UK HOUSEHOLDS SIT ON £31 BILLION

OF UNUSED GOODS

Gumtree highlights the five most hoarded household items & expert Jamie Breese shows you how to find out what cash you can make from them

As spring cleaning fever hits, it is not just space that clearing out will free up, but also a staggering amount of cash can be made from the clutter cleared out.  Recent research from Gumtree.com uncovers the average UK household is hording a staggering £581 per person worth of unused but workable everyday possessions. 

Two thirds of people (67 per cent) admit to keeping common household items that they don’t need or use anymore whilst a further 20 per cent confess to being full-scale hoarders.

However it is not always just for the sake of keeping memories that stop people from decluttering their homes; 12 per cent of people don’t know how best to get rid of their items and others who’ve considered selling their clutter simply don’t know where to start in pricing their items (26 per cent).

Decluttering expert Jamie Breese comments: “There is money to be made and space to be saved by selling unwanted everyday items.  Ultimately, what you might not want or use anymore, someone else could put to good use.  There are so many misconceptions out there about the value of general goods.  Many people think that old kettles, sporting equipment and DVDs are worthless – but it couldn’t be further from the truth.”

“The kitchen is a treasure trove with nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of people reporting they have culinary gadgets and gismos they no longer use, while

73 per cent of us are stashing music and films. The fast changing pace of technology has meant that more than one in ten (11 per cent) people have music equipment that they no longer use and 16 per cent have computer games that are now cast-aside gathering dust.”  

To help people know where to start, Gumtree.com has developed the GTP – Gumtree Price Index – which shows the amount people could be making for the most commonly horded items in the UK. 

Top five commonly hoarded everyday items that are worth more than you’d maybe think, and the suggested second-hand retail price

Hoarded items  

Percentage of people that claim to keep unwanted items   

“GTP” Gumtree Price Index* (average price on Gumtree.com)   
DVDs and CDs   73 per cent   £11   
Kitchen appliances   23 per cent   £37   
Toys   18 per cent   £13   
Computer games   16 per cent   £21   
Music electronic equipment   11 per cent   £54  

Jamie Breese’s top tips on how to convert clutter to cash

1.      Don’t feel guilty about letting go of items you have a personal attachment to – it’s amazing how good you feel when you get extra cash for that ‘unwanted present’.  If in doubt think of a price that feels right and add 10 per cent

2.      Sell items with the instructions manual if you still have them to get extra value – this is especially for technology items or gadgets and kitchen appliances

3.      Group lower-value items and sell as a job lot – items like a toaster, kettle and sandwich maker work well together and help appeal to those looking to update their kitchen

4.      Look for first editions or rare albums -  books and music are some of the most hoarded items in the UK, if an album has a dustjacket or is a first edition then it could be worth a lot of money

5.      Present the product well – to get the most from your Gumtree gem give the item a good clean or polish and present it well in your photos, this will help catch the eye of potential buyers

6.      Consider how old the item is – with everyday household items, the newer the better.  To help determine your Gumtree price ask yourself – is this a trusted brand?  Has this games console been superseded?  Do I have the washing machine’s service notes?  How much was this new?  

7.      Look on Gumtree.com – see how much other sellers have listed their items for, undercut them if you can to help secure a fast sale

Sanjay Balakrishnan from Gumtree.com added: “Selling your unwanted items online is easier than ever before, and now is the perfect time to kick-start your spring clean, free up space in your home and make some extra cash.  Gumtree.com is all about finding buyers and great stuff locally, and we take great care to make it really easy to off-load your unwanted possessions. A typical ad takes under five minutes to post and is free – and you never know, your cast offs could be just what your neighbours are looking for.”

To view current ads or to post your own visit www.gumtree.com