Online Markets Take The Yard Out of Sales

Timing is key. Many items sell year-round, but some are seasonal. Sell Halloween costumes in September and October, Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving, and lawn furniture in early spring. If you hurry, you might still catch buyer interest in that old bicycle.

EBay Tips

Courtney Carlson, mother of two and an eBay enthusiast, has experienced firsthand how eBay expands a seller's audience, even for the quirkiest items. "I had a Holly Hobbie quilt that my grandmother sewed for me when I was a little girl. I put it on eBay for $5 just to get rid of it, but, to my great surprise, five people bid on it. Those five Holly Hobbie lovers bid my price up to $59! Shows how huge the universe of eBay buyers really is."

EBay is set up to be user-friendly, walking you through steps on how to upload pictures, enter text and calculate shipping. Registration is free, then eBay charges approximately 4 to 8 percent of the selling price. A dining room set that sells for $500 might cost you about $20 to sell.

· There are two basic types of sales: auction format and a fixed-price, buy-it-now listing. Auction means you set a minimum bid and buyers bid over a set time period. It makes sense to start the bidding low unless your item is valuable. A low price brings more viewers, which translates to more bidders.

· Describe the condition of your item clearly and accurately, including a list of any accessories. Indicate if the item is damaged or is missing components. The eBay site includes a feedback forum, where members can rate sellers and their items, so be honest about what you're selling. Sellers with a high rating attract more customers.

· Check your auction listing every day. Potential bidders often post questions about the items, and if you don't answer quickly they might drift away.

· The buyer pays shipping costs, but the seller is required to estimate what that cost will be. If you underestimate the cost, you pay the difference.