How to Sell Your Possessions to Unclutter Your Life

Ever since the financial crisis of 2008, I moved from a 2500 square foot home to a 1450 square foot mobile home, to a 900 square foot apartment, a 10 x 10 room in someone’s house, and finally an ADU with a roommate. (Yes, I know it was insane.) Each time, I’ve had to sell possessions, so I wouldn’t clutter up my living space.

I’ve moved 28 times in my lifetime so I’m used to it and I don’t get attached to material objects so much. I’m much more interested in fun experiences like travel.

From now on, I want to be portable.

I’ve sold items at garage sales, Craig’s List, and Ebay in the past. I have also taken advantage of cool smartphone apps that make it easy to sell possessions.

Below are some of the services I have used that help make my moves easier and earned me extra cash.

Facebook Marketplace

Most of us are on Facebook and have profiles so using its marketplace is a no-brainer. Facebook changes how things work frequently but this will give you the gist.

Go to Facebook Marketplace >In the menu on the left click “Selling” > and then the button “Sell Something.” Click what type of item you’re selling (items, rentals, vehicles) > and that will take you to a form where you can fill in what you’re listing and its details.

Make sure to take several quality photos of your item. On Facebook, those images will appear as squares.

If someone’s interested, they’ll message you using Facebook Messenger. You can have them meet you at Starbucks, a secure location like a police station, or come to your home if you feel you can trust them.  If you’re selling big pieces of furniture and can’t haul them to Starbucks you may want to invite a friend over if you’re alone.

Marketplace is also a great place to find items you’re looking for whether it’s a teacup or an apartment in your neighborhood.

Facebook will ask you if you want to boost your listing for a fee. So far, I haven’t had to but if you’re desperate to sell, that’s a good way to keep your item visible.

OfferUp

I had good luck selling some of my possessions on OfferUp. It’s a smartphone app that has an easy-to-use messaging system that will alert you on your phone as well as email you when someone responds. When a person makes an arrangement to meet with you, OfferUp will give you suggestions for a meeting place or you can set it to your location by clicking the location Icon.

Some people prefer to meet at a police department in case a customer turns out to be a scammer. That way he or she will be under surveillance.

Since I used Offerup several years ago they have added jobs that you can post to either do for others or have done for you.

To use OfferUp, download it by searching in your smartphone’s app store depending on if you have an IOS or Android. Once you open OfferUp, click POST at the bottom of your screen to list your item.

When you upload photos make sure your cover photo is in a vertical orientation rather than horizontal so it will stand out. It’s best to add several other images taken in good lighting at various angles so people can get an idea of what your object looks like and its condition.

You can set a firm price or let people give you offers. Like Marketplace, OfferUp has a boost feature for a fee.

Another fun local app I enjoy

I discovered Next Door while looking for selling apps and I was able to sell and give away items using it. it’s a great app for staying in touch with neighbors to find out what’s going on in your community.  People report lost dogs and cats, ask for recommendations like the best hairdresser in the neighborhood, warn about prowlers they’ve seen, power outages, and talk about local businesses. It’s a clever way to connect with others nearby especially if there’s an emergency. You can find it in your smartphone’s app store and download it on your phone.

Here’s an example of what it looks like.

There are other selling apps that I haven’t tried yet, but I can only keep track of so much at a time. Do you have a favorite app to help you unclutter your life? I’d love to know about them.

This post was updated on 7/2023.

Caution: You have to be careful with the apps and websites I mentioned above as well as others. There are scammers on all of them. Never give away any of your possessions without getting the money upfront. Do not accept a check and only meet up with someone if you think it is safe. Use your common sense. To avoid contact use pay gates such as Venmo, Zelle, or Paypal and do the exchange after the payment clears.

Please leave a comment below.