5 Things You Should Never Sell in a Garage Sale

Young girl handles the cash register at suburban yard sale
David Sacks/istockphoto

Garage Gold or Garbage?

Warmer weather is upon us, and it's time to start thinking about what to do with everything you've decluttered over the past few months. But if you're into the idea of holding a garage sale, it's not as easy as you may think. Before you throw everything you want to get rid of on a table and call it a sale, take a quick moment to reassess. Here are a few things you should never, ever, sell at a garage sale.

Lonely dirty abandoned sofa, left in the street with junk
Ruslan Danyliuk/istockphoto

Upholstered Furniture

Wood framed furniture or metal dining chairs often will sell if in good condition, but if you’re trying to dump a ratty old fabric sofa, good luck. First off, it’s likely heavy to move, and secondly, anything that’s got stains, holes, or is just completely out of date is probably better in the dump.

Retro old television on the black background, clipping path
Pituk Loonhong/istockphoto

Old TVs

Seriously, does anyone really have a need for an old TV set anymore? Probably not. You can’t even donate those things anymore to Goodwill, which is a bad sign that they'll likely not sell anywhere.

Old and broken jewelry  and on Euro banknotes on dark background. Sell gold for money  concept.
vasantytf/istockphoto

Collectibles, Vintage Jewelry, Dishes, or Designer Clothes

Hear us out on this. You may possibly get much more money for these items if you get them appraised or go through a consignment store. Don’t sell yourself short just to get rid of stuff. You may be able to find an appraiser through the International Society of Appraisers.

cradle 3d illustration isolated on white
koya79/istockphoto

Anything Recalled

Be especially careful with things like children’s items, which often see a whole host of recalls. It’s actually illegal to resell a recalled item per the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). You may even risk being fined.

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old 8 bit computer with monitor from tv set isolated on white
zim286/istockphoto

Old Electronics

Old landline phones, VCRs, fax machines — if you don’t have a use for something obsolete, why would somebody else? Instead of sending these items to the landfill, look into finding an electronics recycling program near you. Depending on the item, your local Best Buy may also take it for recycling.

Related: What Does Refurbished Mean — and Is It Worth It?

This article was originally published on Cheapism

Young girl handles the cash register at suburban yard sale
David Sacks/istockphoto

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