I’ve basically been a reseller all my life. Even way back in grade school I would buy candy in bulk and then resell them individually to classmates. I earned my candy with a little bit of work, but I also enjoyed it. I enjoy finding treasures in the trash, at a thrift store, at an auction, or at a yard sale. Sometimes I keep the item and use it, but most of the time I’m reselling it quickly for a profit. Even the items that I do use I usually end up selling them eventually and getting something else. I like finding that next treasure. There is no rush like the hunt for a good deal.
Over the years I’ve tried selling all sorts of things, and with my experience I can give you my recommendation for the best items you can flip for money. I find that most of these items are low risk and mostly easy to do. If you’re a rookie, then you should definitely start by trying out one of these top items.
1- Bicycles
I’m going to start with my personal favorite. Bicycles are one of the easiest things to flip for some extra income. It all started one day for me when I found a bike in the trash. It looked fine to me so I took it home. I pumped the tires, wiped it down, and sold it for $100. I was hooked. It didn’t take more than a total of an hour to do it all either.
You don’t have to look in the trash for bikes though to make a quick buck. You’ll find them everywhere. Garage sales, thrift stores, Craigslist and the list goes on. The key is understanding what each bike is worth. A little research on bikes and you’ll be an expert in no time. Name brands like Trek and Cannondale always sell for a premium. Here’s a hint, If the bike is selling for $20 or less then don’t even think, just buy it. You will surely sell it for at least $50.
Of Course, The better the condition of the bike the more it is worth. However, don’t shy away from a bike that looks dirty. Some of them just need a good wipe and they look 100 times better. In fact, I love finding the bikes that look dirty and ugly. Those are the ones I usually get for a deal, then clean them up and resell them for a profit.
2- Furniture
This is another one of my favorites. Just like bikes, you can find these in the trash. You probably have a reseller in your area that goes around on trash day looking for items in the trash. Most likely, a good portion of his trailer is filled with furniture. Furniture is something that can easily be cleaned up. A lot of the time the item just need a good wipe down. Other times, it does need some sanding and painting or staining.
The key is to try and get pieces that most people would want to buy, and that are easy for you to store and handle. Something like a small end table, or a small coffee table would be great. Steer clear of really heavy items that take up a lot of space and you should do ok.
3- Tools
People will always need tools, and you can usually find them for dirt cheap prices at yard sales. Power tools can be very expensive to buy new, but if you can find a good used one at a yard sale you can sometimes score a deal that is over 90% off of retail. It’s not uncommon to find power drills selling for $5 at yard sales. If the item needs power to work then you should try it out before you buy so you can limit your risk. If you can’t try it, then don’t buy it.
4- Yard equipment
Spilling over from the tools section and furniture section is yard equipment. Think lawn tools, and patio furniture. Yard equipment is another thing that a lot of people need for a home. You’ll find a lot of used lawn tools for dirt cheap at yard sales. Some of them might look rusty, but if they are still structurally sound and selling for cheap then you can buy them and flip them for some cash. Just use a power drill with a brush attachment to quickly get rid of those old rust spots and you can easily sell it for a profit.
Patio furniture can also go for cheap at garage sales. Some of those older vintage pieces can be lots of profit for a reseller. If it’s made out of iron or steel and it looks strong and durable then it will likely sell easily. If you can get them for cheap then don’t be afraid to give it a shot.
5- Blue and white china
I always find cheap plates and china at garage sales and estate sales. Sometimes it’s hard to know what you’re looking at though. There’s a simple way to do it though, and that’s by sticking to the common blue and white china pattern colors. Anything that is in this blue and white china style will be pretty easy to sell. I’ve sold planting pots, plates, vases, and ginger jars. Just google “blue and white china” and get an idea of what you’re looking for.
Where do I find how much things sell for?
So I’ve given some of the best items that you can sell or resell for a profit, but I haven’t told you how you can figure out how much you should pay for them. eBay is your best friend when it comes to figuring out what things are worth. Just head over there and search for the items you want to resell. Be sure to check the completed listing and see how much they have been selling for. A safe bet is to use the lower selling prices as a guide for how much an item will sell for.