I’ve been buying and selling my stuff on Facebook marketplace for a long time now. I mean, almost for as long as Facebook Marketplace has been a thing! I even sold my car using Facebook Marketplace. And you know what? I still love it! It allows me flexibility in decorating our home, helps me to make some money on stuff we’re no longer using, and my home is much more decluttered than it would be if I were just taking things to Goodwill. I’ve scored some deals buying amazing things off Facebook marketplace, and I’ve made some money while decluttering. Wins all around! Selling your stuff on Facebook Marketplace can be intimidating the first couple of times, so I thought I’d share some tips based on my experiences!
You can see my tips for buying stuff on Facebook Marketplace here.
13 Tips for Selling Your Stuff on Facebook Marketplace
Take good pictures
This is the number one tip for actually being able to sell your stuff!
- Remove clutter
- Have great light
- Post multiple pictures from different angles
- Take pictures of any damage, which leads to my next tip…
- If you can, include a screenshot of the item from the website of the store you bought it from. Seeing the original price and a brand the buyer’s like can help an item sell faster
Be upfront about the condition
It wastes everyone’s time if the buyer shows up and the condition isn’t what they thought it would. They’ll feel like you’re trying to rip you off and either offer less money or back out entirely. I’ve done this as a buyer and it’s always such a pain to drive all the way to someone’s house only to find out it’s not what you expected. The added benefit of being upfront in the listing is that it helps the buyer trust you more.
List it for more than you want to sell it
Be fair. But also bear in mind that most people plan on negotiating. I’ve found that people are not going to buy unless they feel like they get a good deal, so if you list it slightly higher than what you actually want to sell it for, they’ll offer less and you’ll both feel great about it. I always price my items by searching for existing listings in my area so I have a general idea of what things go for, then adjust the price by condition, brand, quality, age, etc.
Choose your title wisely
You’ll want to make sure that whatever you’re selling shows up in as many listings as possible. Make sure that everything is spelled correctly and consider adding multiple names. For example, when we sold a small dining table, I listed it as “small birch extendable dining table or desk.” All of those words will help people find your item more easily.
If you’re comfortable with it, offering why you’re selling something in the listing can help others feel more comfortable with the purchase.
As a buyer, I love knowing why someone is selling something. Is it because it’s a terrible product and I’m going to hate it too? Or is it because they’re moving and their furniture won’t fit in their new apartment? If you share why you’re selling something, it can help buyers feel safer about the purchase.
Check out their profile
I’ve heard of very few bad experiences on Facebook Marketplace, and have only had one truly bad experience myself, but it’s always a good idea to make sure that it’s a real person that you’re talking to. Check out their profile to make sure! If it looks really spammy, that could be a red flag. You want to see if they have a profile picture, friends, and have been on Facebook for a while.
Don’t feel like you have to hold the item for the first person who offers you money.
You can say something like “first come, first serve” in the listing. I usually don’t, but if a buyer says they don’t want to pick something up for a few days and I have other offers, I let them know that I’m entertaining other offers from people who would pick it up sooner. I typically will hold items for buyers for a day or two and will send others who are interested a message along the lines of “I have someone coming to buy it tomorrow. If they don’t show I’ll let you know!” I’ve found that the further ahead you schedule a pickup date, the greater chance they are of a no-show.
Think about where you want to meet people
I typically give people the address to our condos, but not our actual unit, and then meet them outside. You can also plan on meeting people in parking lots, etc., especially if it’s a smaller item. However, if you’re planning on meeting at a neutral location, you should keep in mind the following tip…
Be prepared for people not to show up or to be late
That’s happened to me a handful of times. Things happen. That’s why, as a seller, I’m not willing to bring things to them and typically just have buyers come to where I live. Sometimes they just get stuck in traffic. Sometimes they decided they don’t want to purchase the item and are too embarrassed to tell you.
Clean your item well
It’s not a requirement. It won’t get you more money. It’s just a decent thing to do, especially in a pandemic.
Consider accepting venmo, paypal, or other money transfer options instead of cash
Some people can’t get cash out easily, and some prefer not to use money transfer services. If you’re open to multiple payment options, you’re less likely to scare off a buyer.
Let people know what to expect regarding pickup
This is more relevant if you live in a more urban environment like us. We don’t have a driveway, so I usually tell people where to park and give them a heads up that they might have to double park. You can also determine if you want to do door pickup or if you’ll bring stuff out to them. Many people are severely limiting contact and feel more comfortable having buyers just pick it up from the front door, especially for smaller or less expensive items. It requires a little trust from both the buyer and the seller. I usually just tell people to let me know when they’ve arrived and I go out to meet them with my mask on.
Join Facebook Groups to Sell Your Stuff
Most areas have local Buy + Sell groups on Facebook. Facebook makes it pretty easy to join them and they definitely help get your items viewed by more people!
Phew! I had more thoughts on selling on Facebook Marketplace than I realized!
I’d love to hear if you’ve had great success selling your stuff! Any advice you’d add to my list?
P.S. I have a post about buying secondhand on Facebook Marketplace here.
