If you are like most Americans, your home is full of pieces of tech you no longer use. This is why it is a great idea to sell used electronics, and make some quick cash from the stuff which is currently gathering dust in closets and drawers around the house.

But how do you go about it? How do you make sure you get the best price when it comes to selling your used electronic items? At Monte De Piedad, we understand the factors that lead people to sell their used electronics and the methods they can deploy as they seek to get the best price.

Read on for our complete guide, and learn more about the possible goldmine you and your family are sitting on.

Why Sell Your Used Electronics

It is so tempting just to give up on your electronics and move on. After all, they have served their purpose – you have got years of use, work, maybe even some fun out of them – and that’s all you can ask for. It seems like too much hassle to round up your used electronics for a few extra dollars.

But, if you adopt this approach, you could be missing out. Selling used electronics is a lot easier than you might think, and the rewards can be impressive. Let’s explore some of the reasons why you should sell your used electronics in more detail.

Declutter your life

Humans are hoarders by habit. Think of all the things in your home that you don’t need, or that you no longer need, and then think of the last time you had a good clean out and got rid of some of these superfluous items.

Chances are, this ‘good clean out’ was some time ago, and the items which you could have disposed of are still sitting there, taking up valuable space in your home.

Now is your chance to reclaim your home once again, and earn some money in the process. Search your drawers, closets, anywhere where your once-loved electrical items might be hiding, and free up some space.

Get extra cash for an upgrade

In our fast-paced modern world, new electrical goods don’t stay new for long. Of course, the vast majority of us can’t afford to simply buy a new version of an electrical item we already have, just because the advertisers told us to do so, so we carry on with what we have.

But this can’t last forever. After we have got a good period of use out of an electrical item, we may decide it is time for an upgrade. When this happens, we can offset the cost by trading in or selling our used electrical items and putting the cash towards a new and improved model.

Just imagine all the money you can save, and the increased performance and enjoyment which comes from owning the latest piece of electrical equipment.

Your tech is worth more than you think

Perhaps you have considered trying to sell your used electrical items before but decided it is just not worth the trouble. If you no longer want these items, why would anyone else pay money for them?

This is the wrong way to look at the transaction. Instead, consider the price you paid when you initially purchased the items, then consider how useful they still are. Even if they need some repair work, chances are there will still be value to be derived from them.

It is time to stop looking at your used electricals as simple clutter. Instead, look at them as potential sources of value, and understand that you may be sitting on many more dollars than you first thought!

The demand is real

Why do people buy used electrical items? There are a vast number of reasons.

Consider the couple moving into a new house for the first time, who need cut-price electrical goods until they get on their feet. Think about the young student looking to buy a cheap mobile phone before they go traveling or visit a festival. And what about all those people who are simply looking for bargains?

These are just three factors which are driving demand for used electrical items, and there are many, many more besides. All of this translates to an extremely high level of demand; perhaps far higher than you had first considered.

Many people are dissuaded from selling used electrical goods simply because they think it will be too difficult to find a buyer. The market suggests otherwise. Take advantage of this high demand and get your used items sold.

Even damaged items may be saleable

When you are looking for used electronic items to sell, it makes sense that you would concentrate on the items that are still in good working order. After all, you are looking for pieces which other people will be willing to buy, and so surely these items must be in good condition.

In most cases this true, and it is also true that you will get the best price on items which still work. However, this does not mean that you should overlook the damaged or broken electrical goods which no longer work.

Even if your items are damaged, chances are they will still have some parts or components which are working. Some buyers may value these components, and will be able to extract them from the items to be re-sold. This is not always the case, but it is worth asking around before you throw the item away. You never know; you might be able to get a few extra dollars for your damaged equipment.

Protect the environment

Throwing pieces of electrical equipment away simply adds to the growing amount of trash that Americans toss away each year. In 2016, Californians threw away 35 tonnes of trash per person across the 12 months, way above the national average and behind only Nevada and Pennsylvania.

If you sell used electrical equipment rather than tossing it on the trash pile, you are doing your bit to lessen the amount of rubbish you are personally responsible for.  This, in itself, is helping the environment.

It is also important to bear in mind the fact that electrical goods must be produced in factories, and that the materials used to create their components must be mined and processed. This creates a significant burden for our planet. By providing electrical goods to the second-hand market, you are helping the recycling process and reducing this burden.

How to Get the Best Price

Now that we have explored the ‘why’, what about the ‘how’? Selling used electrical items is a transaction like any other, and it is important that you get the best price when you part with your belongings.

Sure, it may seem like buyers are doing you a favor by taking these used items off your hands, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to optimize the value you receive. In this section, we will look at some of the techniques you can use to get the very best from your sale, leaving your home – and your life – decluttered, and providing you with some extra dollars for your trouble.

Do some research

When the time comes to sell used electrical goods, it is important to know what to expect. Do some research online. Search for the brand, model number, and year of production of the item you want to sell, and then look at other listings for similar goods.

This will give you an idea about the sort of price you should expect from your sale and will give you some parameters to work with. It is important, of course, to be realistic, and to take into account the condition of your goods.

Doing this small amount of research will pre-arm you with the facts, making it much easier to get the best possible price for your used electricals.

Search around your home

Before you decide to make your sale, it is important to have one last search around your home. Electrical goods come with all kinds of different components and accessories, all of which can enhance the value you receive from your sale.

For example, if you are looking to sell a used refrigerator unit, check to make sure you have included all the freezer drawers, dividers, and shelves to make sure you get the best price. For computers and smartphone devices, try to make sure you have the necessary chargers, stylus, cases, or any other accessories which someone could use.

In fact, even if you do not have the actual electrical device itself, you could still get some money in exchange for some of these components, as they also have value. With this in mind, it is with putting in some time to look around your home in search of these pieces.

Get everything in order

Do you have the original packaging for your electrical device? Do you have the original instructions or warranty information which came with it? If so, get this in order before you decide to make the sale.

While these things are not always necessary, they can be very useful if you are trying to achieve the best possible value for your items. Before you go to make your sale, lay all of the different pieces out in front of you and take stock of what you have and what you need.

Put all of the different instruction sheets and other paperwork in the relevant packaging, and make a note of which packages are complete and which do not have instructions. After this, spend a little bit more time searching drawers, filing cabinets, or any other locations in which rogue paperwork is liable to collect, and see what you can find. Making this last sweep of your home can help you get an even better price for your used electronics.

Get expert advice

Your research will give you a good idea of what to expect when selling used electrical goods, but sometimes this is not enough. It may be difficult to find pricing information for some niche items, or it could be that there are just no details for your specific make and model number.

Even if you can find this information, it may still help you to get advice from the experts. Contacting a registered repair shop or an accessory dealer will put you in touch with people who know these products inside out, and will be able to give you a good indication of what you can expect.

The Monte De Piedad team deal with used electrical items on a daily basis, and we have extensive experience in predicting sale values. When you decide to sell used electrical goods, please do not hesitate to give our team a call.

We can walk you through the process, demonstrating how easy it can be to get a great price for your used pieces, and giving you great peace of mind in the process. We can also discuss your specific pieces for sale, giving you an idea of the price you can expect to receive and delivering you tips on how to maximize this value.

Choose the best buyer

There is no need to rush when it comes to selling your used electrical goods. We have already discussed the high level of demand in the market, which means you have lots of opportunities to sell your used items.

Shop around and find the buyer who will be able to give you the best possible price. You might be pleasantly surprised by just how much you could receive if you are willing to make a few calls.

The Monte De Piedad team should be your first point of contact with the used electrical market. Our experience leaves us perfectly positioned to give you the best possible price for your items – a price which will make you smile.

Don’t delay, get in touch with our team today and get started. All those electrical items you have lying around could make you some serious cash.