How to Sell on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and Other Platforms

The first step when selling on a third-party platform is to make a list of all the items you’re getting rid of. You don’t have to become a complete minimalist or “Marie Kondo” your entire home, but the longer you let excess junk and unused items pile up, the less likely you are to clear them out. Even if you already have one or two big items in mind, like a sofa or a bed frame, we recommend combing through the rest of your belongings while you’re at it. Doing as much as you can in one go will streamline the process of taking pictures and listing your items online. 

After you’ve finished writing down the items you plan on parting ways with, divide the items into four categories:

• Sell. These items should be in good-to-perfect condition and usually be pieces of furniture, appliances, jewelry, high-quality garments, unique decor, memorabilia, and other valuable objects.
• Store. Seasonal or less-used essentials don’t have to take up space in your home all year long. If you need to move something out temporarily, a month-to-month self-storage unit is a convenient option that gives you the flexibility to make short-term changes to your home space.
• Donate. If you have lightly worn clothing (especially basic shirts, pants, jackets and sweaters), toiletries, blankets and canned or nonperishable goods, consider donating them to your local charities, food banks and other resources for the homeless. 
• Toss (or recycle). If you plan on throwing away certain belongings, it may not be as simple as tossing them in the trash. Be sure to check if the item can be recycled, if it needs to be disposed of in a special way (there are things that are illegal to put in the trash), or if you have to request a special bulk or large item pick-up.

Not every platform is well-suited to every type of product. If you’re selling larger items — such as furniture — you may have better luck selling on Craigslist, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace. Smaller items such as clothing, jewelry and collectibles, on the other hand, tend to fare better on eBay, Mercari, Depop, Poshmark, Grailed and other similar platforms. It never hurts to list your item on multiple platforms if you’re not seeing much engagement on one. Here is a walkthrough of different platforms to see what suits your needs.

Facebook Marketplace

Pros: 

• Facebook Marketplace is the best platform for selling your items, particularly furniture. Facebook (Meta) has a vast and active user base, giving you access to a large audience of local buyers — particularly if you live in a major metropolitan area. 
• Facebook Marketplace has a built-in tool for communication and a range of options for sellers to customize and boost listings, as well as set specific pick-up, shipping and/or delivery options. 
• There are no listing fees.

Cons: 

• Since most local transactions involve meeting in person, privacy and security can be legitimate concerns. Always meet during the day and in a public place, and avoid giving out your cell phone or home address.
• Be wary of fake profiles that are looking to scam sellers via Zelle or Venmo as payment options. 
• While great for local sales, Facebook Marketplace may not be the best option for reaching buyers outside your immediate area.
• Messaging through Facebook can sometimes be unreliable or slow.

Craigslist

Pros:

• Craigslist is a trusted, established platform with a diverse user base. It’s great for selling a variety of items, from furniture to electronics to vehicles.
• Like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist emphasizes local purchases that are picked up by the buyer, making the selling process less of a hassle.
• It’s free! (However, there are fees for certain categories like job postings and apartment rentals.)

Cons:

• Similar to Facebook Marketplace, play it safe with meet-ups and don’t give out personal information like your cell phone or home address.
• While buyers are more often the target of scams, as a seller, you should be wary, too.
• The platform is quite basic — it has limited features and support compared to other selling platforms.

OfferUp

Pros:

• OfferUp has a user-friendly mobile app that’s intuitive and easy to use, making listing items quick and convenient.
• You can choose between local selling and nationwide shipping options — expanding your buyer base.
• OfferUp provides options for secure payment and shipping, adding a layer of safety for transactions.
• Buyer and seller ratings help build trust and credibility within the community.

Cons:

• While local listings are free, there are fees for shipping and service when selling items nationwide.
• It’s a crowded, competitive platform, so it may be challenging to stand out and sell your items quickly.
• Similar to Facebook Marketplace, messaging within the app can sometimes be slow or unreliable.

Kaiyo

Pros:

• Kaiyo focuses specifically on buying and selling used furniture, making it a great choice if you’re looking to sell sofas, tables, dressers, chairs, lamps, rugs and other home furnishings.
• Kaiyo offers a white-glove pickup service and handles the logistics of picking up and delivering furniture to buyers.
• Kaiyo inspects items for quality/condition before listing them, which can attract more serious buyers.

Cons:

• Kaiyo takes a commission on sold items to handle the logistics (which results in less profit for you).
• Since Kaiyo focuses on furniture, it’s not suitable for selling other types of items.
• Currently, Kaiyo operates in limited regions, so availability and services might not be accessible to everyone.

Other Platforms to Consider

While Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and OfferUp are the top platforms for selling things online, they’re not your only options — and not the best for all types of items. If you’re trying to sell clothing, for example, you might have better luck on Depop or Poshmark than on Facebook Marketplace. Similarly, you may want to tap into a more national or international buyer pool by selling prints, posters and artwork on eBay rather than Craigslist. Here are some more platforms to explore:

• For furniture: AptDeco, eBay, Chairish, 1stdibs, Etsy
• For clothing: Depop, Poshmark, Mercari, Grailed, The RealReal, Vestiare Collective, eBay, Etsy

Sometimes, your items may not sell for weeks or even months after you list them. If you need to clear space in your home quickly, consider placing items in a self-storage unit. This is particularly helpful if you’re getting rid of furniture or other large items. Self-storage facilities typically offer flexible month-to-month rental terms, meaning you can keep your unit while you wait for your items to sell and then downsize to a smaller unit or terminate the rental agreement once the sale happens. Many storage units are also climate-controlled and regularly cleaned/inspected for pests, which can help keep upholstered or leather furniture in mint condition.

Selling on an online platform isn’t as easy as posting a picture and closing a sale. The most successful listings are thoughtfully created for maximum traction and visibility. If you’re just learning how to sell on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp and other sites, remember these three principles: price your items correctly, take well-lit and clear photos and include as many relevant details in your description as possible.

Research and Price Your Items

It’s critical to research and price your items correctly. Not only can it be the difference between making a sale quickly or waiting weeks for buyer interest, but if you’re selling a vintage or heirloom item, it may have value that you weren’t even aware of. Start by looking up the original price from the manufacturer’s site (regardless of whether or not you originally purchased the item at full value). Then make sure you check the prices of similar listings on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, eBay and other major reseller platforms. This will allow you to price your item in a lucrative, competitive way. Create a spreadsheet and jot down (1) the lowest price you see online, (2) the highest and (3) the going retail price of a brand-new product.

Afterward, you’ll want to ask yourself the following questions:

• How new is my item? (When was it manufactured, and has it declined in value or increased in value since?)
• Is there any damage to my item? If so, are the damages small, medium, or severe? Is the function and/or aesthetics impacted, and how greatly? Are any pieces/extras (such as cords) missing?
• Where am I selling it? If you’re selling a piece of high-end furniture in a major metropolitan area, you may be able to price it higher than if you’re selling it in a small town.

Depending on your answers to the questions above, you’ll want to set your asking price closer to the “low” range or “high” range you noted in your spreadsheet. In general, price your item slightly higher than you expect to sell it for — on Facebook Marketplace, there’s a “make offer” button that allows buyers to negotiate. If you’re okay with delivering the item yourself, consider adding a delivery fee and setting a maximum distance you’re willing to drive.

Take Clear, Eye-Catching Photos

When it comes to attracting buyers, the biggest Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and OfferUp tips we can suggest boil down to the quality of your photos. All three platforms are a photo-stream of items for sale, meaning your pictures are the buyer’s first impression and need to grab attention from the get-go. You don’t need to have a professional photoshoot or bust out your DSLR, but make sure that your images are clear, well-lit and in-focus. If your smartphone pictures come out grainy or pixelated, ask a friend to help you take some shots.

Here are some tips for taking eye-catching photos:

• Use natural lighting where possible.
• Place your items in front of a blank background like a wall, or an area with minimal clutter (you want the object for sale to be the center of attention).
• Clean your product as best you can beforehand (wiping away any dust and fingerprints, giving any wood items a quick polish).
• Take photos from multiple angles, and at different ranges (several close-ups and several full-body shots).

Remember that Facebook Marketplace allows you to have up to 10 photos per listing, Craigslist allows up to 24, and OfferUp allows up to 12, so be sure to have at least three different angles. If there are any imperfections, be honest and take close-up shots. If you want to go the extra mile, add a text overlay to your photos describing the imperfections, or simply add a note in the description that states that “the last three photos show minor imperfections/blemishes.”

Write a Compelling Headline and Description

To prevent unnecessary back-and-forth between you and a potential buyer — and make your listing sound legitimate — be sure to write a compelling headline and description. Think about how buyers would search for the item (and anticipate a few things they might want to know) before you craft your headline. Don’t worry if you’re not a poet — it doesn’t need to be catchy, just clear and informative. For instance, instead of “Kardiel Nordic Couch,” consider saying, “Comfortable Black & Gray Kardiel Nordic Fusion Sofa, 83”, LIKE NEW.”

Then, in the description, include as many relevant details about the product in your post, including the condition of the item, item description and specs, and your contact information where a prospective buyer can best reach you. This doesn’t have to be an exhaustive list — anywhere from two to six sentences should do the trick, and often short and sweet is better.

Add Search Tags

On Facebook Marketplace, you can add your products to a general “category” that helps buyers find the items they want more easily, but don’t overlook the “search tags” option. When you label your listings with relevant search tags, you’ll increase the chances of your post showing up for the right buyers. For instance, if you’re selling an antique credenza, consider adding tags such as “antique,” “credenza,” “wood,” “vintage,” etc.

Other Tips to Successfully Sell Your Items

With a few time-tested marketing tricks, you can sell your items more quickly — or more of them in a single transaction. Create a sense of urgency and scarcity by adding a deadline to your post, such as, “Must go by Monday.” The trick is not to set a deadline too close to the date the ad goes live, which might give buyers a sense that you’re in a rush to get rid of the item and more willing to accept a lowball offer. Additionally, try offering a small discount (say, 5-15 percent or free shipping) if buyers purchase a certain number of items in a single transaction.

Selling on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and OfferUp involves a bit of fielding — many potential buyers may end up ghosting you or refusing to negotiate. But once you’ve locked down a prospect, be sure to get their full name and number to arrange pick-up or drop-off details. (You can use a free Google Voice number or a proxy email address if you don’t want to share your personal information.) 

You have a few options when it comes to coordinating a safe meetup: 

• Consider bringing a friend along to deliver the item yourself or make the exchange in a public space, like a park. 
• If it’s more convenient for the buyer to come to you, have the item ready in your driveway or garage before they arrive and have a friend with you to help inspect the item or purchase.

Remember to always meet during the day for your own safety, and only accept cash payments. If you feel comfortable, PayPal or Venmo is acceptable, but only if they send you the money beforehand or on the spot.

Online platforms are rife with scammers for both buyers and sellers. If you’re selling an item, be wary of buyers trying to move the conversation off the platform too quickly (where you will lose the conversation history and protection from the platform you’re using), making promises about paying with Zelle and having a relative or friend pick up the item, asking for your address and personal details right off the bat, or using brand-new profiles that have few (if any) photos. Here are some other common scams to watch out for:

• Overpayment Scams: Scammers often offer to pay more than the asking price and request that the seller refund the difference. They usually provide a fraudulent check or payment that eventually bounces, leaving the seller out of pocket.
• Fake Payment Confirmations: Sellers may receive fake emails or messages appearing to be from payment services like PayPal, confirming payment that was never made. Always verify payments directly through your account before proceeding with the sale.
• Phishing Attempts: Scammers may send links claiming to be from the platform or payment services to steal login credentials. Always avoid clicking on suspicious links and log in directly through the official website.
• Fake Buyers: Some scammers pose as buyers, asking for personal information under the guise of needing it for shipping or other reasons. Protect your personal information and only provide necessary details.
• Identity Theft: Scammers may request sensitive information under false pretenses, leading to identity theft. Never share personal details beyond what is necessary for the transaction.
• Shipping Scams: Scammers may request sellers to ship items before receiving payment, often promising reimbursement for shipping costs. Always secure payment before shipping any items.
• Fake Reviews and Ratings: Scammers might manipulate the review system to appear trustworthy. Cross-check buyer profiles and be cautious of new accounts with few or overly positive reviews.

Tips to Avoid Scams

• Always confirm payments directly through your bank or payment service before completing a transaction. Better yet, use cash!
• Arrange to meet buyers in public places and bring a friend if possible. Many police stations offer safe transaction locations.
• If something feels off or too good to be true, it probably is. Trust your gut and proceed with caution.
• Share only necessary information with buyers and be cautious about disclosing personal details.
• Use the payment options/tools offered by the platform, and avoid moving to text or email, which will void any protection the platform might offer sellers.

Congratulations — you’ve sold an item on an online marketplace! Now that you’ve rehomed your item don’t forget to remove the listing from the platform(s) on which it was posted. If your buyer ended up flaking out on you for whatever reason and the item is still in your possession, simply “refresh” your listing to give it added visibility — no need to remove and repost your listing. You may already have a queue of eager buyers waiting in your DMs.

Good luck with your selling! For more tips on organizing or reorganizing your space, explore the SmartStop blog.