It pays to wait for the holiday season to sell your stuff

By Fergus Halliday

December 29 2021
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Side-hustlers looking to make the most from offloading their second-hand goods online may want to keep a few things in mind.

Flipping your old phone or furniture online via platforms like Facebook Marketplace is hardly a new phenomenon, but it’s also never been easier.

Gumtree Australia spokesperson David Low told nestegg that savvy Aussies could start the holiday season with a few extra bucks by cashing in on their pre-loved items via online shopping platforms.

Pointing to the company’s recent Gumtree Trading in the Circular Economy report, he suggested that each Australian household has around 21 unwanted items that could be sold.

“These items could translate into approximately $5,300 to boost Aussies’ Christmas spend or savings,” Mr Low said.

Speaking to nestegg, Gumtree said that the most popular items on the platform are typically priced between $210 and $1,927.

Bikes, surfboards and fridges topped the list here. However, second-hand furniture and smartphones also proved popular.

Of the top 10 most searched items, Gumtree found that ride-on mowers had the highest average listing price.

For those looking to follow up their spring cleaning by selling off their second-hand goods online, Mr Low had a number of tips.

The first of these was to pay attention to timing.

“A great way to decide what to sell and when is to look at the time of the year and the latest trends,” he said.

For instance, with summer around the corner, Mr Low said that sellers are likely to find heightened interest around items like surfboards, BBQs and outdoor furniture.

By offering what’s in demand, he said that Aussies might be able to find more motivated buyers and come away with a cheekier profit.

Another thing he recommended to side hustlers was to pay attention to what’s happening in the market.

“New product launches are also a useful guide to know what and when to sell or buy,” Mr Low said.

According to Gumtree data, the launch of the latest Samsung and Apple smartphones typically coincides with a spike in searches for the previous model.

“By trading pre-loved items, Australians can not only make money but they’re also doing something good for the environment by giving goods an extended life instead of sending them to landfill,” Mr Low said.

About the author

Fergus Halliday

Fergus is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He likes to write about money, markets, how innovation is changing the financial landscape and how younger consumers can achieve their goals in unpredictable times.

About the author

Fergus Halliday

Fergus is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He likes to write about money, markets, how innovation is changing the financial landscape and how younger consumers can achieve their goals in unpredictable times.

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