by Bruce Tyson

Created on: January 05, 2010   Last Updated: January 07, 2010

Rather than tossing your excess belongings into the trash, why not get some money from it? Ebay and garage sales are the two most popular ways to convert junk into cold cash.

eBay

The eBay marketplace, is one of the first places that come to mind when a person has something to sell. Here are a few good reasons why selling surplus possessions on eBay are a good choice:

Market. Millions of potential customers shop on eBay every day creating good selling odds. Flexibility. Sellers can list items on eBay any day of the week and at any time of day. Item listings can even be scheduled to start at a specific time on a specific day. Fun. For people who enjoy challenges, eBay is perfect. Getting the best possible photograph, wording the perfect item listing, getting the best balance between starting price and shipping and handling costs, etc. Selling on eBay takes a lot of work, but it can be exciting. Payment. When an item sells, the money goes into the seller's PayPal account. The seller can then download the money to a bank account or use it to go shopping on the web.

Of course, eBay has some bad things too. Selling on eBay is not as easy as some people believe. Here are a few considerations to make before jumping in:

Selling price. With so many people selling on eBay, sometimes selling prices on auctions are way too low. Fees. Listing an item on eBay costs money, selling an item on eBay costs money. Even getting paid for an item costs money. Selling on eBay is not cheap. Time. Items need to be cleaned, photographed, described, and listed. If the house has to be cleared out quickly, eBay might not be the best choice.  Problem buyers. Buyers who don't pay, try to get stuff for free, etc.. Selling on eBay is risky.

Garage Sales

Like eBay, garage sales can be a lot of fun too. A seller can take out an advertisement in the newspaper, put out a couple homemade signs, and haul all the excess stuff into the garage, driveway and yard, and see what happens. The following are some reasons why a garage sale is a good way to sell excess stuff:

Clean out the house fast. With a garage sale, all the stuff can go right away. It all has to be outside if any customers are going to buy it. Set time period. The seller is in control and a definite deadline exists for getting rid of the stuff. Meet people. People come to yard sales come from all types of backgrounds and economic brackets. Garage sales are perfect for people who enjoy meeting new faces. Money. What sells at garage

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