Rule the Classifieds - Sell Your Stuff Fast and For Top Dollar in the Classifieds

I grew up with a yard sale super-fan for a grandma so my youth was spent feverishly driving from yard sale to yard sale, every summer Saturday, and then twice a year we held a giant, family yard sale of our own (we still do!).  I've had a lot of success selling things at our yard sales, but I find that yard salers want everything for a quarter.

The online classifieds is where I have found people willing to pay a reasonable price for quality, second-hand wares, and in the last six years I've sold thousands and thousands of dollars worth of things through Kijiji (like Craigslist but for Canadians).  In this time, I've done a little experimenting to see what I can do to sell things faster and/or for more cash  (sometimes I have to choose). 

We sold a lot of things before we moved and I promised a post with my tips and tricks for selling stuff in the classifieds.  



HOW TO CREATE A GREAT CLASSIFIEDS AD:

Use the Title for Key Words and Buzzwords:

A specific title like "mid-century Danish teak side table, mint condition," or "brand new ice cream machine, in original box" can draw the eye of someone who isn't necessarily searching for what I'm selling, but it also catches the eye of someone searching for exactly what I'm selling.  Use key words and describe your item accurately and thoroughly. 

Clean the Stuff Before Taking Photos:

I'm so sick of people who try to sell dirt-filled planters and furniture that smells like a fart.  I wash and clean anything I'm selling - I vacuum upholstery, hand wash glassware, air out the un-washables, and just scrub, scrub, scrub.  It's nasty to skip this step, plus people won't pay as much if they're thinking about all the extra work they need to do.  They might also wonder what kind of flaw all that grime is hiding.  Clean items just look better in ads too.  Just wash the stuff, period.

I'll also add "smoke-free" home and, before Szuka, "pet-free" home because it matters to some people.  In this day of bed bugs, I'll even put "no bed bugs".


Include Tons of Nicely Styled Photos:

I hate when something I'm interested in on Kijiji is photographed in a disgusting or dirty space.  It makes me think it's been stored this way and I think: rats, mice, mouse poop, pass.  Even if something is being stored in the garage, I drag it inside, clean it up and take a nice, clear, brightly lit photo - usually styled a little to show off its use or beauty - but not too styled so that the thing I'm selling is disguised.  This is an easy step for me, because I often just snag blog photos:

Suggest Uses for the Item:

For the stool above, I said it was a great plant stand or artist's perch.  It's more than just a stool, so I gave people ideas and made them want what I have (it sold)!

Include Detail Shots:

When it comes to listing in the classifieds, I treat my ads like those for my Etsy shop and take numerous photos, highlighting important details and also flaws, so people know exactly what they are getting.  For example, I snapped a photo of all markings on my Danish teak, a detail of the Made in Canada label on my maple armoire, some close ups of the patina on the antique wash tub stand I sold.  Taking numerous photos also saves having to answer a million questions.  This isn't my ad, but they're doing it right:

The next one is an example of, in my opinion, a terrible ad.  At the very least, people need measurements to know if it will fit in their truck or through their front door.  The material, make, age, condition would also be good things to add.  But some folks skip a photo altogether (bad idea!) so at least they've got two pictures.



The next two ads are better, with info about condition, lots of photos, even measurements in the second ad:

Create a Bulleted List:

Despite my efforts, I don't think all Kijiji-ers read the whole ad, so I try not to ramble on too much and I avoid full sentences.  I include key information (measurements, condition, markings, etc) and use a bulleted list instead of paragraphs or even full sentences.  Not a lot of people in my city do this, but I think it helps make sure the pertinent info gets across.  For example:

• Danish teak dining table with leaf
• Measurements: 45" diameter, 60" diameter with leaf
• Solid teak legs, teak veneer top
• Made by Frem Rojle, original label attached
• Excellent condition, minimal scratching on surface

Highlighting in yellow and using bold can also help make sure certain points get across.  Although they're a little too chatty, in my opinion, this ad has an effective bulleted list:

Include Links for Further Research:

For that rare person who likes to read an ad in its entirely and is searching for more info, I like to provide a link or two to more information.  Usually I link to a similar item selling on Amazon, Etsy or Ebay, or even a Wikipedia page.  Whatever helps a buyer know what a similar items sells for, why it's so awesome, and why my item is a bitchin' deal.

Explain Why You're Selling:

When I see a great deal online or thrifting, my first thought is: "why does someone want to get rid of this?"  Again, my thoughts turn to mouse poop.  Then I try to find out if it's flawed in any way.  So when I'm selling something, I make it clear why I'm selling it.  I add a quick note at the bottom of my ad - Reason for Sale: Moving (etc.).

HOW TO MAKE SALES:

Check the Want Ads:

Years ago, Hubby and I were trying to sell the stock wheels that came with our Nissan Versa, and we stumbled across a Want Ad for the exact same wheels we were selling.  We sold our wheels!  Why had this person not found our ad?  I have no idea (I'm betting on sheer laziness), but we learned to quickly check who wants what we're selling and it's been very profitable.

Be Available:

Don't post an ad before heading out of town for the weekend.  Be ready for impulse shoppers who may want that item right away - or not at all!  If you've left email as the way to contact you, have it forwarded to your phone so you don't miss a message and reply promptly. 

HOW TO PRICE THINGS:

Before I come up with a price, I quickly search Kijiji for similar items and then I'll look online at Amazon/Etsy/Ebay.  I make a mental note of prices of things I might be selling when I'm checking out local consignment stores or vintage shops so I have a good idea of a fair price for stuff.  Then, to make sure my item sells first, I undercut (at the very least, match) the popular pricing I see for a quick sale and no quibbling.  A fast sale has often been my priority, so I price to move but an item can still get top dollar if it's priced well, the ad is well crafted and the seller has patience.  If I have the time, I might price a smidge higher than what I want (maybe $440 if I want $400) and then I've got some bargaining room for someone to offer $380, I come back at $420, they counter $400 and I get my price (cha-ching), but when I was moving I wanted fast sales so if something was worth $350, I asked $300 to move it and move it quick.

My tactic changes, depending on what I want from a sale, but there is one constant: I always have an idea of my bargaining willingness before I meet a buyer so I'm not caught off guard.  And I always makes sure I can break bills so no one plays the, "well, I only have twenties so can you take $40 instead of $50"? game.  No way, fool, I can break that twenty right now.

One thing I've noticed is that $20 is a magic number.  I think that it's easy for many people to part with a single $20 bill.  There's a psychology to shopping and buying that stores employ, but I know next to nothing about this.  I do know that I can make a stack of cash selling lots of smaller items for a magic twenty.  If I price something for $25 or $35, I'm inevitably talked down to $20 or $30 so sometimes I might just start there to save time. 

I will sometimes add OBO (or best offer) to indicate I'm open to other prices when I really want to move something.  I'll also offer the option for a package deal if I'm selling various items.  But both of these tactics can cheapen an item (or make me seem desperate), so I'm careful about throwing around OBO. 

TIPS TO BOOST SALES:

• I list many or all of my items at one time, in the hopes of luring people for multiple sales (it works!).
• I show buyers other items I have for sale when they pick up their treasure (it works!).
• I list a few free items to land more views for the rest of my items (most people click on "check other ads" when they see something they like, and who doesn't like free stuff?). 
• I provide multiple ways to reach me (I added our phone number recently because we were moving and changing numbers anyway, and I was surprised when the interest in my items doubled by folks who wanted to talk on the phone or by text, and not via email).
• I properly categorize my items.
• I've heard that having an account, with Kijiji anyway, ensures people see a complete list of what else you have for sale and it's organized more effectively.
• I try to be patient because sometimes it can take weeks to find the right buyer.

(then again, not everything has a buyer out there waiting):

• I list everything I want to sell, even if I think it won't sell (our old Rogers Cable box sold for $100 when I didn't think we'd get a cent for it - you never know what people need or want). 
• I sell small stuff too (someone might not drive all the way across town for Christmas ornaments, but they might add them to a purchase if they also want some furniture - it happened to me).
• I hold a yard sale to coincide with the timing of my items to generate more interest and lure over people who want a casual glance (often they end up buying!).
•  If I am holding a yard sale, I'll post bigger items and let people "preview" them by making an appointment for the Thursday or Friday before the sale - it fuels that competitive edge.
• I don't use this, but you can link ads to Facebook to announce your items for sale to friends and followers.
• For some ads, I've splurged and paid the extra fee to keep an add in the top (a great option for yard sales when you want to stand out).
• For collectible/rare items, I will post in nearby cities and communities because some people might make the drive for that sought after item - but I'm upfront about where I'm located.
• I follow the Kijiji restrictions, for the most part, to keep from having an ad flagged/removed.
• If someone selling a similar item does not follow the rules, I flag their item to eliminate competition.
• I sometimes add "ON HOLD" to the title and the offers come pouring in.  I think people like the idea of nabbing a good deal out from under someone's nose.  
• If I'm desperate, or there is a lot of competition (treadmills are a problem), I re-post an item daily so it stays on the top of the pile. 
• I strategically add my listings during busy hours, which I found were Friday night and Saturday morning in Ottawa, but Sunday afternoon in Thunder Bay.
• I might list an add in two categories (vintage furniture goes in "furniture" and "collectibles"), but I re-write the ad so it's not immediately flagged as a duplicate (plus I use a different photo).  

My tips aren't foolproof because the item, the market, the seller's goals (fast cash? top dollar? both?), the season, the lunar cycle...so many factors influence a successful sale.  But these are some tips that have work for me and I continue to see a lot of success selling things in the classifieds.

This goes without saying, but be safe.  Meet folks in a public place to sell smaller goods.  For furniture or larger goods, try to move it all to the garage or by the front door so strangers aren't invited to wander around your house.  Have someone be home with you so you're not alone when folks come to view your items.  It's so sad to have to say this, but be wary of scams, thieves, and predators.  Try to chat a lot with the potential buyer, online or on the phone, to ascertain if they are serious about the purchase.  Don't take a cheque, and learn to spot counterfeit bills.  When Handy Hubby (then Buildy Boyfriend) sold his first car for cash, we brought along my Mom's good friend - who was employed as a bank teller - so she could quickly ensure the bills were all good.  We also brought along my Dad (for muscle, I guess?), which was a great idea because the buyer also brought along a gaggle of people and because we both had friends and family around for the transaction, everyone was comfy and the deal went smoothly.

Are you an avid classifieds seller?  What are your tips for selling things quickly and getting top dollar?  Or, are you an avid buyer?  What piques your interest about an ad, what really aggravates you, and - most importantly - what makes you part with your cash?

How to Sell Furniture in Preparation for a Move

I mentioned feeling a little overwhelmed by our stuff, but heaps of things never even made it to the lakehouse.  Before we moved, we donated boxes of goodies to a thrift shop.  I sold armfuls of clothes at my favorite Ottawa consignment shop (Bella).  Hubs and I parked ourselves outside on a warm day and held a garage sale ($145 worth sold!).  I also worked like a fiend to sell things on Kijij.

I have this weird fascination with knowing the price people buy and sell things for, so I'm sharing some details.  I'm also sharing because I think you might be surprised by what didn't make the journey with us.

In one fell swoop, I said good-bye to the round Danish teak table, the pair of Danish teak end tables, and the apricot-hued tweed and teak chair.  I listed the lone table on Kijiji because I was up to my eyeballs in tables, and the chair I wanted to sell because I'm inching my way toward a cooler palette.  A woman contacted me right away to buy just the table.  I intentionally placed it in a room full of other things I was selling (we were prepping for the garage sale) and she ended up buying the table and the chair, plus $20 worth of smalls.  The chair never looked as beautiful in photographs as it did in real life, so I knew the key to a purchase would be for someone to actually see it.  Success!  Surprisingly, she emailed that night and asked about our end tables, which I hadn't really thought about selling.  I paid $20 for the pair at an estate sale, so when she offered $400 I happily agreed.  At the time, an identical pair was for sale in Ottawa for $600, so we were both pleased.  
 

Tweed & teak chair (bought $400/sold $425); Danish teak side tables (bought $20/sold $400)

Teak table (bought $175/sold $200)

Some things I reluctantly parted with, but I knew they'd have no spot in the lakehouse.  I listed both the vintage bar cart and ornate white frame at the same time, hoping someone would want to strike a deal and buy both.  The bar cart had been $20 but I painted it white.  The ornate frame was salvaged from a thrift store painting (for $19.99), painted white and turned into a card display with foam core, fabric, ribbon and silk-covered buttons that I made.   A gal had been on the hunt for exactly these things and bought both. 

Vintage bar cart (bought $20/sold $30)

Vintage frame (bought $20/sold $30)

I loved my dipped stool but found I still never used it, even after its pretty makeover.  I sold it, but only after weeks and weeks and weeks.  It was listed for a long time and I really thought no one would buy it.  I just had to be patient though, because one day I received an email from a woman who wanted it that minute and paid my asking price of $15.  It was bare wood when I bought it for $10 at a yard sale, and then I spent an afternoon painting it.

Dipped stool (bought $10/sold $15)

Comically, after owning it for four years, I only recently realized that our kitchen table was Danish teak, made by the manufacturer Frem Rojle.  I had intended to list it on Kijiji for $400.  But when a woman who had wanted to buy the townhouse asked to purchase the table and our dining room hutch, I offered $325 and $175 respectively (what we had paid).  After the deal fell through, she shocked me by still wanting to buy the pieces.  I was happy to see someone else as excited about these pieces of furniture as I has been when I first found them.  We won't have a need for two dining tables, so I only kept one.  The hutch, although so cute, is quite petite and will look oddly proportioned in our larger dining room nook.

Teak hutch (bought $175/sold $175)

Teak dining table (bought $325/sold $325)

Our first real estate agent had also wanted to purchase a piece of furniture from us and even though we re-listed with another agent, after the townhouse sold she came by to purchase the desk we had built for Hubby.  I hadn't really thought about selling it but I was happy for the opportunity because we'd ultimately like to build a desk for two that perfectly fits our new office (and hides office clutter!).  Completely clueless, we asked $200.

DIY desk (made by us/sold $200)

After thinking about it and blogging about it and thinking about it some more, I finally, finally sold the maple armoire.  It wasn't easy.  It was the first piece of furniture I ever bought and I've had it since before I left my childhood home.  I was really sad to see it go, but it's so large that I won't have room for it in the lakehouse.  After saving all of my waitressing money I bought it for $600, only after haggling with a local shop in Thunder Bay for months.  The clear coat had yellowed differently than other pieces in the same line, so my argument was that it might turn off potential customers.  Better to sell the odd piece to me, for a discounted price, I told them, than risk people having doubts about the quality.  Apparently, I made a strong case and the armoire was mine.  It's made in Canada and is actually of excellent quality - a smaller version still retails for $1200.  I asked $300 on Kijiji with NO bites.  I was disappointed.  It's extra deep, so it's perfect for hiding cumbersome kid's toys.  Come on, folks, Canadian made!  When someone offered $200, I accepted it.  The guy who bought it almost fainted bringing it down the stairs with Hubby.  After Hubs and I carried the treadmill down the stairs together (which I also sold on Kijiji, for $300!), anything else seemed like a piece of cake to us.

I also sold the collection of milk glass that sat atop it to someone else for $50, which made me scratch my head after only getting $200 for the maple armoire . . .

Milk glass collection (bought ?/sold $50); Maple amoire (bought $600/sold $200)

My sweet little chevron useless table (I'm pretty sure it was my first DIY project for the blog), just doesn't have a spot in the lakehouse so I listed it for $20.  I had paid $8 at a yard sale and then stripped and painted it.  The woman who bought it deployed her Hubby to our house to pick it up, where my Hubby was waiting (I was at work).  The other Hubby said, "I'm here for a . . . dresser?" and my Hubby said, "Uhhhh, I have . . . this table?" and so it was sold.

Useless table (bought $8/sold $20)

You likely never saw this vintage telephone table that languished in the basement.  It was a superstar piece of furniture in our old apartment, as a perfect spot to drop my purse when I came in the door.  I scooped it from my grandparents' basement and then Hubby and I re-upholstered it.  It even had cute upholstery tacks along the back.  We never used it in the townhouse, though, because there just wasn't the right space for it.  The gal who bought it was so excited to have found it.  Kindred spirits!  I was excited when I first stumbled across it too.

Vintage telephone table (bought $0/sold $20)

Kicking and screaming I parted with my Poang knock-off from Ikea.  It's ugly but SO comfy.  It had a ridiculously specific use: it was my art contemplation chair.  Seriously.  All I used it for was to sit in and reflect after I worked on a painting.  I don't even know where I will have room to paint in the lakehouse, let alone sit and contemplate what I've painted.  $20 for it helped lessen the sting.

Ikea Pello chair (bought $60/sold $20)

I painted my pink and brown squares abstract shortly before Hubs and I moved in together.  My parents had given him a burgundy sofa which we thought we'd be moving with us.  I was trying to make the burgundy more appealing.  It was a difficult task, and it's why my Mom had ditched it and given it to Handy Hubby (then Buildy Boyfriend) in the first place.  When we decided to sell the burgundy sofa and buy a brown sofa instead I kept the painting.  Now I'm working toward a more watery palette so I sold the painting for $40.

Abstract painting (made by me/sold $40)

Remember the antique washing tub stand I bought and did NOTHING with?  I admitted defeat.  Sometimes things are a bad purchase.  I don't know why I couldn't admit that sooner.  Happily, I made back my $50.  It sold in minutes on Kijiji.  A frenzied guy immediately emailed me and picked it up minutes later.  I looked this up on Etsy after and found an identical one listed for $140.  Oops.

Vintage washtub stand (bought $50/sold $50)

Once I had my own house, my parents started grumbling about the crap I had left in my childhood home after I'd first moved out.  I guess it was more forgivable when Hubs and I lived in an apartment, but once we had a basement and a garage, I got a lot of my stuff back.  On a recent visit they had lugged a typewriter I had bought for hipster purposes (to sit on my desk as an objet d'art).  I listed it for $50 and was immediately contacted by a collector who wanted nothing more than to chat about it and give me some information.  I tentatively asked if he was interested, but he told me he had a quite a few already and wouldn't be interested unless it was $20 or $25.  I don't think he was trying to pull a fast one, I think he was being honest.  He seemed totally surprised when I said, "Sold, for $25!".  I sure as heck wasn't going to haul this back to Thunder Bay.  He was a sweet guy - he even refurbished typewriters from the 1950s and 1960s and brought them to nursing homes where women were apparently thrilled with the chance to type up some letters to family.  I had paid $8 for it at a yard sale, but I'm sure my parents used at least $30 worth of extra fuel hauling it 1500km, lol.

Antique typewriter (bought $8/sold $25)

To raise a little extra cash to buy things for the lakehouse, I actually took a chance and bought a very beat up Danish teak side table for $7 at a thrift store and tried my hand at refinishing it.  After two afternoons working on it, it looked much better but still not perfect.  I tentatively listed it for $50 and was blown away by the flurry of emails.  A young couple quickly scooped it up, excited for an affordable piece of mid-century modern teak.  I had secretly hoped it wouldn't sell because I'd thought it would be a perfect project: I thought a glossy turquoise painted top (the damage was on the top) would look great with teak legs.  But again, I definitely don't need more tables.  The profit was sweet but I'm sure not cut out to be in the furniture refinishing business.  My hourly wage was, what, $3.75?

Teak table (bought $7/sold $50)

I never in a million years thought I would successfully sell our old dining table because, even though it is solid wood and super sturdy, it's very dated.  I have no idea why I bought it but I've lugged it from city to city, using it as a craft table in the townhouse.  Although it's original, thwarted makeover had given me a headache, I had planned again to paint it.  We listed the townhouse, though, so my plans were stalled.  I definitely met my waterloo with this one.  I was relieved when it sold to a very persistent guy who happily hauled it home for $50.  He was thrilled with the heft of it and Hubs was relieved not to have to drive that heft all the way to Thunder Bay.

Solid wood table (bought $100/sold $50)

I had success selling smaller things on Kijiji too, like this breadbox I thrifted and never did anything with.  I bought it for $4.99 and sold for $10 (including delivery, but our meeting spot was right in front of work so it worked for the buyer and myself).  The buyer had found a set of matching canisters curbside in the Glebe.
 

Vintage breadbox (bought $4.99/sold $10)

Our new kitchen is fairly petite, so some of our bulkier, infrequently used kitchen items got the boot, like this ice cream machine.  My Mom never used it and passed it to us.  We used it a few times but realized that when we want ice cream, we don't want to wait eight hours and labour for it.  Sold for $50!  I included a photo of the original price ($99) - still on the box - plus a link to the identical item selling on Amazon for more. 

Ice cream machine (bought $99/sold $50)

We were really feeling the pinch in the fall, so I parted with three treasured finds: a jadeite egg cup (found for 69 cents at a thrift store), a jadeite mug, and a blue delphite mug (bought for $1 each at a yard sale).  I bargained with a buyer and landed on $40 for all three.  The egg cup alone is priced at $40 at a number of Ottawa antique shops.  I am still a little sad about selling these treasures, but we needed cash and, frankly, I needed these things like a hole in the head.

Fire King mugs (bought $2/sold $20)

Jadeite egg cup (bought 69 cents/sold $20)

The Danish teak tray behind the egg cup in the photo above was also sold on Kijiji.  I paid $3 at a thrift store and, after weeks and weeks of no bites, sold it to a woman for $20.  It was cute, but since blogging about them, I've been stumbling across Fab trays left and right. 

Danish teak tray (bought $3/sold $20)

To lighten the load, I also sold all of the Anchor Hocking EAPC glassware that I'd been collecting at yard sales for years.  I sold everything in a lot for $20.  I paid a quarter here, a buck there, so I am sure I broke even.  Even if I didn't, it weighed a ton and I'd rather have my Pyrex see the light of day.  A woman gleefully drove 35 km through morning rush hour to pick these up.

Anchor Hocking EAPC (bought ?/sold $20)

I also sold the solid wood frames I had used for my cardboard art and the person who bought them was desperate for the "art" I had made for them too.  I was happy with $5 because I had bought the frames for only 50 cents and then painted them. 

Wood frames (bought 75 cents/sold $5)

A friend has asked me to share how I'm able to sell so many things, especially for prices I'm happy with.  I think a lot of it is luck and patience but I have experimented a little and come up with a cheat sheet of some tips that might help.  I'll share that soon!

UPDATE: Here's a link to the post I promised, sharing my tips for selling your stuff quickly and for top dollar.

Read more »