Watch CBS News

Turn Your Clutter Into Cash

MIAMI (CBS4) - It's the time of year when many people tackle the tough job of "spring cleaning". But before you throw out the stuff you no longer want or need, you may want to check out a couple of ideas on how you can that old clutter into cash.

Carly Fauth said when she surfs the internet, she's actually spring cleaning online.

"I purge clothes, electronics, anything we're not using," she said.

New websites make it easier to make money from your mess.

"A ton of different sites have popped up to help consumers not only get rid of their unwanted stuff, but help you make a little bit extra cash," said Kyle Taylor of ThePennyHoarder.com.

Unlike Craigslist or eBay, where you are responsible for finding the buyer, these sites pay upfront and then sell it for you.

"So it makes it really easy because you get a cash offer right away," Taylor said.

For example, if you have a closet full of clothes that your kids have outgrown, thredUP.com will take them of your hands.

"We send you the bag, you stuff the bag with all your outgoing stuff and send it back to us for free," said James Reinhart, CEO of thredUP.

UsedInstrumentBuyer.com pays cash for unwanted musical instruments.

And if you're ready to redecorate, Chairish.com acts as a virtual showroom for used furniture. Once it sells, the company sends shippers to your home to haul it away.

"If you're fearful of dealing with somebody on Craigslist, this cuts out that process," Taylor said.

But all this convenience does have a price, as each site takes a percentage of your profits. Chairish, for example, receives 20 percent of the selling price upon sale."

"You're paying a lot more in commissions than you would with a site like Craigslist," Taylor said.

But for some people, it is all well worth it.

"Just finding a way to get rid of stuff and make money at the same time, it's just, to me, it's a great feeling," Fauth said.

Experts say the payout from the sites can vary widely, so it pays to compare. And while commissions can be higher than selling on Craigslist or eBay, they tend to be less than regular consignment shops.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.