If you’re looking for a way to make a little bit of extra money, one of the quickest ways to do this is to sell your unwanted items on Gumtree.
That’s right, you can declutter your home and make money simultaneously.
Here’s everything you need to know about selling items on Gumtree.
How to sell on Gumtree
How do I decide what to sell on Gumtree?
Gumtree has a broad range of categories in which you can sell items. And while you can certainly use the platform to get rid of used items you no longer want, you can also sell new things.
The categories include:
- Home and Garden
- Baby and Children
- Sport and Fitness
- Clothing and Jewellery
- Real Estate
- Cars and Vehicles
If you are still determining if you have anything worth selling, Gumtree has a list of trending search terms in each category for you to browse. If you have any items that appear on the lists, then there’s a good chance you will get a fast sale.
How much does it cost to sell an item on Gumtree?
It is possible to sell items for free on Gumtree. However, if you want to increase the number of people who see your ad, there are three paid packages offering various extras.
If you don’t want to purchase a package, some of the promotional features can be purchased separately.
- Highlighted background: $3.49 (7 days)
- Homepage Gallery: $13.99 (7 days)
- Top Ad: $9.99 (7 days)
How to price your items?
Unfortunately, your item is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it – but you can still try and sell it for the best possible price.
Alifa Putri runs an online secondhand start-up called SwapUp. She says it’s important to be reasonable with your pricing.
“Many people know not to price too high, but pricing too low also raises a red flag with buyers because they think there’s something wrong with your item,” she says.
It’s also a great idea to include the RRP in your listing.
“Mention the RRP so people feel like they’re getting a good deal,” says Alifa. After all, CBA Circular Economy report found that 55% of people buy secondhand to save money. But no need to use the word “cheap” or “bargain” in your listing because people are sick of hearing those from advertisers. Let them infer that from the RRP comparison.”
Once you’ve settled on a price, consider if you are willing to negotiate. Most buyers on Gumtree enjoy haggling and would be happy with a 10% discount. If you are open to negotiating your price, you can say ‘offers considered’ or ‘OBO’ (‘or best offer’).
Tips for your listing
Now that you’ve worked out what you’re going to sell and how much you will sell it for, there are a few more things to consider that will lead to more sales.
- Work out what makes your item attractive to buyers and include as much detail as possible in your ad. Alifa says, “List the original product name along with helpful adjectives to describe the item. For example: brand, size, colour, age (how long you’ve had it for, and mention if you can supply a receipt), condition (common phrases to use: like-new, good, fair).”
- Take lots of photos from different angles, ensuring they are well-lit, preferably with natural light, will make sure your listing stands out from the crowd. A little bit of styling can also help your item sell faster. The free listing offers 10 free photos, so make sure you use them all!
- Be honest about the quality of your item. If there’s a mark on it, write it down. Most people are happy as long as they haven’t been misled.
How do I start selling on Gumtree? Step-by-step instructions
1. Register an account
Head over to the Gumtree website and register here.
2. Create your add
- Click the “Post an ad” button in the top right-hand corner and create your ad.
- Choose the product category you want your ad posted in and provide as much detail as possible about your item.
- Upload photos
- Select your add package and any other promotional features
- Post!
Other things to know about selling on Gumtree
No international sales: Gumtree is for Australian sales only. If you want to broaden your customer base, then try eBay.
Watch out for scams: Gumtree has three rules to help you stay safe while using their service.
- Never send money by bank transfer or payment service that is not PayPal through Gumtree messages. We only recommend Gumtree’s PayPal integration or cash in person.
- If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true.
- Always use common sense.
Read more about avoiding scams on Gumtree here.
You might also like:
Things you should never buy second hand
How to furnish your home on a budget
How to upcycle a second hand table with tiles
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