TexasAntiqueMall.com

How to Sell Your Stuff

One Item?  A Collection?  Entire Estate?


Everyone loves collecting but eventually the time comes when you want to sell your stuff -
by the piece, entire collection or maybe you need to dispose of anentire estate you've inherited.




There are several different directions you can take depending on the item and the quantity of items you're wanting to dispose of.

Each method has it's own benefits as well as drawbacks - so we'll cover a little bit about each.

The main thing to remember before you begin any program is to have in mind the price you want for the item(s). You should have two prices in mind - the optimum price you would like to get as well as the lowest price you'll be willing to take.

You can find values for items in price guides, by shopping antique shops for like items, looking on auction sites to see what a comparable item sold for - or you can base the value on what you paid for it. While we all like to think our stuff is the best and 'who wouldn't pay top dollar' - sadly, this typically isn't the case.

And, if you plan to contact someone either directly or via email to sell your item(s), be sure you have the following information available:
  1. Name of manufacturer
  2. Any additional maker's marks or numbers
  3. Dimensions (width, length, depth, diameter, etc.)
  4. Good digital picture(s), preferably not to exceed 600x450 pixels in size
  5. Description including condition
  6. Is the box available?
  7. If the item has working parts, are they working?
  8. Are there any parts missing?
  9. Any other information that will help the buyer make a decision to purchase
  10. Price you want - don't expect people to make offers
  11. If you're selling a collection, have a list and price in mind that you want for the whole collection

Regardless of the method you choose to dispose of your items, take a little time to research what you have and what the value is. You may find it was well worht it. For information on how to use the Internet to research items - click here.


Method

Pro's

Con's
1. Garage Sale -
the easiest if you not trying to maximize your dollar value and you're in a hurry.


  1. Sell at your own convenience

  2. Negotiate your own prices


  1. Advertising costs

  2. May need sales help

  3. Possible theft
  4. Chance to 'undersell' item if you don't know what you've got.
2. Estate Sale - Your Own -
allows you to to get higher prices and operate at your own schedule.
  1. Sell at your convenience

  2. Negotiate your own prices
  3. Ability to remove items from sale
  1. Advertising costs

  2. May require sales help

  3. Possible Theft

  4. May need local permit

  5. May need to collect sales taxes
  6. Clean up responsibility
  7. Need to know value of items
3. Estate Sale - Professional -
they handle everything but be sure to request references beforehand.

  1. They handle all set up and pricing

  2. Take care of advertising
  3. Handle any tax collection.
  4. No clean-up if included in contract
  1. Payment for services; either percentage or flat fee

  2. Sign contract (read and understand terms before signing)
  3. Possible clean-up of site
4. Consignment Shop -
drop off items and pick up check.

  1. They handle all transactions

  2. Collect Payment
  1. Contract to sign - read terms carefully

  2. Forfeit percentage of selling price

  3. Possible damage to item(s) while on display
  4. Possible theft of items
5. Classified Ads -
ads available all the time

  1. Low cost or Free listings

  2. Multiple-categories to choose from
  1. Limited number of words

  2. Public coming to you home

  3. Crank inquiries
6. Direct Sale - Public -
you deal directly with purchaser

  1. Get best price

  2. You control transaction
  1. Public coming to your home

  2. Possible crank inquiries

  3. Possible bad check
7. Direct Sale - Dealer -
selling to a knowledgeable buyer with established traffic.

  1. Sell items all at once

  1. Only get 40-60% of item(s) value.

  2. Negotiate value and terms of sale
8. Auction -
drop off items, auctioneer takes care of everything else. Be sure to get references. More info here.

  1. Sell item(s) all at once

  2. No prep work of getting things ready or clean
  3. Auction can be held on location if estate sale
  4. They handle all transactions and tax consequences
  1. Contract to sign - read terms carefully

  2. Auctioneer gets percentage of selling price

  3. Remove unsold items from auction house
9.Online -
Continuous exposure

  1. Sell on established website like Ebay

  2. Make use of Free marketplace sites
  3. Put up your own website
  4. Expand your own websit to sell other items or do affiliate marketing.
Read More about how you can make money through Internet Marketing Here



  1. Ebay Fees and associated tasks like communications, payments, shipping, returned items.

  2. Free sites typically limit number of words and times to list.

  3. Costs associated with having own website,i.e., domain, hosting, webmaster cost if you do not know how to write HTML
10. Flea Market/Trade Day -
Set dates with established traffic

  1. Sell at established location

  2. Tables are available
  3. Built-in traffic
  4. No advertising costs



  1. Limited dates, (weekend, 1st weekend, etc.)

  2. Possibility of bad weather

  3. Must be available at all times to sell
  4. Need of means to make change and accept checks
  5. May have to travel to location
  6. Need to set-up/break-down booth
    7. booth











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