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Before the Auction: Selling Strategies for Spring-Cleaning continued ...

Some Trash Is Trash
But remember: Keep your feet on the ground. Many of your knickknacks, doodads, and gewgaws truly are junk. Many busted, broken, or simply bizarre items are nothing more than trash, and if you can't bear to look at them any more, go ahead and dispose of them. Of course, even though your various odds and ends likely won't command much attention at the online auctions, you still can make one last effort to pawn them off for a buck or two (or less) at a garage sale or flea market.

Key point here: It's not worth your time or your bidders' time to list and ship an item that pulls down only two bits. And, if you're unable to find someone to offer you 25 cents for that funky little item, you still could consider donating it (and other such curiosities) to Goodwill or some other thrift outlet--there's a potential for charitable deductions on your next income tax return.

Priced to Sell
Although you might find you have some items that could gain you some extra income at the auctions or elsewhere, you still need to remember your initial goal: to get rid of it. Therefore, price your items to sell. If auctioning, list with low starting bids and no reserves. If there's a market for the item and the potential for decent bids, let the bidders do the work. Price your stuff too high and bidders will look elsewhere. You don't need to necessarily give your stuff away (especially if it's something truly collectible or otherwise desirable), but remember that any money you can glean from your castoffs is more than you'd get by merely throwing them out in the trash.

Whistle While You Work
Lastly, if you're content to just get rid of junk that clutters your life, then enjoy the process of selling it off for whatever you can get. Many sellers marvel at the eagerness of bidders who truly want their throwaways. It's fun (and even amusing) to watch others scuffle for the stuff you could give a hang about. You might not necessarily make a mint, but the little money you might earn could pay for a night on the town or simply provide some extra mad money.

In these cases, be happy with what you get and enjoy the fact that others are paying you to clean out your closet.

Dennis Prince is the author of Online Auctions at eBay: Bid With Confidence, Sell With Success. He has been an active buyer and seller at various online auction sites since 1995. Send him email at dlprince@bigfoot.com.

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