Cash In on Your Clutter

A friend of mine, who was an organization expert, asked me how much junk and unwanted items I had in my house. I proudly told her that we were a military family and pretty much remained clutter free because of our many moves and the weight restrictions we had for military relocations. So she challenged me to the “Kitchen Klutter Test” where I was to take every appliance and gadget that I had not used in the last 18 months and put them on my kitchen table. My smug attitude was gone when, much to my amazement, the table was filled with a dehydrator, juicer, bagel cutter, popcorn popper, meat grinder, electric vegetable shredder, and too many other things to mention.

What if you did the “Klutter Test” for each room in your home—what would you find? Summer is the best time to declare independence from unwanted items that complicate your life and make you feel guilty every time you look at them! Many military families have the traditional garage sale, but is that always the best way to go?

I recently watched an episode of Clean Sweep, a reality show on The Learning Channel,which featured two families who competed to raise the most money selling similar items, with one group using the Internet and the other hosting a garage sale. The first family made around $400 from the traditional garage sale, and much to my surprise, the second family made $2,000 selling the same items on eBay! The traditional sale took four times longer to prepare—so it cost more in time, too.

Virtual garage sales are gaining popularity in the last two years, especially among military families who move frequently and need to keep their “household goods” weight light. But isn’t an Internet sale tiresome and time consuming? The answer is a resounding “no.”

In 2006 there were over 125,000 people who made their living full time on eBay. You might be pleasantly surprised at the value a potential bidder places on what you may call a “castoff” and they call a “collectible.” Here are tips to keep in mind for buyers and sellers:

Tips for eBay Buyers

History - Check the seller’s history before you buy. If others are unhappy with them, then pass.
Final Costs - If postage, handling, and insurance costs aren’t listed, then ask.
Research - Compare prices by finding the same product at www.froogle.com or www.mysimon.com before you bid.
Experience - Buy several items to gain experience before you start selling so that you can have high ratings as a buyer and seller.

Tips for eBay Sellers

Online Fees - Figure all fees into your asking price. There’s a listing fee; a selling fee, and a payment fee when you accept an online payment.
Turbo Lister - Use this free eBay software to enhance product listing, layout, titles, image & fees are listed.
Photo - Invest in (or borrow) a good digital camera. Multiple images are often required to adequately show the item.
Pricing and Duration - Decide how long your listing will run, the number of items in your product grouping, and the starting price. Never start the listing price of an item with hopes of getting more.
Disclose Flaws - Be sure to list thorough descriptions including dimensions, etc. The more detailed you are, the more likely you’ll have a satisfied buyer.
Disclose Fees - List postage, handling, and insurance fees.
Accepting Payments - You may accept credit cards through one of the online credit card services by registering at eBay.
Feedback - Cultivate a high seller rating through customer service & adequate descriptions. Always rate the buyer after the transaction is final.
Customer Service - Deliver products on time and follow up after the sale. Determine ahead of time what your policy will be if the product is damaged in shipping. Are you going to cover it, or say "sorry--you didn't buy insurance."
Shipping - Get free boxes and priority mail packing tape through USPS.com delivered to your door. The catch is that you have to ship the product priority mail, which is good if it's over a pound and under five pounds. If the item is over five pounds, it is better to go with UPS ground or Fed Ex ground.

Other Virtual Options

Free Listings – Let’s say you want to venture into the virtual waters slowly and don’t want to go through the application process on eBay. You can list items for free at www.craigslist.org, https://offerup.com, and www.buysellcommunity.com to name a few.
Free Items – It’s not just a seller’s market or even a buyer’s market in some cases. At a site called www.freecycle.com you can get and give stuff for free in your own community. The Freecycle Network™ is made up of many individual groups across the globe. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer and membership is free.
Free From Work – For those who aren’t very tech savvy or don’t have the time to manage an online Virtual Garage sale, there are stores springing up nationwide that are virtual consignment shops. At www.auctiondrop.com or www.i-soldit.com you can drop off selected items and give the seller a percentage of the sale; if it doesn’t sell, they pay the eBay fees.