Guest post by Jamie Breese, decluttering expert, for Gumtree.com
Springtime. The birds are singing, the daffodils blooming, and you’re itching to give the house a really thorough blitzing. Recent research by Gumtree.com, the online noticeboard, has found that this kind of seasonal spring clean can not only free up much needed space, but you can make a huge amount of cash from the clutter of the unused and unwanted everyday household things you clear out.
Did you know that the average UK household is hording a staggering £581 per person worth of workable everyday possessions, things like kitchen appliances, DVDs and sporting equipment?
You can save space and make money by selling unwanted everyday items. We know from our experience that here is always someone out there who wants something you might not want anymore. Most of us have no idea what the stuff in our attic is worth. Many people think that old kettles, sporting equipment and DVDs are worthless – but it couldn’t be further from the truth.
To help give a guide, we have put together the GRP, or Gumtree Retail price, of the most common unwanted goods you are likely to have in your cupboards:
| Hoarded items | Percentage of people that claim to keep unwanted items | GTP Gumtree Price Index (average price on Gumtree.com) |
|---|---|---|
| DVDs and CDs | 73% | £11 |
| Kitchen appliances | 23% | £37 |
| Toys | 18% | £13 |
| Computer games | 16% | £21 |
| Music electronic equipment | 11% | £54 |
To further maximise the cash from the goods cluttering up your home, here are some of my top tips:
- Don’t feel guilty about letting go of items you have a personal attachment to – it’s amazing how good you feel when you get extra cash for that ‘unwanted present’. If in doubt think of a price that feels right and add 10 per cent
- Sell items with the instructions manual if you still have them to get extra value – this is especially for technology items or gadgets and kitchen appliances
- Group lower-value items and sell as a job lot – items like a toaster, kettle and sandwich maker work well together and help appeal to those looking to update their kitchen
- Look for first editions or rare albums – books and music are some of the most hoarded items in the UK, if an album has a dustjacket or is a first edition then it could be worth a lot of money
- Present the product well – to get the most from your Gumtree gem give the item a good clean or polish and present it well in your photos, this will help catch the eye of potential buyers
- Consider how old the item is – with everyday household items, the newer the better. To help determine your Gumtree price ask yourself – is this a trusted brand? Has this games console been superseded? Do I have the washing machine’s service notes? How much was this new?
- Look on Gumtree.com – see how much other sellers have listed their items for, undercut them if you can to help secure a fast sale
Another great site is http://www.musicmagpie.co.uk -they give you cash for your old CDs, DVDs and games if you want. I used them because I hate ebay as you get so many false bids.