7 Top Tips for Successfully Selling Your Secondhand Items Online (Plus Where to List Them in 2026)

The average household holds onto approximately 19 items they no longer need or want, and turns out you’re not alone – 85 per cent of Aussies report having pre-loved or unused items sitting around the house.

According to a survey conducted by Statista, Australians who sold their secondhand items, which they no longer needed or used, earned as much as $5,400 in 2019 and $7,000 in 2022. Australia’s secondhand market as a whole is now valued at an estimated $62 billion, according to Gumtree’s own Trading in the Circular Economy report – proof that decluttering and making a bit of extra cash have well and truly gone mainstream.

So, whether you want to save some money or, better yet, make some money, with the help of financial expert Glen James, we’ve rounded up seven top tips for successfully selling and buying your secondhand items online, plus where you should actually be listing them in 2026.

Turn it into a package deal

For example, if you’re selling an old game console your children or grandkids used to play on, throw in some extras like a game or accessories to seal the deal.

“It also helps if you’re trying to declutter your home of unused items and make room for some new things,” James says.

Negotiate on your terms

James says it’s important to remember that you’re selling the item and ultimately have the power at the end of the day to decide on the final price. So if you’re not happy with the price someone is offering, it’s okay to say no, he says, adding: “You can always pause or edit your listing to make the description more detailed and wait for another offer.”

As a general rule of thumb, don’t start with the lowest price first.

Do your research

Whether you’re selling or buying, James says to make sure you dedicate time to research what’s out there to help you understand the average price of similar items.

“There are a few rules to it: search by brand, search by style and search by similar age — both new and used,” he says.

Get into the plant business

According to James, money really does grow on trees, well plants for that matter. He says with the recent boom in plants if you have any houseplants at home, propagate them and sell the new cuttings online.

“These are big sellers on Marketplace, so think as a business expert — low cost, high margin and money will grow on trees,” he says.

Interact with your buyers

Want to increase your chances of selling an item? James says to make sure you respond promptly to messages from potential buyers. To do this, make sure you turn on your notifications to avoid missing any messages.

Provide a shipping option

Glen says adding a shipping option to your listing may also increase your chances of selling an item — and in this day and age, a contactless delivery option is always a plus!

Upcycle and then recycle

If you’re thinking of tossing out an old piece of furniture, don’t! Why not restore it and then pop it up online? You’ll save a trip to the dump and also make a bit of extra coin on the side.

“Often a wooden table or chair just needs a good wash and a polish with any wood oil or polish you have around the house,” James says.

Where should you actually be listing your items in 2026?

The platform you choose can matter just as much as your listing itself. Here’s a quick guide to matching what you’re selling with where it’ll find the right buyer:

Facebook Marketplace remains the biggest general-purpose option, with free listings and a huge, local buyer base. It’s genuinely well-suited to almost anything, particularly items you want to sell quickly to someone nearby.

Furniture-specific platforms are now a genuine category of their own. A newer Australian platform, Zirkly, has emerged specifically for furniture, positioning itself on buyer quality and intent rather than raw traffic volume. If you’re selling a larger or higher-value piece, it’s worth listing there alongside Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree to maximise your reach.

Gumtree remains a solid choice, particularly for large household items, cars, or anything with genuine national or collector appeal, given its longstanding, broad user base.

Depop and Vinted have become the go-to platforms specifically for clothing and fashion resale, with active, dedicated buyer communities that a general marketplace listing won’t reach in the same way.

eBay continues to be the strongest option for electronics, parts and collectibles, particularly if you’re after buyers outside your immediate area.

It’s also worth knowing that listing the same item across more than one platform at once is common practice and genuinely increases your chances of a fast sale — just be sure to mark it as sold everywhere the moment it goes, to avoid frustrating other interested buyers.

This article was originally published on September 7, 2020, and has been updated.