How to sell the things you don’t want online

The average household can make up to $5800 by selling products they no longer use or want to replace. Here’s how to do it.

With garage and rummage sales becoming a thing of the past, digital marketplaces have become the new mecca for unwanted household items.

In a world where one person’s trash is another’s treasure, it pays to move with the times, especially when it saves you a trip to the tip and puts some extra cash in your pocket.

Whether it’s Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree or eBay, using these platforms has advantages for both buyers and sellers.

From furniture, clothes, cars and books to rental properties, online marketplaces have created a one-stop shop for sellers to move on from unwanted birthday candles – or that doughnut maker you’ve never used. For some of us, delving into these platforms can be terrifying, but Finder senior shopping writer Lauren Chaplin says selling items online is completely safe provided you take the necessary steps to protect yourself – and according to Gumtree – the average household can make up to $5800 by selling products they no longer use or want to replace. “When posting a listing, make sure you don’t include details like your home address, vehicle license plates, personal phone number or photos identifying you or your family members,” she says.

“It can also be worth using PayPal instead of a bank transfer so you’re not giving out your bank details.”

For those who don’t know where to start, Lauren says being honest in a product description will boost your credibility as a seller.

She says Gumtree data shows that the most sought after second-hand items online are outdoorsy products like caravans, mountain bikes and surfboards.

“Furniture and whitegoods are also popular, along with items like Lego, iPhones and treadmills.”

For a buyer, Lauren says it’s worth shopping around.

“Always shop around to see if you’re getting the best deal. There may be a similar item available closer to where you live, or being offered for a lesser price.”

“If you’re buying second-hand items online, make sure to always ask the seller why they’re selling the item in the first place – an ideal response is that it was an unwanted gift or is being replaced.”

“If possible, ask whether you can test the item out or view it in person before purchasing. This is especially important for things like cars, TVs or coffee machines.”

Marketing and trends expert Bond University Adjunct Professor Stephen Holden says the appeal of online marketplaces is that they are simple to navigate and benefit both the buyer and seller. “The real value of these platforms is that it replaces car boot sales and all those sorts of things, it’s modernised,” he says.

“Exactly as bricks and mortar retailing has moved online so has car boot sales, it’s technology facilitating a market and exchange between a buyer and seller.”

He says garage sales seem to be a thing of the past, having had a neighbour who recently held a garage sale and only had two people show up.

“My sense is that, just like garage sale devotees, there are people that seem to be actively using these sites for trading, they buy, jazz it up and resell it, I think it’s a pastime.”

Daniella Busk with some of the items she sells on Facebook Marketplace as part of her business The Chalk House. Picture: Steve Pohlner

For Brisbane woman Daniella Busk, she has created a second income stream through Facebook Marketplace. Daniella created her business The Chalk House about a year ago after finding inspiration when renovating her home.

“While my husband Ryan Busk renovated our first home I found and painted second hand furniture such as our coffee table and bedside tables to save money.”

“I then realised I had a talent for painting furniture and I could build something with this, in time The Chalk House started to take form.”

“I restore second hand furniture that I purchase from recycled shops and Facebook Marketplace for a cheaper price, then I paint the furniture using Annie Sloan and Chalk paint to give it a new life and then sell on Facebook marketplace.”