Decluttering? Should You Sell or Donate?
One of the most common strategies for decluttering projects is to set up tubs and sort the clutter to:
Rubbish, Recycling, Sell, Donate
If only it was that simple! Let’s dive deeper into how the decision to sell or donate fits in with your decluttering goals.
Why Have a Sell Category?
Common reasons why people want to sell items:
They were expensive at the time of purchase.
A belief that they are worth something.
The item is unique, collectable, or vintage.
They need the money.
To make sure it goes to someone who will value it.
Let’s consider three key concepts (as defined by me) to help gain some clarity.
COST, WORTH & VALUE
COST - What you paid for it when you purchased it.
Sometimes we get fixed on the idea of selling an item due to the initial COST or purchase price.
But consider:
When did you buy it? If it was 5, 10 or 20 years ago aiming to recoup on that investment may not be possible.
Did you get value out of the initial investment? Yes? Wonderful the money was well spent; you benefitted from owning the item. No? This is can prompt uncomfortable feelings, humans generally feel losses more acutely than gains, (known as Loss Aversion).
Are you trying to sell it to help you feel better because you consider the money was wasted? Sure, selling can help recoup some money. However, it’s also an opportunity for self-compassionate reflection about what led to that purchase decision and how you can make wiser purchase decisions in the future.
WORTH - The price someone is willing to pay for it now.
It’s easy to get fixed on the idea of selling an item due to what we believe it is WORTH.
But research shows that we often overestimate the worth of an item simply because we own it, (known as the Endowment Effect).
There are some ways to reality test our estimate of what it will sell for:
Check online selling platforms for what the same or similar items are listed for. Make sure you check how long those listings have been there, this can be a clue about how realistic the advertised price is.
Get some expert advice. Reach out to dealers, vintage sellers, or collector associations. Online forums and groups can also be a useful source of knowledge. See if you can get an idea of what it’s worth so you can manage your expectations and price accordingly.
Once listed for sale, if your item does not attract much interest or fails to sell in a reasonable timeframe it may just not be worth what you thought.
VALUE - The benefit it provides to the person who owns it.
When considering the VALUE of an item think about how you have already benefitted from owning it.
Most things we own have served the purpose we bought them for; we loved them, used them, and needed them even if just for a season of our lives.
As mentioned earlier, if it didn’t live up to your hopes that’s ok, normalise that this happens sometimes. It’s not a character flaw; human desires, marketing techniques and consumer culture are strong forces. Reframe it as an opportunity to learn, grow, and bring wisdom to future purchases.
If it’s become clutter it’s not benefitting you anymore. Remember to consider the VALUE that someone else may get from having it in their lives.
Selling Vs Donating
Decided to Sell? Here are three things to consider:
Don’t delay selling, the longer an item remains in your possession the greater the risk that:
It gets damaged, particularly if you have a lot of clutter making it hard to store things with care.
Something changes the value to potential buyers, like new trends or technologies.
You forget about it, and it gets mixed back into the clutter. Reduce the time between making the decision to sell and getting it listed.
VALUE your time and energy as well as acknowledging the COST of stress and disorganisation.
Put a dollar amount on your time and energy as well as the relief that you will experience from regaining parts of your home from clutter.
Is it worth investing an hour of your time to sell a $10 item? Most people that are seeking assistance for clearing clutter have limited time and energy, make sure you are valuing these precious resources too.
Consider a shift in mindset, would it be ok to forgo some money for less clutter and less stress?
Set a time and price limit for the sale.
If you don't sell within those limits, consider donating it.
Don’t let the process drag on in the hope of achieving an unrealistic price.
Benefits of Donating?
Selling has a place but so does donating.
Donating can be less time and energy intensive than selling as there are less steps involved. You get the clutter cleared more quickly.
You don’t have to field enquiries, negotiate price, deal with no-shows, or have strangers coming to your home.
Often the recipients are so grateful for your items! You can feel better knowing that your things will get a good second life and benefit the next owner.
You are ensuring that the item fulfills the purpose for which it was made. That’s not going to happen if it continues to sit at the back of your cupboard waiting to be sold.
There is a place for selling AND donating in most decluttering projects. But keep in mind that the aim of decluttering is having a clear, uncluttered home.
Don't let the goal to sell get in the way of the goal to be clutter free.