Selling on Facebook // Everything You Need to Know
- millitelloashley
- May 4
- 9 min read
Updated: May 6
You all know I am huge advocate of decluttering. It should be a task that occurs regularly {like a household chore}, not once a year during spring cleaning. When you do declutter or have unwanted items, do you sell them? Is it worth your time and energy? Read on if you are interested in earning some extra side cash!
Facebook Marketplace is a powerful modern day tool that you should definitely utilize! Gone are the days of old school garage sales being your only option of trading your unwanted goods for cash. It makes it easy to swap home styles, room decor, update on a budget, dress up your wardrobe, provide your kids with the latest and greatest at a discount, and so much more!
While Marketplace is fabulous, Local Facebook Groups are where I have had some of my best luck selling. Typically when I list an item I will post on Marketplace in addition to several of my local buy/sell/trade groups. This gives you more visibility and makes for a quicker sale. Added bonus, it is easier to "bump" your items so more members see it.
Top Ten Tips For Selling on Facebook {Marketplace & Groups}
01 // No One Wants Your Junk, Sell Quality Items
Buying on Facebook Marketplace takes way more effort than purchasing from a store or having Amazon deliver to you! A buyer needs to reach out, communicate, set a time and place, possibly bring exact change if you want cash payment, and then drive out their way to meet you.
That’s a lot.
Make it worth their time and effort by pricing right. If you are selling an item for only a couple of dollars less than buying new, guess who’s going to get the sale? Hint: it’s not you.
02 // Know Your Audience
The buyers browsing Facebook Marketplace are not looking to purchase at or even close to retail value. This is the sole reason they are searching what is essentially a virtual garage sale... they are looking for a DEAL! When pricing your item, take this into consideration and aim for a low-mid range price for a quick sale. Any money you make is a win!
The money that you spent on an item is already gone. It is spent. It was spent the moment you swiped your credit card, tapped your phone, or hit the purchase now button.
Holding onto that item will NOT bring the dollar amount back to your bank account.
SOME MONEY is better than NO MONEY!
03 // Stay Safe, Protect Yourself & Your Information
Think “stranger danger”. If you are allowing someone to pick up from your home, meet them out front or opt for a porch pick up. Public meet ups are preferable due to the fact that you are not exposing your home address and there are others around during the transaction. In these busy times though that is not always feasible and can waste a lot of time with back and forth conversation. Listen to your gut and if you are feeling negative energy from a buyer, trust yourself and cancel the sale or offer a public meeting only.
If they are coming to your home either for in person or porch pick up, give them cross streets or a nearby location until they are leaving to head your way. Only then do I give them my actual address. Nothing worse than giving out your personal information to someone who then ghosts you or doesn't show!
04 // Watch Out For Scammers!
Unfortunately, in the online world scammers are everywhere. Bots are the future and many of them roam around messaging on Facebook Marketplace. DO NOT ever respond to a buyer asking you for your phone number. If they do not wish to chat over messenger, that’s a huge red flag. If their name is a bit off and they have no profile picture, that’s a red flag as well. You can click on someone’s profile once they have messaged you. If they six friends, two pictures, and no information then you’re most likely looking at a false profile. Stay clear. Be aware of how people speak when they message: complete sentences, one word, asking for too much personal info from you, getting off track from the item listed, etc.
05 // Sell To Buyers Who Will Show Up {and quickly}
Fingers crossed that you have priced your item for a swift sale and this means you will have multiple buyers messaging you with interest. Don’t feel like you need to hold out for a buyer who can’t pick up until several days later. In my experience, they typically end up flaking and you are out of a sale. In your post, you can add a line with “no holds” so people are aware that you mean business and want this item gone.
These are complete strangers and you owe them nothing. Kindly let everyone know that the item is available but you are speaking with someone else {or multiple someones} as well. Tell them the priority will go to whoever can send payment and/or confirm a pick up date and time first.
06 // Be Flexible- Remember Your End Goal
If you are asking $20 and someone offers you $10 and the promise to pick up the item swiftly... take the deal!
Trust me, that extra ten dollars you are holding out for is not worth the time and effort it will take to find another buyer willing to pay more. {9/10 times at least!}
Now, there are exceptions to this advice. In the event that your phone is getting blown up and several people want your item {which does happen} then sure, reject the cheaper buyer and move on to the next option.
But that is the exception, not the rule!
Remember, the goal is to be rid of the item because it is no longer wanted.
07 // Include Dimensions- Take the Time to Measure
If you are selling items such as furniture, televisions, or anything that takes up space... do yourself a favor and include the dimensions in your listing. Guaranteed people are going to message you asking for them so it saves you time and also can save the sale. If this information is not included then it can often lead to loss of the buyer's interest.
I often find that an exception to this is if I have listed an item for extremely cheap because I just want it gone. Or free even. For that low a price people don't tend to care as much and I don't often want to spend the time measuring.
08 // Details are Important
I would suggest writing at least one or two sentences describing your item. People are going to be turned off with a one word listing. Take a few minutes to include some details, be clear on the color or finish, condition, retail value, size, how often it was used, etc. Note if there are any damages to the item and where, be honest upfront so you don't deal with upset buyers at pick up.
09 // Take Excellent Photos
This is huge. Nobody wants to see a picture of the item with a dirty house in the background. Definitely not appealing to see a picture of kids clothing on the floor of a garage next to a lawn mower with sprawled grass clippings and the pile of outdoor toys you played with over the weekend. People want to see that you have cared for your item, otherwise they may be tempted to buy new instead. Clear a space, have a neutral background, and lay out the item with care so that all pieces are visible and it is very clear what you are selling. Take more than one photo, give people options, take some at different angles and get close up.
10 // Use the Correct Keywords to be Findable
This goes hand in hand with being detailed in your listing. It is important to include keywords that describe your item so it pops up more often when people are searching for the item they desire. For example, most people are not searching "kids toy". What they search is "bluey playhouse" or "barbie convertible". If you are selling one of these items but did not include those words in your title or post, you will not show up in their search results.
Additionally, instead of searching "couch", people may type in "dark blue vintage loveseat". If you have this item ready to go but didn't choose to describe it in full detail, you just lost out on the perfect buyer.
So get descriptive, it can only increase your chances of getting top dollar!
Common Acronyms Used When Communicating on Marketplace:
NIL: Next in Line {this is commonly used in Facebook groups where members comment on your listing post}
OBO: Or Best Offer {you can add this is you are flexible on price and really do just want to make some money off a quick sale}
FIRM: This means the price is firm and there are no offers accepted.
PM: Private Message {people often say "PM me" meaning send them a message directly}
PPU: Pending Pick Up {this one is used when someone has a buyer lined up. Don't be discouraged though, lots of people flake so let them know you're still interested!}
ISO: In Search Of {use this when you are looking for an item. Post what you need and see if someone responds wanting to sell to you}
BUMP: This is used in comment threads when the buyer wants to bump their listing back up to the top of the Facebook page.
EUC: Excellent Used Condition {used to quickly describe the condition of the item being sold}
GUC: Good Used Condition
NWT: New with Tags
NIB: New in Box
Click the arrows below to reveal a list of which products sell the best and which products are less than successful:
Products that ACTUALLY sell on Facebook:
Large Furniture Pieces {in good to great condition}
Refurbished Furniture {a wonderful way to sell your custom creations}
Baby & Kid Products {moms love a good deal! And kids grow so quickly that buying secondhand is a popular way to go since it’s an item with a shorter lifespan}
Old or Worn Furniture {important that it is still in good condition, not broken or on it’s last leg of life. People love to buy cheap old furniture to use for projects! Just make sure it’s priced low}
Character Toys for Kids {these can be so pricey when buying new and often your kiddo decides a month later they don’t like that show or character anymore. They sell well at a discount!}
Party Supplies {this is hit and miss and can take longer to sell than other items. If you have a LARGE supply of leftover party supplies this can be enticing to someone planning a party with the same theme}
Large Ticket Toys {items such as water tables, trampolines, doll houses, bicycles, art desks, play tables, jungle gyms, etc}
Books- Series or Large Lot {these sell the best when you have a large lot of them. Most people don’t want to coordinate and travel for one or two books. Sell a bundle of books at a low price. Sets & series sell well, these can typically get at least 50% of retail value if in great condition.
Electronics {phones, tablets, laptops, TV’s sell quickly if they are priced fairly and are not ancient. No one wants your old VHS player or box TV, but if you have an electronic that is newer, you can make a pretty penny}
Maternity Clothes Bundles {ladies don’t love revamping their entire wardrobe from scratch just for six months. These are a fantastic item to make some money back on, and if you have 3+ items listed together, it’s a quicker sale}
Storage Bins and Shelving {people are always looking to better organize their spaces and love a good deal for these items. This is a very quick sale, price it low enough and watch it fly off your driveway}
Tools {these are desirable because they rarely go on deep sale and are costly new. They need to be in good condition and clean, don’t sell dirty tools until they are dirt cheap or free}
Home Decor {Another category that does well in bundles! If someone is looking to decorate and they have a vision that matches up with yours, it’s an easy way to get rid of a lot at once}
Outdoor Furniture {another costly item new that sells well if in good condition or salvageable with some TLC}
Unique Decor Pieces {personally I love a good find that I know I can’t find at my local Target}
Disney Merchandise {people LOVE Disney. Depending on the item and price it can be a very quick sale, sometimes you do need to wait for that certain enthusiast so you may need a bit of patience. But these can bring in big bucks. Ebay is great too}
Pet Items {carriers, kennels, large items, and bundles: nothing dirty}
Products that DO NOT sell well on Facebook:
Anything very used, dirty, or old as dirt {refer back to- no one wants your junk}
Old & outdated electronics {these are better donated or recycled}
Extremely specific items/collector's items {these sell much better for top dollar on sites like ebay or at auction}
Board games & adult books {these are not very costly to purchase new online so unless you are selling a lot of board games/books in one listing, it’s better to just donate them or give them away for free}
Small individual items priced $5 or less {one picture frame, one book, one vase, you get the idea. These have the potential to sell but it brings out more flakes and is it really worth your time?}
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