PUG ES Making Money Online: Turn Your Clutter Into Cash author and organizational expert (NAPSA)—Most Americans may not be aware ofit, but they could be sitting on a gold mine in their very own homes. on The Learning Channel’s hit show “Clean Sweep,” trading assistants offer a simple and immediate alternative to selling items yourself or throwing them away. “It’s a quick and simple way to de-clutter your home and enjoy An A.C. Nielsen survey showed that the typical American house- hold has nearly 25 unused, highvalue items such as personal electronics, golf clubs and musical instruments, lying around basements, attics and garages. The survey also found that owners your living space, while making extra money with little effort,” said Walsh. Walsh offers these tips for peo- tend to underestimate the valueof these endlessly stored items and are shocked when they actually net some pretty big bucks. So what’s the best way tosell your new found treasure? Garage sales, charitable donations and the Internet are all viable means of getting rid of unwanted and unused stuff, however, selling online boasts one huge advantage over the other two: eyeballs. Millions of buyers from around the country or world mean you have a better chance of receiving top dollar for your stuff. According to Internet Retailer, U.S. Internet retail sales exceed $87.5 billion a year. have the Internet savvy, time or means to sell items online themselves, trading assistants can be a great help. They manage every aspect of selling items for you, starting with offering a drop-off store or pickup service for your items. While all have insight into what typically sells online and for how much, many trading assistants have expertise in particular areas, such ascollectibles, sports memorabilia, antiques and estates. As part of their service, trading assistants will write a headline and full ple considering using a trading assistant to sell items: 1. To net the highest price, consider selling larger, rarer items such as antiques, col- lectibles, furniture, sporting equipment, electronics, jewelry or musical instruments. 2. Avoid selling items such as books, clothing or CDs through a trading assistant. These types of items do not tend to hold their value (unless very rare) when sold second-hand and are best held over for the next neighborhood yard sale. 3. Consider using the services of a trading assistant that special- Today, higher value items can be easily and quickly resold over the Internet through a new wave of online “trading assistants,” expert sellers in your local commu- high-quality photographs and izes in the types of items you have to sell, such as collectibles, Once the item sells, the trading assistant tracks the winningbid, your return. such as eBay, and then send you a check at the end of the process. For retirees, busy professionals mission, which usually runs 25 to 30 percent of the item’s final sale price. According to Peter Walsh, nity who can sell your items through an online auction site, and working parents who may not description for each item, take upload thelistingsto thesite. arranges payment from the buyer, ships the item and then sends you a check minus their service com- antiques or estates. Their insight and expertise will help maximize With 30,000 active trading assistants worldwide, including 16,000 in the United States, a nearby trading assistant can be found simply by entering a home or business address online at ebay.com/ta.
