How to Turn Your Unwanted Possessions Into Cash Online

2. Create a targeted title and description

Coming up with a good title for your online listing is key to connecting with customers. “Your title is important and will draw buyers in, so be sure to use brand and product names like ‘vintage Pyrex mixing bowl,'” says Tiffany Olson, a trend expert at Mercari.

Kristi Carambula, 68, of Portage, Michigan, is an avid Facebook Marketplace seller. She says the listing — meaning the description of the item outside of the title — can be equally important. “I like to write a catchy phrase at the beginning of my listings,” she says. When she sold an RV, her listing started with “All the comforts of home.” When two copper mugs were up for sale, she asked “Moscow mules anyone?” The phrases are designed to catch the eye of people scrolling through.

Once she has a potential buyer's attention, Carambula quickly provides all the information needed. “I list the things a buyer is likely wanting to know,” she says. “For the RV I sold, I included its age, all updated items, details about the appliances and towing package, etc.,” she says.

3. Think keywords

Keywords are the words and phrases people type into a search engine to find what they're looking for online, so if you're selling on the internet it helps to be a savvy here. This ties in to Olson's emphasis on titles. For example, “Vintage Pyrex Mixing Bowl” is the exact phrase that someone might type into a search engine.

Keywords are important whether you're selling or buying, says Karen McMahon, 55, of East Schodack, New York. “As a buyer, I frequently look up brand names that I'm a fan of on Facebook Marketplace to see if anyone is selling an item I'm interested in,” she says.

When she is selling online, she'll include brand names in her listings to help buyers find the exact items they want — both in titles and in item descriptions. “Provide as many details as you can on the item,” Olson says. This helps a buyer make a purchase decision, but it also helps interested parties find the items among the vast offerings of the internet.

4. Pictures, please

When McMahon posts items to Facebook Marketplace, she uses high-quality photos and lots of them.

"In my experience, the more images the better, so you give prospective buyers a good idea of the item before they make a purchase,” she says. McMahon takes the time to stage the item, whether furniture, an antique or an appliance, putting it in natural light and refraining from flash or filters, to “help buyers envision the item in their own life."

5. Be responsive

When a buyer is interested in an item, one of the most important things a seller can do is be available to answer queries as soon as possible.

"Being active on the platform and making myself available to quickly answer questions, coordinate meeting times and facilitate payment helps people feel comfortable with the process,” McMahon says. “I also find that when people know what they're looking for they're likely contacting numerous Facebook Marketplace sellers with related items. Being quick with my responses allows me to shore up interest and ensure that I'm getting the sale.”

If you don't want to be stuck on your computer all day while trying to sell an item, take a tip from Carambula and set up a specific block of time to post items when you can be available to quickly answer inquiries as they roll in.

"Some things generate lots of interest and people are eager to buy, so my quick response, honest answers and tracking the order in which offers come in is more than a courtesy, it's essential in establishing credibility,” she says. Once an item sells, Carambula quickly marks it as sold and alerts other interested would-be buyers about the sale so they can move on. “They seem to appreciate that and thank me for letting them know.”

6. Be honest

"I always recommend being forthright with the condition of your item — specifically call out any flaws or wear and tear that your buyers should be aware of before purchasing,” McMahon says. “The last thing you want is for someone to feel duped that what they purchased was not as advertised, especially when they've gone through the trouble of traveling to pick it up."

7. Make the deal safely

The great news about online selling is that typically the buyer or the site pays for shipping. For example, on eBay, shipping is automatically calculated and a buyer usually gets an estimate of cost.

Other sites, like Decluttr, pay for the shipping, making it even easier for buyers and sellers to make an exchange. Even Facebook Marketplace allows sellers to choose whether they want to ship items or allow for local pickup. “You'll be surprised by how wide people cast their net when looking for an item they're really interested in, so as a seller, it might be worth considering shipping your item or accommodating nonlocal interest,” says McMahon.

If you are making sales in person, use common sense when meeting up with buyers. If the item being exchanged is small, people often set a public place — like a school or restaurant parking lot — to meet up. If you're selling a large item that would need to be picked up from your home, it can be trickier. Sellers may prefer to do exchanges during daylight hours and have a relative or friend at home with them when the buyer arrives.

Melissa Locker is a contributing writer who covers lifestyle, home and garden, and arts and culture. She has also written for Southern Living, TIME and The Guardian.