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Ways to Clean Our Clutter and Junk

Do you or other people in your household have a habit of building up clutter? Maybe you have items which you have outgrown, lost interest with, or just no longer need, all packed into a closet or taking up space in the garage.
	Well, if you consider the phrase “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure,” then you could could be sitting on a small gold mine. There are a few different ways that you can sell your unused items. With a little bit of work and preparation, you can get rid of your clutter and also earn yourself a tidy sum while doing so.

Get Rid of Clutter Online

Pretty much anything can be sold online, from broken electronics to houses, from chicken suits to lampshades. Of course, if you have many items, it can be very time consuming, especially if you are not used to using online tools to sell items.

eBay is, of course, the most commonly used auction site, and is very useful when trying to clear out clutter from the home. eBay has a market place for almost any item with only very few exceptions. Through eBay, you can sometimes sell items for much more than you could anywhere else.
Read our article “Sell Your Unwanted Items on eBay” for a much more in-depth review, and many tips on how to do this.
Works For: Almost Anything (some exceptions being - wild animals, firearms, and fake or counterfeit currencies) .

You can use specialized sites such as Amazon, Cash4Books, or Half to sell old books, cds, video games, and movies. For more information on selling books and other media, go to “Selling Used Books and Other Media.”
Works For: Used Books, CDs and other media.

Buymytronics and Gazelle are websites that pay you to recycle your old and used electronics. If you have an old cell phone lying around, or a faulty vhs player, then you may be able to get some money for it. Read, “Making Money by Recycling.”
Works For: Used and faulty electronics.

Craigslist has in recent years taken the place of old fashioned newspaper classified ads. Listings are free and can be made quickly. Selling is localized, which is very useful for bigger items that need to be picked up rather than shipped. See “A How to Guide for Selling Stuff on Craigslist."
Works For: Anything.

Yard Sales and Flea Markets

For a way to sell clutter and junk relatively quickly, and without having to spend hours typing out item descriptions online, yard sales and flea markets would be your best option. Preparation is required for a successful sale, but the process can be enjoyable and worthwhile. You may be surprised at what you are able to sell. For more information, read “Yard Sale Tips and How to Maximize Your Profits ” and “How to Sell at a Flea Market."
Works For: Anything.

Consignment Stores

Try getting rid of clutter by taking it to consignment stores (also known as second hand stores). They will offer you a portion of the proceeds from the sale of any item that you bring in to them. Payment will not usually be made until if and when the item sells. For more information, read “Making Money From Consignment Stores."
Works For: Clothing, books, furniture, sports equipment, household items, toys.

Auctions

For clutter of value, such as jewelry or furniture, it may be worthwhile going through an auctioneer. It will often be necessary to get the jewelry or antique appraised beforehand.
Works For: Quality jewelry and furniture.

Antique and Collectible Dealers

If you suspect that you have antique or collectible items, then search for your nearby dealers and see how much they will offer you. It is possible that you would earn be less than you would by selling the items yourself, but it could be a lot quicker and easier.
Works For: Antiques and Collectable Items.

Newspapers

People still do check the classified sections of newspapers, so this is still a worthwhile tip for selling your junk and clutter.
You will generally have to pay to list in the classifieds, plus you will be limited to the number of words you can print, but it reaches the buyers who do not use the internet.
Works For: Anything

Other Ways for Getting Rid of Clutter

Bring your junk into pawn shops for a quick sale. They won’t take any type of junk though, and don’t expect to get the true value of the item or even close to it. The big advantage is that is is quick and easy.
If you have musical instruments for sale, try contacting the music director at a local school. They are often looking for discounted instruments.
The same technique may also work for used computer equipment. Contact local schools and colleges to see if they have a need for them.
If you have old appliances that don’t work, you may be able to trade them in for cash by taking them to local recycling centers. Read, “Earn Money by Recycling Scrap Metals ."
If you have barely used baby toys and clothes. Try listing them through parental websites.

Written by Jon Boyd Barrett

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