FROM a mouth-watering feast to forking out on presents, there’s no denying that Christmas is the most expensive time of year.
But if you’re strapped for cash this festive season, then look no further…because a money whizz has revealed how you can make yourself an estimated £150 ahead of December 25.
And the good news is, it really couldn’t be any easier – and you don’t even need to leave your house.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous Digital, Ege Yilmaz, Head of Consumer Selling at eBay UK, explains: “There’s a lot of extra money to be made at this time of year by considering what you no longer use but could be of use in someone else’s home or even under someone else’s Christmas tree.
“From retro toys hiding away in the loft to a kitchen appliance you no longer love to use – it’s likely that there’s an item or two ready to be sold in your home right now.”
On average, research by eBay found that people estimate they could make more than £150 by selling items they no longer use online in time for Christmas, giving them a nice extra payday ahead of December.
But what’s really worth flogging online? Well, the experts have calculated the average selling prices for popular items in the home – and it could just make you a small fortune.
According to the findings, DIY tools like cordless drills could fetch you up to £60 on average, garden tables another £70 and old prams £120.
Not only that, but if you’ve got kitchen appliances and gadgets that are doing little more than gathering dust and taking up worktop space, then you may just want to listen up!
That’s because a tabletop blender could get you an estimated £40, an espresso and cappuccino machine £95, while a juicer could earn you around £35.
Not stopping there, the findings also show that soft toys fetch an estimated £10, men’s jumpers could earn you £20, and women’s trainers £30.
So, just when is the best day to sell on eBay and how can you get the most profit for your unused goods?
Prices are calculated via the products’ average selling price and sale price may vary
The money whizz explains that high-quality images are key to showing your listings in their best light.
“People won’t bid on items they cannot see,” he says.
“For best results, particularly in winter, take photos in good light and be sure to highlight flaws rather than hide them, sharing photos from as many angles as you can to gain buyer confidence.”
Ege urges people to make sure their listing heading is clear and concise.
“Don’t skimp on detail in the listing,” he warns.
“Be clear about the condition of the item, describing any imperfections and if you’re selling clothes, note the fit and feel of them.”
The money guru notes that more than half of all sales on eBay were viewed on a mobile device prior to purchase.
“Increase your chances of sales with mobile-friendly listings, with clear bullet pointed descriptions which are easy to scan and by uploading your images, and not including any in the description as this might not work well on a mobile device,” he advises.
Ege recommends people think to themselves: “How much would I pay for this item?”
He explains: “You can also search for similar sold items in the past to gauge how much you should list your item for in order to get the sale.
“Seasonality also plays its part, with items such as toys, games and winter coats selling best before Christmas.”
According to Ege, eBay’s busiest time for buyers is Sunday evenings, so if you’re using the auction function, schedule your listings to end around that time or alternatively for ‘buy it now’ items – upload at this time for maximum views.
He adds: “Ensure your item reaches your buyer on time and use tracking where possible to maximise purchase satisfaction.”
