the most, though? Here are some of the hottest items per e-commerce experts:
- Cars – It’s a sellers’ market for cars right now. If you have a second vehicle you barely use, sell it online for top dollar.
- Furniture – Make room in your home by selling your used furniture to new locals or college kids.
- Laptops – As the pandemic shifts people into working from home, the demand for laptops is high.
- Jewelry – Online shoppers love browsing for jewelry as gifts or collectibles.
- TVs – More people are entertaining themselves at home, which has caused a surge in television demand.
- Clothing – If you have handbags, accessories, or sneakers you never use, younger people tend to snatch them up quite quickly.
- Secondhand baby items – Babies won’t need a stroller or crib forever, which is why many parents like to buy them used off of sites such as Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.
- Outdoor supplies – It’s easy to social distance when camping and cheap compared to other vacations. As such, these supplies have skyrocketed in popularity.
- Collectibles – Do you have rare items collecting dust? Chances are, they could sell for a pretty penny online.
How to See Success When Selling Online
When listing an item, take several pictures and include a detailed description filled with keywords, such as what it is, the brand name, size, etc. If used, the price should be half of what the item costs at the store.
Since you’ll probably meet buyers in person when selling on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, always try to do so at a police station for safety. And instead of holding items for buyers, sell to the first person who shows up with the cash. Doing so will keep you from losing out on sales.
