Latest posts by Kumiko Ehrmantraut (see all)
- How to Prepare for the Next Financial Crisis - July 8, 2020
A few weeks ago on The Budget Mom blog, I gave you 10 legitimate ways to make extra income from home. Among those options was: Sell Your Stuff.
If you haven’t taken the plunge and done some serious purging in a while, this can be your absolute best way to make some quick cash while freeing up some space in your place!
Garage sales (yard sales, rummage sales, tag sales – whatever you call them in your part of the country!) can be a daunting task, I get it. Sorting through closets and basements, pulling everything out, borrowing tables, pricing items, making signs, hoping for decent weather – just the idea of this job is enough to make you want to crawl in bed and go back to sleep. I get it!
And while there’s a time and a place for a good “everything must go” sale, the easier way is to sell your stuff online.
For over two decades now, eBay has dominated the market when it came to online resale. But their selling platform is complex and you have to monitor your items regularly. In addition to that, you have to do the packing and shipping.
Then along came Craigslist, followed quickly by many others – Etsy, Poshmark, ThredUp, Tradesy, Oodle – the list is almost endless now.
- Read: 20+ Ways to Make More Money
Facebook Marketplace for the win!
Marketplace, in my opinion, makes it faster, easier, and safer to sell the stuff you no longer want or use. Practically every adult you know is on Facebook – seriously, the last count was 2.2 BILLION users. The numbers alone tip the scales in favor of selling. Plus:
- It’s free to use. Yep, free.
- You can use the app on your cell to list items for sale.
- You don’t have to give out your phone number or other personal information.
- Facebook sends you a notification when someone is interested.
- Buyers don’t have to pay for shipping costs.
- You don’t have to spend time at the Post/UPS/FedEx offices.
- You can toss the item in the trunk of your car and take care of the entire transaction on your way to or from work.
Overall, it’s just more convenient to use than all the other online sales sites out in web space. In fact, I recently sold 3 things in one week and made $85. It’s so easy!
Now let’s walk through the process of how Facebook Marketplace works. Once we do that, you’ll be ready to make some easy extra cash!
Step One: Photograph Your Item
Use your phone and take several pictures of the item or items to be sold. If possible, put each item in an attractive, clear space like a tabletop or front porch. Make sure the lighting is good. Take photos from several vantage points, capturing the best aspects as well as any critical flaws.
You want your listing to stand out from the rest. The most important thing to remember in step one is that the better the photograph, the more attention your item will get.
Step Two: Decide on a Price
Doing some research to determine the best price only takes a couple of minutes. Look around on Marketplace at items similar to yours. Check the competition for items of similar quality and style. Doing this ensures that you are pricing your item in a way that will help you sell quickly but still get a fair price.
Also, anticipate that people will try to negotiate. If you want to haggle, set your price SLIGHTLY above the price you want. For instance, if you have a wall clock you want to make $30 on, set the price at $33. You’re still competitive, but it gives you a little wiggle room for bargaining.
Step Three: List Your Item
- From your computer Facebook homepage
- Marketplace is the 4th link from the top of the left-hand column.
- Click on it to go to the Marketplace page.
- In the left-hand column you will see the blue “Sell Something” tab.
- Clicking this gives you a pop up with three options: Items, Vehicles, and Rentals.
- From the Facebook app on your phone
- Tap the 3 horizontal lines in the top right corner.
- Marketplace will be one of the top, if not the very top item on the list.
- Click on it to go to the Marketplace page.
- In the top left corner you will see the “Sell” button.
- Clicking this gives you a pop up with three options: Items, Vehicles, and Rentals.
From here you add your photos, choose a category, give your item a title, list your price, select your location, and describe what you are selling.
Your title should clearly give the basic information and price. For example: MacBook Pro A1278 13.3” Laptop $150. You want anyone near you who is searching to be able to find your item efficiently, so be as clear as possible and make SURE to check your spelling. You don’t want to be overlooked because you listed a McBook or a MacBoo. 🙂
Finally, when listing an item, give a thorough, honest description. This is something I find MANY people neglect completely. But if you don’t give a good description, two things are going to happen:
- You are going to get bombarded with questions about the item from people who may or may not be seriously interested. “Does it work?” “Does it have Microsoft Office on it?” “Does it come with a cord?” Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera… or
- You are going to lose serious buyers who don’t have the time to chase you down for basic answers.
So, take a minute to enter all the pertinent information about your item, including working condition, flaws, accessories, and measurements. Trust me, this pays off.
Step Four: Get the Word Out
This step isn’t essential, but if you’ve got the time, you might as well take advantage of the free advertising. Link your item to your other social media accounts and to any “For Sale” Facebook groups you belong to.
Step Five: Sell Your Item
When someone is interested, they will message you via the Marketplace ad. You will exchange a few messages to finalize your sale. Remind them to bring their payment in the form of cash. From there, it’s up to you to arrange the time and place. Unless it’s a large item like workout equipment or a household appliance, I always recommend meeting the buyer in a very public place to make the transaction.
Facebook Marketplace Safety
As with any selling platform, safety comes first. Here are some tips for staying safe while making some extra money on Facebook Marketplace:
- Never share your financial information: This includes PayPal login information, passwords, or bank account information. Since Marketplace doesn't have any built-in payment mechanisms, insist on accepting cash or a PayPal payment. PayPal will investigate fraud claims on your behalf and provide better transaction security for sellers.
- Stay local. Facebook will only show you potential buyers within your area (you choose the radius for the area). If a buyer is asking you to ship an item long-distance, there is a greater chance for scams. The buyer could cancel the payment once the item is in transit.
- Check buyer profiles: When you click on the name of someone who is interested in what you are selling, you can see their rating and history on Facebook Marketplace. Make sure they are located in your area. It doesn't hurt to do a quick search on their name on Facebook. If you see that there is more than one profile using the same name and photo, this is a red flag.
- Always meet in a public place: Never invite a potential seller to your house address. Pick a location like a coffee shop or grocery store. When I sell something on Facebook Marketplace, I ask my boyfriend or a friend to go with me for the exchange.
If you are the victim of a scam or suspect scamming is taking place, you can always report them to Facebook here.
In total, I have sold different three items on Facebook Marketplace. I earned $85 in less than a week by selling small unused furniture that was sitting down in my storage unit. I love how easy it is to list my unwanted items, and every sell has been a pleasant experience. If you are looking for something convenient and easy, on a platform you already enjoy using, Facebook Marketplace is a great option!
