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Save and Make Money at Home – And Spring Clean at the
Same Time!

A home is much easier to clean and keep clean after it has been de-cluttered. What better way to beat the credit crunch and keep your home in shape than by selling those no-longer-used items?

Not sure that you have anything to sell? You would be surprised! People who doubt usually fall into one of three categories.

1. I do not have anything that anyone else would want to buy.
Do not talk yourself out of a sale too fast. It is amazing what people purchase and sell, both online and off. In addition to odd things (like’s EBay’s famous Ghost in a Jar!), people will also purchase odd, but useful items such as broken objects that can be used for parts.

2. I do not have anything that I can get rid of.
Unless you have amazing dedication to living clutter free, this is unlikely to be true. The first place that most people can find items to sell is on their bookshelf and in their closet. Here’s a trick for getting rid of objects that you worry you may actually use – put the items in a cardboard box for an extended period of time and only take them out if you are going to actually use them. At the end of a month, or a year, or how ever long you need, look through the box and decide which items to sell. Make it easier by giving yourself permission to repurchase the item new should you ever need it.

3. I do not have time to sell.
This may be true. Selling unwanted items is a great way to make some extra money, but it is unlikely to make you rich. You may decide that it is not worth your effort and that you should simply donate the items to charity instead. However, selling unwanted items is much easier than you think. Registering with a online auction takes just a few moments and the site will usually provide you with automatic notifications sent right to your email.

Instead of selling, you can sell items online using online auction sites. Some of these sites are general, while others are particular to specific items. For example, there are sites only for kitchenware, sites only for books, and sites only for spots equipment.

You should choose the site that you list with based on its terms, but also with consideration of the likelihood of a sale. For example, the site with the lowest commission may be appealing, but if your item is going to sell for twice as much on a more popular site, than paying a higher commission may be very worthwhile.

Here are some expert tips on how to get the best price for your goods:

- Include a picture.
People will rarely bid on items that do not include a picture and it is easy to take a good one. Using a digital camera, take one image of each item. To get a professional look, place a plain white sheet over a hard surface like a chair and place the item in the centre.

- Include a selling description.
Your description should accurately describe the item, but it should also sell. The best way to get someone to desire something is to help them situate the item in their life. It is simple, but effective. For example, instead of saying, “In addition to being a great read, this leather bound book looks beautiful on the shelf”, say “this leather bound book will look beautiful on your shelf”

- Include a value.
Some auctions allow you to set a minimum price, but you may also want to include a value in your description. Some people may hesitate, because they hope the auction value will go even above what the item is really worth. That rarely happens. Instead, include a value, whether it is the current or the purchase price, to let people know that they can get a real good deal here. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as for antiques and collectibles, but for most used household goods, a value can keep the bidding on track.

- Re-list.
If your item does not sell the first time, do not get discouraged. The right buyer may still be out there; they just have not found your item yet. As long as your item is in desirable condition and is reasonably priced, the Internet is likely to connect you to a buyer.

Now the only thing left to do is sort through your belongings and decide which items would be better off as profit!