Make me an offer
The OfferUp app is another local option to make extra cash using the website or app. Simply snap a photo, write a description and price it. It also has additional pricing options that lets the buyers know the seller has set a firm price or if they are open to negotiations. If you’re open to negotiations, you may stand a better chance of selling your stuff. The haggling can be done via the in-app messaging. “It helps buyers and sellers communicate without trading personal information and our ratings system allows them to learn more about each others’ transaction history before they connect,” says Natalie Angelillo, vice president of community at OfferUp. Of course, there’s always a chance the buyer will back out so it’s important to check the user ratings of the buyers when considering an offer.
Facebook groups
Selling stuff online can be intimidating but when you use Facebook groups to sell your items, Ali Wenzke, the founder of The Art of Happy Moving, says there’s an element of trust and respect that goes into the transaction. Unlike some apps, these groups require approval from the page moderator. “Typically, you need to be a neighborhood resident or within a certain distance from the neighborhood to join,” says Wenzke. To find a group near you, just type in “yard sales near me” and a list of virtual yard sales in your area will pop up. Find the one you like and click the “join” button. If you meet the groups criteria, you’ll be accepted and can start posting. Read the rules carefully because every group is a bit different. “It’s important as a seller to be reasonable with your pricing. Negotiating over price happens less often with Facebook than with sites such as Craigslist, so keep that in mind when you list your item,” says Wenzke. Since you’re dealing with neighbors and friends, reputations are a stake and it’s less likely you’ll have no-shows after a deal has been made. Any issues like that are usually resolved quickly with a moderator who listens to feedback about habitual “bad” buyers or sellers.
Lovers of vintage furniture and art
Vintage furniture and art can be trickier to sell with local apps because the audience is limited and most people are looking for more basic items like clothing, shoes, toys and home decor. (By the way, if you own any of the antiques, you’re sitting on a goldmine.) Your chances of selling are probably going to be better when you’re reaching people who are specifically looking for vintage furniture and art. Chairish is a website and app that helps you sell your items using a tiered commission system. If you inherited vintage furniture or have a piece of art and lost for words on how to describe them, Chairish steps in to edit photos and write informative and honest descriptions for you so the listing looks like it’s from an upscale catalog. In addition, the buyer can take advantage of the new augmented reality feature. “The ‘view in your space’ feature empowers shoppers to take more daring style choices because experimentation is risk-free,” says Anna Brockway, co-founder and chief marketing offer, Chairish. That’s a great feature for the seller because it helps the buyer see how the item would look in their own setting.
