Selling your unwanted belongings on Gumtree is a great way to declutter your house, earn some extra cash and contribute to the secondhand economy. But how do you do it well?

Interior Stylist Geneva Vanderzeil recently joined forces with Gumtree to launch the Gummie Support Network, an initiative designed to bring together those in need of essential items and services, with those able to provide them. From delivering groceries or essentials, to assisting small businesses, checking on pets and providing online lessons for housebound kids, the initiative aimed to connect local communities, via the hashtag, #LocalLegends.

Geneva has been selling and buying on Gumtree for years, and has seen it all! Over time, she has learnt a lot about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to selling on Gumtree and has shared the below tips!

Great Imagery Is Key

Being a blogger, I know how much a really great photo can sell an idea or product. Selling on Gumtree is no different. But don’t be put off- you don’t need an expensive camera to do this! Smart phone photos will do the job as long as you set them up right. Make sure to set your item up in a well lit space for your photos. Use the edit functions on your phone to add extra light, if necessary. Take as many photos as you need, to show your item in detail, making sure to take all sides, underneath and a few extra close up images.

Think Carefully About Your Title

A title is an important part of your listing, and helps to drive traffic to your item. Consider what you would search for if you wanted to find something like this, and think about any key details that people might be searching for, such as the brand or era of the item.

Be Detailed In Your Caption

Make sure that when people click through, they are rewarded with a detailed description of your item. How old it is, if it’s been used, where you got it, and anything else that you think people may want to know. And always make sure to add in all the detailed measurements of your item including length, width and height. A detailed description not only drives traffic and gets people interested, it will also reduce the volume of questions people will send you which will save you time.

Be Safe

Now has never been an important time to practice safe trading. Gumtree makes it easy to do this with the ‘Contactless Trade’ badge which you can add to your listing as a signal to the community that you are following safety precautions. You can also link your PayPal account to your profile as a safe way to transfer funds electronically.

Great Communication Pays

It is important to be conscious of the fact that often people contact a few different sellers about the types of items they are looking for. So if you want to increase your chances of selling an item, make sure you reply promptly to enquiries.

And Finally, Be Honest

Gumtree is a community, and an amazing resource for selling your items. The best way to positively contribute is to be honest with the items you’re selling and their pros and cons. That way you’ll not disappoint buyers or waste any time!

What are your top tips for selling successfully on Gumtree? Tell us in the comments below.