Trash to Cash…Where to Get Things
in Your Own Home
to Sell
by Lynn Dralle
The Queen of Auctions
Updated 5/17/05
Where can you find merchandise to make all that money on eBay? We have been very fortunate in our eBay adventures because our Grandmother (my mom's mom) Cheryl Leaf owned and operated an antiques store for 52 years! 52 years…Can you imagine how much stuff we still have? We are probably the exception not the rule. But think about it, most Americans are pack rats. The first place to look for merchandise is……in your own house.
Get a big box and start a pile. I tell people that you will be amazed once you start doing your research what sells and what doesn't! The exception is the RULE. You just never know—I am shocked every day at what sells and what doesn't. I was listing some incredible antique majolica jardinières the other evening and when doing my research I found that they only sell in the $20 range. I had a new creamer/sugar in the shape of a trailer and Nash automobile that was going for $44. Kitschy, unusual and strange often sells for more than authentic and antique.
In General you should be looking for the following:
- Items you don't use or need anymore
- Things in good condition
- Items that are still in the original box (MIB-mint in box)
- Anything with a brand name or signature
- New or like new clothing-mint with tags is great (MWT)
- Unique or unusual things
- Items that were very expensive originally
- Shabby Chic, Vintage and Antique items
- Items made in the USA, Europe and sometimes Japan
- Stay away from items made in Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan
Go through your home and look in your:
Garage
Toys, Sports Equipment, Hunting & Fishing items, Golf is really hot right now, Car Parts (a woman at my last LA Class told me about a friend who got $8,000 for a rare car part!) etc.
Attic
Look for antique clothing, ephemera (paper goods like Victorian scrap, letters and postcards)--you would not believe what old magazines can bring. My ex-husbands skateboard magazines from the 1970's sold for $20 to $100 each! Old toys, collections, anything that has been put away for a while.
Kitchen
China, Dinnerware, Silverware, Appliances, Refrigerator Dishes are desirable now, Anything that has a brand name or is signed, Old Tins, etc.
Bedrooms
Your Closets: Look for clothing with brand names that is in good to excellent condition, brand name purses, scarves, signed costume jewelry, bakelite (an early form of plastic).
Your kid's closets: Clothing that is gently worn, brand names like Baby Gap, Old Navy, Gymboree, Tommy Hilfiger (I just sold a Tommy size 7 boys denim shirt with new tags for $16.49—I paid $7.99 at TJMaxx) etc. all do well, NWT (new with tags) always does well.
Your kid's toy cabinet: Look for brand names and anything you can put back in an original box. Little Tykes, Barbie and Thomas the Tank Engine are all good. Trains, Cars, Dolls, Books, Airplanes etc.
Bathrooms
Old perfume bottles, medical bottles and vintage (1970's) cosmetics. We sold a Faberge Dusting Powder Set from the 1970's in the original box for $25.00. Wild!
Bookshelves
Old Books do sell well. Look for unusual titles, author signed and first editions. Also, look for magazines.
China Cabinets
Look for antiques, glassware/china/porcelain that is signed. Stemware like Waterford does great. Lladro, Precious Moments and Boyds are some popular collectibles now.
CD/Cassette/Record Cabinet
Yes even old LP's and CD's sell well on eBay. I just sold a James Bond Casino Royale Album for $31.00!
DVD/Video Case
Same with videos and DVDs. It all just depends on the demand. A girl in one of my classes was making $1000 a month selling her old videos and CD's at online auction.
Do your Research. Once you have your big box or pile of items it is time to do your research. This is the fun part! Go to eBay and do your completed auction research.Click on the blue advanced search button in the upper right hand corner. When the next screen comes up type in key words and make sure you click the completed listings only button. If you do a search by what is currently up for sale, you will have no idea of the value of what you are trying to buy. Most buyers only bid in the last few seconds and these results will only show up in a completed auction search. By doing this completed auction research, you can find out what your item has sold for from other sellers and you can strategize a maximum price to pay. eBay makes this data public record for the past two weeks. This information is invaluable.
Type in as few key words as you can. For example, for the Majolica jardinières I typed in Majolica planter. Look at as many of the listings that are close to what you have. You can learn a lot by reading the descriptions. If you have decided to list your items, now is the time to take down notes. My auction tracking sheets—I sell—are perfect for this. You can find my record keeping books here. Write down the best category and it's number, write down any interesting facts and anything that will make your listing better.
As another example of research, for the creamer and sugar, I typed in creamer trailer and up came about 10 listings. From my research into the cream and sugar I found that they were made by Fitz & Floyd and were very desirable. I wrote all this down on my tracking sheets. I also wrote down the price range of what they sold for. Again, I was shocked to find that they were selling in the $40 range.
Happy Selling!
I hope that gives you some good places and ideas to get started. Clean up your home and make money! GOOD LUCK and Happy Selling.
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