Decluttering — How to get rid of your junk and make some cash while you’re about it

If you have things lying around at home that you don’t use, decluttering could help you line your wallet.

The thought of going through everything, making difficult choices and trying to ensure you get a fair price can be overwhelming. Use these tips to make it a little easier:

Be ruthless. If there’s something that’s “just a little broken” or that you have not used in two years but “might need it one day”, it’s time to cut ties and let it go. If it’s broken, throw it away.

Pay attention to presentation. Clean items so that they look like something someone would want to buy, rather than junk you don’t want any more. If it’s clothing, iron it and put it on a hanger. Take photos in flattering light with a clean background.

Get rid of broken electronics. Take any random cords, chargers and old phones to a metal scrapyard. You might not get much, but every little bit counts.

Price items correctly. Rather than randomly assigning prices to items, do some research. Look at similar items for sale online. If you see something similar with a high price, check how long it has been on sale for, before you get excited. You may find it has been for sale for longer than it should be because it’s priced incorrectly.

Be negotiable. Don’t get so fixed on a price that you end up not selling something. Be flexible and prepared to bargain with potential buyers.

Opt for bundle deals. Look at items that can be bundled together because this can raise the price – and it could be easier to sell them this way. For example, an old CD player plus 20 CDs would fetch a better price and sell quicker than trying to sell each CD separately.

Pick a sales platform. You can sell your clutter on online marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, or through Cash Converters and other second-hand shops.

Be safety-conscious. Don’t hand over anything before you have cash in your hand. A bank notification is not sufficient – wait for the money to clear. If you are unsure whether it has cleared, ask your bank.

Protect your contact details. Set up a separate email address specifically for potential buyers to interact with you. This safeguards your primary contact details. Similarly, when you arrange for collection, never give out your home address. Meet the person in a public place for the handover.

Keep track. When you are clearing out a lot of stuff, it’s easy to lose track of who wants to buy what. When a sale has been agreed, make a note of the buyer’s name and the agreed price on a sticky note on the item. Then make a note of the collection details and time in your calendar, with an alert reminder for that morning.

Remember, honesty is the best policy. Don’t omit details to make a sale. This will just annoy potential buyers and could lead to a failed sale, which is a waste of time and effort for you and the buyer. If something is chipped, damaged or has any defect, be upfront about it. DM

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.