When de-cluttering your home, one thing to consider before donating items is whether or not you can collect some cash for them. The key here though is to be sure the value of the item(s) is high enough to make up for the time and energy you will need to put into selling.
Cash for Clutter Options:
* Garage Sale – If you have a large quantity of items, a garage sale can be a good way to go. Be sure you enjoy the whole event however as it is easy to get worn down by the haggling and long days. Don’t waste too much time pricing each item. Instead, create price points and separate items by table. Keep your work time to a minimum or it certainly won’t pay you back.
* eBay – eBay is a good option for smaller pricier items since they are less expensive to pack and ship.
* Craigs List – Craigs List is easy and local so many times shipping is not required. Be cautious however and don’t let strangers into your home, especially when you are alone. It is safer to meet elsewhere or move the item(s) to the garage so strangers don’t have to walk into your house to see them. The best advice is to ALWAYS have someone with you in every situation.
* Consignment – Consignment is a good idea if your item(s) is truly unique or antique. The thing with consignment stores is they purchase solely based on the current demand. The best approach is to call the store to see if they have an interest in your item(s). If they are interested, they will ask you to come in with the item(s) or bring a picture of it if it is large. Depending on how quickly they think they can turn the item(s) will dictate if they will buy the item(s) out- right or ask for the item(s) to go on consignment.
A few ways to determine the value of an item(s):
1. Do a search on eBay of similar items. Be sure to do it by “items recently sold” so you can see what the buyers actually bought them for.
2. Try valuemystuff.com. The drawback here is it will cost you $5.99 per item, so you will have to decide if the item(s) is worth the initial cost.
In the end if you decide the payout is not worth your time and efforts, you can still donate your item(s) and get a tax deduction. Either way you’ll get a bit of money back in your pocket!
