Make Money and Save Money Using Facebook Marketplace

How I Made $5,000 in One Month Selling on Facebook Marketplace and Saved Even More Buying off Facebook Marketplace

Thank you Facebook Marketplace for sponsoring this post. There’s something for everyone!

With a recent move across the country, packing up our Georgia house was no easy task. Thankfully, we had movers, and it took three days to move us out. It’s amazing how much a family can accumulate in just five years!

Prior to our big move though, I was determined to organize, declutter, and purge anything that we hadn’t been using. The range varied from baby clothes, designer shoes, an old washer and dryer, rugs, curtains, and furniture pieces. I didn’t want to just give it all away because many of the items were in good condition and valuable. That’s when I turned to Facebook Marketplace. I knew I could make money and save money using Facebook Marketplace. The process of using Facebook Marketplace was so easy and convenient that within a few minutes of posting my items I wanted to sell, I was getting response from interested local buyers. I easily pocketed over $5,000 in just under a month selling used items that I once owned. A very nice way to put money in the bank account, which of course is so helpful during a big move.  

Once we moved into our new home, we had a few furniture pieces that didn’t work with the layout in some of the rooms, so I immediately posted them on Facebook Marketplace. But even though I got rid of those items, I still needed a replacement that worked better in the space along with new curtains (because our old ones didn’t work out) and new rugs. To keep costs down, Facebook Marketplace was my first go-to for buying these items. My most recent purchase off Facebook Marketplace was a vintage traditional dresser that I refinished, painted, and completely transformed! I am also still obsessed with a modern tub chair that I also purchased locally and reupholstered. You can see the before pictures of the modern tub chair in this post. I love turning something used into some new!

So, where is this Facebook Marketplace located? It is located right on Facebook. On mobile devices, it is the “storefront” icon and on desktop it will be located on the left side column under Marketplace, or you can click here. One thing that makes Facebook Marketplace appealing to use, is the visual layout. It is easy to scroll through the images and see if anything sparks your interest.  The top items listed are local items, usually within a 7 mile radius of where you are located, but you can also change your search setting to only display items within a certain distance from you. The more you scroll, the farther away the item is located. What’s great is you can check out the seller’s profile and see if you have a common connection. When you find something of interest, just click to message the seller and then you work it out from there to coordinate pick up.  

Here are some helpful tips for SELLING on Facebook Marketplace

–When you take pictures of your item, make sure you take it in a well-lit room, preferably with natural light. Take more than one picture with multiple angles of the item. If there are any flaws or issues with the item, include a picture of them.

–If the item is a well-known brand, include the name of the brand in the title of the post, along with a brief description of the item you are selling. Buyers will sometimes search for brand names only when looking for items to buy.

–In the description, make sure to include a description of the item, along with any measurements, quantity, and if there are any issues with the item, etc. The more detail, the better!

–Be honest when selling, and also fair with pricing your item. Unless you are selling something new, barely used, or a high demand item, be mindful that it is a used item. If it is priced too high, buyers will either ignore your post or come back to you with an unreasonable price. If you don’t know what is fair pricing, search a similar item in Facebook Marketplace and see how other sellers have priced the item.

–Tell your buyers you only take cash. To avoid any fraud, especially with larger items, request cash only. Don’t take a check. You can let people pay with digital payment apps, but make sure the payment cleared in your bank account first.

Here are some helpful tips for BUYING on Facebook Marketplace

–Be mindful of your keywords when you search. I like to include a brand name in the search, along with the item description.

–You can narrow your search down by price and what’s nearest to you.

–Determine how far you will drive for an item. Sometimes you can find a really good item that is 30 miles away or even an hour. Definitely keep in mind the distance when searching and whether a cheaper price is worth the time spent in a car.  

–For safety, I like to meet the seller in a public place, like a grocery store, shopping lot, or bring my husband along with me. Again, what is great is creating a connection.

With spring here and the urge to organize and declutter, make sure to check out Facebook Marketplace.