How to Flip Used items To Sell Online

You've probably heard of people flipping houses before. What generally happens is they take a run-down property that needs a little TLC. Then, they fix it up and sell it for a higher price than what they paid for along with how much they spent to fix it up in order to make a profit.

What you may or may not know is that you don't need to be on HGTV flipping homes to make a little profit. Instead, you can sell used items that you've ‘flipped' online.

When you need to make extra money fast, it helps to start selling unwanted items from your home. But that's only a quick fix. Once you've sold everything you have, your extra income will go away unless you make it consistent. Flipping used items you pick up or purchase can help provide you with consistent extra income or even turn into a thriving side business.

Here's how to get started.

Choose Which Items You Want to Sell

When you decide to flip something for profit it's important to choose a product category that sells well. You'll also want to consider the initial value of the item and what your budget is to invest in inventory.

Ask yourself:

• Are the items you want to sell cheap to purchase used?
• Can you find them for free on the side of the road?
• Are there any special places where you can score a discount, whether it's a retail store that's closing, an online bargain boutique, or a local thrift store?

It also helps to perform research online to see what items are selling best these days or you can check out popular websites like Amazon, eBay and Craigslist to see which items are being advertised most and the price sellers are listing them at.

For example, on eBay, you can check to see if a particular item you are interested in selling has been recently sold by someone else. This will help you get some insight on how popular the item is and how much it sells for so you can determine a realistic price point.

Some items that are best sellers online include:

• Clothes and shoes
• Electronics
• College textbooks
• Movies
• Video games
• Toys
• Sport-related items
• Action figures
• Household supplies
• Art and crafts 

Use the Right Platform

There are certain online platforms that are best for selling specific items and this is important to keep in mind if you're trying to fix up and sell used items. For example, eBay, Amazon, and Craigslist are great for selling a wide variety of items.

However, if you want to sell clothing, you should consider listing some of your items on sites like:

• Poshmark: Best for trendy and designer women's clothing and accessories
• ThredUp:  A reputable online consignment shop

If you're selling a car, a good place to create your listing is:

• Craigslist
• Facebook marketplace

For used textbooks, these sites are great platforms to use to reach your target buyer:

• Bookscouter
• TextbookRush
• BookFinder

Use Descriptive Keywords When Creating Your Listing

Keywords are very important especially if you will be selling items on Amazon or eBay. When listing an item for sale on either of these sites, it’s important to include a detailed description along with relevant keywords that will help your listing show up when shoppers are searching for something similar.

Great keywords include brand names, color, size, and details about the condition. Make sure you don’t skip the description portion either. Adding a one to three sentence description for each listing may sound time-consuming, but it will be a way to fit more keywords into your listing and help improve your chances of selling your item(s) online sooner.

Think about what someone shopping for the item may search.  For example, “Vintage rainbow jeans, size 10, from 1976” has specific searchable keywords.  In contrast, “Vintage jeans. So cute!” does not contain as many keywords and will likely not perform as well.

The more specific you are, the more potential buyers you will attract.

Extra Tips

Make sure you always include a high-quality picture of the item in your listing. You don't need a fancy camera to take pictures when you can utilize natural lighting and the right angles.

When someone inquires about your item, be sure to respond promptly and honestly as this can accelerate the sale. Also, try your best to purchase shipping supplies ahead of time so they'll be ready to go when you get an order.

If you are using Amazon to sell items, you can sign up for Fulfillment by Amazon which is a service that allows you to send your items to an Amazon warehouse so they can be packaged and shipped out for you when you get orders.

Final Thoughts on Flipping Items Online

If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and enjoy selling items online, you can make some extra cash on the side or turn it into a full-time job. Start by doing your research.  Consider which items you'd like to sell, where you would buy those items, and what items are in demand. Then, set up a platform account that works well for your item. Lastly, list those items with specific keyword descriptions. Have fun!

Have you ever tried to sell items online before? What types of things would you be interested in flipping to make a profit?

You May Also Like:

• 6 Ways To Sell Your Hair Online for Extra Money
• How to Make Money Reading and Selling Books Online
• Best Places to Sell Your Handmade Arts and Crafts Online