It seems to be part of the human condition to accumulate vast amounts of stuff as time goes on. From purchases that seemed like they would be useful at the time to frivolous and unneeded (or indeed, unwanted) presents, most of our homes, lofts, sheds and cellars teem with items that are gathering dust, never to see the light of day again.
Unfortunately, unless your home is of gargantuan proportions akin to Downton Abbey, or you are blessed with enough storage space to make the Room of Requirement in Hogwarts seem bijou, there will come a time when some of your items will need to go, in order to make room for people to live in your house!
Prioritise your treasures
If you have to go down the well-trodden path associated with getting rid of some of your old items, don’t make your first port of call, the local tip. It’s increasingly becoming easy to make money for your old things. Just remember the old adage that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Even the old Ant & Dec CD may well be coveted by someone, but hopefully someone who wants to make a collage out of old CDs or a nice wall hanging rather than listening to it!
Of course, a spring clean doesn’t always have to mean that everything goes. To go from a home packed with extraneous things to a very minimalist Japanese style existence is a step too far for most people, so be sure to only sell items that you don’t want or need.
Many of your items that are stashed away will hold some kind of sentimental attachment, whether they were brought back from faraway lands, or commemorate a landmark event in your life. Remember that any valuation you are given for items such as these is not likely to match your sentimental value for them, so always tread carefully when thinking of selling these items. A good rule of thumb is to think of how replaceable the item is, along with how much you think someone else might reasonably wish to pay for it. This should give you an idea of what to expect.
Weigh up convenience with price
If you are determined to get some cash for your things, it is wise to weigh up the cash potential for these items with the convenience associated with the means of selling them. For example, you may make the most from your items by posting a notice in the window of a local shop or taking out a stall in a car boot sale. Given that these methods of selling involve either fielding calls from numerous people regarding the items, or getting up at silly o’clock on a Sunday morning, they hardly prove convenient. A guaranteed offer for your items online may well be a more enticing prospect.
Peter Lofthouse has regularly had to clear his house of much loved Christmas presents, just to make room for new ones. Peter often writes articles for a range of sites on subjects like how easy it is to make money for your old things.
