Online auctions are a helpful way for people to rid themselves of unwanted clutter. When listing an item on a site, sellers should be aware of what attracts a buyer, such as a detailed and honest description and clear photos of the item. Using online auctions to list unwanted items is fairly easy, while getting the item to sell is usually a little harder.

Fees

Generally, online auction sites will charge a fee for an item to be listed on their websites, although some only charge the fee if the item is sold. Prior to listing an item, one should compare auction sites and the fees they charge, so the buyer will know if there are any charges when the item doesn't sell. If an item does not sell, the buyer may wish to wait a few days or weeks and try again. There may be a different crowd looking, and this makes it possible to still sell the item, although the fee for the second attempt will still apply.

Description

The description of an item should include a catchy title and a few honest paragraphs about the item or items listed. If the item is used, it should be stated what kind of condition it is in. Honesty when an item is listed is key, if something is in fair condition it can still be sold and people will appreciate the fact that they were told what condition it was in prior to the purchase. Some online auction sites have rating systems that buyers use to give feedback on the item purchased from the seller. The higher the ratings of a seller, the more likely buyers are to purchase his/her items, so it is important to have an honest description.

Photos

When a buyer is surfing an online auction, they are usually going to click on items with photos, before they click on items without a picture. Using good lighting and a tidy background in a photo is key. If the item has a stain or scratch, a picture of the blemish is better than no picture of it. The room or area that isn't going to be cropped out of the picture should be tidy and as plain as possible to get more people to view the picture. It's less likely for someone to purchase a piece of furniture or clothing from someone who has a dirty home, rather than a clean one. Blurry photos are not very helpful, and they look suspicious, even if it is simply a matter of the person taking the picture not being very good at photography.

When listing items on an online auction site, it is important for sellers to compare sites and study other listings before listing an item. Studying the category that the item will be in helps the seller determine price, how easy the item will be to sell and will give an idea about what should be in the listing they initiate. The quality of a description and the photos that are attached to the listing will determine how fast and easy it is to sell the item.