Doing a spring clean out declutters your home and mind—and can even earn you a little extra cash if you want to put in the effort. Good news: The secondhand market is hotter than ever.
“The resale market is exploding vis a vis traditional retail, which is lagging," says Sally Schwartz, founder of Randolph Market, a large antique and vintage market in Chicago. "Thrifting is a big word amongst the younger generation. They enjoy shopping this way.”
But while wandering through thrift stores looking for hidden gems can be fun, selling can feel intimidating for most people. From trying to figure out what and where to sell and how to price your items, there are a lot of logistics to cover. Schwartz has years of experience with the resale market, and she shared some of her best tips on which items get a surprisingly good price and exactly how to go about making the most of selling.
If you’re ready to turn some of your unused trinkets into a little treasure, read on for a step-by-step guide to on what to sell once you're done with your spring cleaning.
What items are worth selling second hand?
Not too surprisingly, designer fashion and purses and timeless hardwood furniture can make you a nice profit on the resale market (provided they’re in good condition, of course). You should also consider listing jewelry (especially vintage) and big-ticket items like newer TVs or video game consoles.
But it’s not just antiques or high-end items that are guaranteed sellers: Schwartz says tools, small tables, leather goods, fabric bolts, pairs of lamps and collectible items tend to have value. Well-kept memorabilia, like mint-condition coffee table books, and ephemera such as show programs, old TV guides, sports tickets, movie posters, and comic books are popular with collectors.
Another surprising place you can look to make a bit of money, according to Schwartz: your junk drawer!
“The change in your junk drawer and old letters in envelopes with postage stamps may have collector appeal," she says.
How should you price your items?
To get started with an item of which you're unsure of the value, Schwartz suggests you "go to eBay, put in the item description, and look for recent sales prices for similar or same item."
Also remember that details matter—the more specific you can be with your listing, the better you can price your belongings.
“Look for signatures on art glass and ceramics," Schwartz says. "Some items may surprise you—they can look like a mundane vase but have a Rookwood Pottery stamp on the bottom.”
A little online research can tell you if you have something ordinary or extraordinary. But while the internet can provide a wealth of information, there are times when you should consider bringing in an expert.
“When you have what you think are important works of art, jewelry, or furniture, an appraiser is well worth their hourly rate if you think you have items of value," Schwartz says. "They also can assess what is real versus fakes.”
Where's the best place to sell your items?
Once you’ve figured out the approximate value for your items, the final step is making the sale. The number of options for where to sell can feel overwhelming, and there isn’t only one best place.
“I will always advocate for onsite selling at an antique market like Randolph or at a well-managed antique store," Schwartz says. "For lesser-priced items, I’d suggest selling through Facebook Marketplace."
But there's one popular channel she’d advise you to avoid—and it's a bit surprising.
“Selling on eBay requires technical savvy to know how to get maximum visibility via meta tags and the most descriptive, attractive language," she says. Also, most users on eBay are looking for sellers with an extensive track record and high seller ratings—so unless that's you, you may want to leave it to the pros.