A quick inventory around your home could bring in hundreds of dollars to help pay bills.
7 Things You Can Sell Online Fast When Money is Tight Due to COVID-19
Being stuck at home while self-quarantining due to a COVID-19 government order or being out of work due to the public health emergency has its pros and cons. The biggest con is that if you’ve been furloughed or laid off, money is probably tight. But there’s a pro in there, too.
There’s no better opportunity to look around your home, in your basement, attic or garage to find ways to scrounge up extra cash by selling stuff online as city and state COVID-19 lockdowns loosen.
Click or swipe for 7 household items you can sell fast for extra money to pay the bills.
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1. Exercise equipment
Have your dumbbells become “dustbells” because you never lift them from the floor or expensive rack you bought to hold them? What about that weight bench and barbells you never use, the treadmill you never run on or the stationary bike you never ride?
You can always sell exercise equipment on Craigslist or another online marketplace. Will you get what you paid for the equipment? Probably not, if you want to sell it fast. But you’ll have quick cash in your hands, and some lucky recipient can start his or her new fitness regimen.
Tip: Price large items like treadmills lower than the competition and offer to deliver at no charge.
2. Dog crates
Remember when you paid anywhere from $50 to $150 for a dog crate for your new rescue dog? If that dog was a puppy, you may even have shelled out more money for at least one larger crate as your furry companion grew into an adolescent or adult.
Now your dog is housetrained and lounges on the couch and bed like he owns the place. So why not sell your used dog crate to a new pet owner and make extra money while giving someone else a great deal?
Tip: Clean and sanitize the dog crate and be sure to mention that selling point in your ad.
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3. Cat carriers
No one wants to get scratched to death trying to bundle up a freaked-out kitty in a towel for a trip to the vet. That’s just one reason cat owners need cat carriers. The carriers also come in handy for moving or travel.
So, if you have an extra cat carrier around the house because your cat passed away or you upgraded to a cat carrier you like better, you’ll sell the item fast.
Tip: Price your cat carrier $5 lower than what other sellers are asking online to beat the competition.
4. Lamps
Unless your lamp is so high end that few can afford it or so rickety that nobody would want it, you can almost always sell a floor or table lamp quickly online.
Tip: Take photos of the lamp while it’s lighted and price on the low end to sell fast and make the item stand out from other lamps listed.
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5. Office chairs
Office chairs are expensive, and if you’ve upgraded from your original desk chair, you can sell the earlier version online to someone setting up a home office.
Tip: Clean the chair well and photograph it beside a tidy, spotlessly clean desk so the buyer has an image of how the chair might look in his or her home office.
6. Tools and machinery
With spring here and summer near, plenty of people are looking for hedge trimmers, lawnmowers, power washers, ladders and tools for yard cleanup and home maintenance.
Tip: Place the link to the item listed at a big box store in the ad so buyers can see how much it costs new, read the specifications and look at professional photos.
7. Bicycles
More people are out and about now that gyms are temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. And now that the weather is warmer, riding a bike is a great cardio workout. So, if you have a bike that you never ride, how about letting someone who will love and use that bicycle get a good deal while you score extra cash.
Tip: List or place a link to the bike, frame and wheel specifications in the ad and photograph the bike outside rather than in a dusty garage or basement.
This article by Deb Hipp was originally published on Debt.com.
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About the Author
Deb Hipp
Deb Hipp is a full-time freelance writer based in Kansas City, Mo. Deb went from being unable to get approved for a credit card or loan 20 years ago to having excellent credit today and becoming a homeowner. Deb learned her lessons about money the hard way. Now she wants to share them to help you pay down debt, fix your credit and quit being broke all the time. Deb's personal finance and credit articles have been published at Credit Karma and The Huffington Post.
Published by Debt.com, LLC