When I found out that I could put together an online yard sale I got super excited. If you aren’t aware an online yard sale is very similar to a regular outside yard sale because you get to sell items that you don’t want anymore. The only different thing is that you have an online yard sale online.
An online yard sale is a great idea to make extra money because not only can you invite people in your town to attend the yard sale but you can invite people around the world to the event.
This post will go over the best places to have an online yard sale, the best items to sell, and additional places you can sell items that don’t sell in your online yard sale.
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Table of Contents
10 Online Yard Sale Tips To Make Extra Money
What is a virtual garage sale?
A virtual garage sale is also known as an online yard sale and is very similar to a regular yard but without the yard or garage. Virtual garage sales are done online where you can showcase the items you want to sell on websites such as Facebook Marketplace, Offer, and Mercari.
Advantages of Having an Online Yard Sale
Having an online yard sale comes with a lot of advantages. One of the major advantages of having a yard sale online is that you can have one all year round. If you live in a state where it gets really cold in the winter then you will understand why this is a huge advantage.
Most yard sales get scheduled for spring and summer months because of the warm weather but if you have a yard sale online it doesn’t matter which month you do it in.
Additionally, a second advantage is that you can reach more people by doing your yard sale online. Not only will you attract people where you live but you will attract people from around the world.
Lastly, another huge advantage of having a yard sale online is that you will save a lot of time. You will not have to do any setup or break down of the equipment because everything will be done virtually. You can also get the chance to have the yard sale extended for weeks if needed. You can have your items posted on places such as Facebook Marketplace until someone purchases them. So there is no time limit on how long your online yard sale can run which is a huge plus.
How do I do a yard sale online?
Before you have your online yard sale here are some tips to help get you prepared. Getting prepared is key when you plan an online yard sale because it helps with organization. Below are key tips to help get you started.
1. Organize all your items
Before you set up your online yard sale make sure to get all the items that you want to sell lined up. So take some time and figure out which items you would like to sell and set them aside. Also, think about how much you want to charge for each item.
It’s a great idea to see what other sellers are selling similar items for on places such as Facebook Marketplace and Offerup. Once you have the items that you want to sell and the prices you want to sell them for it will be time to pick your platform(s).
2. Take Great Photos
When you have the items that you want to sell it will be time to take photos of each item. Taking great photos of your items can help boost sales so make sure to take top-notch photos of all of your items before posting them on the platform. Here are some quick tips to help you take professional photos.
- Make sure the area is cleared out: Before you take the photos of the items make sure the surrounding area is super clean and cleared. This will help the buyers focus on the actual product and not what’s surrounding the product.
- Clean off the items: I can’t tell you how many times I have seen items online for sale that weren’t cleaned off before taking the item photos. So, it’s a great idea to clean off the items before posting them up.
- Focus on the lighting: If you don’t have professional lights try using natural light from the sun. This will help your photos stand out and look more professional online. Bad lighting in photos can make the images look low-quality. Pro Tip: Take photos in the morning and afternoon when the sunlight is bright.
One of the main reasons buyers buy an item is because of how great it looks in a photo. With the advancement of smartphones such as iPhones and Androids, you can use your cell phone and still take excellent images.
If you are looking to learn how to take professional photos using your cell phone click here for a quick tutorial.
3. Pick Your Platforms
This is the fun part! You get the chance to choose the place where you will have your online yard sale. The platform that you choose will be where you will be hosting your online yard sale. Make sure to research the different platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Offerup, and more to make sure to find the perfect fit for you.
4. Set Delivery Options
Think about if you will be mailing the items to the buyers or if you will set a delivery pick-up location. If you are personally delivering the items to the buyers I always suggest taking someone with you and to do the exchange in a public place with other people around. Make sure to set boundaries and if something doesn’t feel right with a buyer you can let them know.
If you are personally sending each item to the buyer via postal mail make sure to put the items inside a clean box or package and send the item out in a timely fashion. By doing so it will help boost your ratings and also help let other potential buyers know you have great products and awesome customer service.
What Sells Best at a Yard Sale?
When it comes to online yard sales there are a few items that sell the best. Some of the items that sell the best at yard sales are:
- Gently used clothes
- Electronics such as cell phones and televisions.
- Furniture such as tv stands and dressers.
- Shoes
- Handbags and purses
- Video games
- Toys and baby gear
- Jewelry
Places To Have an Online Yard Sale
1. Facebook
On Facebook, there are many ways to sell items but my favorite ways are through Facebook Marketplace and by searching groups in my hometown.
How do I do an online garage sale on Facebook?
The first place to sell on Facebook is through the Facebook marketplace. You can access the marketplace on both the app and through the desktop version. The marketplace gives you the chance to set up a virtual yard sale to sell items from your home.
You can keep the items up until someone buys so there is no rush to sell really fast. When someone is interested in an item they will send you a direct message or an offer. Most of the time they ask you if the item is still available or ask if you can lower the price of the item you have listed. When you reach a deal on the item then you can either collect payment and then mail the item to the buyer or meet them in a public place to do the exchange.
Additionally, you can search yard sale Facebook groups in your hometown to sell items. When you go on Facebook type in the following keyword phrases to find the best groups to do your online yard sale.
{Your city name} online yard sale
{Your city name} online garage sale
{Your city name} virtual sale
{Your city name} resale
2. Craigslist
Craigslist is a website where you can post local ads for free. If you are looking to sell items in your home you can post them on Craigslist to find buyers. You can find a listing for almost anything on this platform which makes it a pretty cool place to host an online yard sale.
The downside to Craigslist like most places online is that the platform does have scammers on it at times. So make sure to never give out your personal information and never send money over the internet to anyone requesting it out of the blue. Also, if you met with someone make sure to meet in a public place and bring an additional person with you for safety.
What’s the best day for a garage sale?
If you were thinking of having a garage sale normally the best days to have it would be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings. But, for a virtual online yard sale, any day of the week will suffice. You can have listings up for an extended period of time and until someone actually purchases the item.
Where To Sell Things That Didn’t Sell At Your Online Yard Sale?
There are a few places online that you can check out to sell items that aren’t selling fast on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Some additional places to check out are Declutter and Mercari.
Declutter is super awesome because you can sell technology items such as computers, phones, tablets, and much more. You just have to find the brand of the device you are selling, select the condition and they will give you a free instant valuation.
After that, you pack your items in a box and ship the items to the Declutter headquarters for free. Once the item is received the Declutter team will check the item out and then you will get paid.
Mercari is another marketplace to sell items from your home. You can list your items in minutes and you will have a listing up fairly quickly. Once someone purchases your item you will be sent a printable shipping label from Mercari and then you will get paid. It’s also free to list items on this site which is also amazing.
What is the best yard sale app?
The best apps for a yard sale are as follows:
Is a yard sale worth it?
I totally believe having a yard sale is a great idea because you can make extra money really fast and get the chance to help other people find items at a discount price.
So if you would like to sell items, having an online yard sale is a great option to make extra money.
Final thoughts
Having an online yard sale can be a fun way to make extra money. If you are looking to make money fairly quickly look into selling items around your house that you don’t need anymore on places such as Facebook Marketplace and Offerup. Have you ever had an online yard sale? If so, which platform did you pick to have the sale on?
Is it better to list items single for an online yard sale, or can you get away with bulk item photos and just list prices individually?