How Seniors Can Sell Items on Facebook Marketplace (part 2)
In Part 1 of this series, we discussed some of the terms that are important to know for Seniors selling their belongings on Facebook. In Part 2, we will cover 3 important elements of your listing on Facebook Marketplace so you can sell your items quickly.
Items
Avoid the urge to overload your listing with too many different items. It’s better to group like items together in a listing. So, you may have a listing of a small group of stereo equipment and speakers together. But, you don’t want to have a stereo, speakers, silk flowers, and a set of china in the same listing. When you group your similar items and list them in separate listings, you are making it clear what you’re selling and it will make it easier to mark as pending or sold. It will make it easier for buyers to make offers, as well.
Working Condition
It’s important if you want to make money on your Facebook Marketplace listings that the items you are selling are in working condition and free of significant structural damage. Otherwise, you need to sell it as is or as parts. Be honest with yourself if the item has damages and reduce your price significantly or list it as free. There is a market for damaged items that can be refurbished, but buyers will be picky about prices.
Photos
Facebook allows 10 photos per listing. If at all possible, use all 10 photos. Take quality photos from different angles. If there is any kind of signature or maker’s mark on your items, take clear pictures of them. Make sure that all pictures are clear and highlight any damages or signs of use. The more photos you have, the more likely people are to look closely at the item and consider purchasing it.
Using natural lighting to take your pictures is a great idea. Put your item near a window and stand on the same side as the window to take the photos. If you’re handy with any editing software, you can label different parts of your item or mark the measurements on the photo as well.
Pricing
The price you list your item for should reflect its value minus damages, normal wear and the demand for it. It’s up to you how much you list your item for, but be careful not to go too high because buyers do their research and won’t go for items listed at an unreasonable price. If you are putting all the effort into creating your listing, you want to have the best opportunity to make a bit of a return on your item. Do your research and price fairly!
In Part 3 of this series on selling on Facebook Marketplace, we’ll discuss the rest of the items you need to include in your listing.
How Seniors Can Sell Items on Facebook Marketplace (part1)
Oftentimes, Seniors ask us about selling their unwanted belongings on Facebook Marketplace. When furniture and other items will not fit in an Assisted Living apartment, decisions have to be made about what will go to donation and what will be sold. In this 3 part post, we will cover what Seniors need to know to sell on Facebook Marketplace.
General Lingo
There are a few phrases and abbreviations to learn so you can navigate Facebook Marketplace effectively. These are words that buyers use while searching. You may not use all of them in your listing, but you do need to know them so that you will know what buyers are talking about when they contact you using some of this lingo.
OBO
You might see OBO in the description of a listing. Here’s an example:
“$20 OBO”
This abbreviation means “or best offer.” A buyer may want to know what the best offer is that you have received so far before they give you their offer.
PPU
This is referring to the method of picking up the item purchased. It means Porch Pick Up. It is a commonly used when people prefer contactless transactions. Your buyer may prefer to come and pick up their purchased item from your porch or driveway.
Meet Up
If you prefer to meet at an agreed upon public place to ensure safety, you would use this term in your listing.
ISO
“In search of” or ISO might be listed under items that people are giving away as a trade. Their listing might say something like: “Looking to trade my antique lamp ISO a nightstand.”
Pending
When you have an interested buyer, you might label the listing as “pending” which will indicate that if the sale falls through, it will still be available. This way you can contact the next possible buyer in the list if the sale does fall through. Buyers will use the save button to check back and see if the item becomes available again.
In Part 2, we’ll explain some of the specifics to consider and include when creating your listing.
Downsizing Doesn’t Have To Be Lonely
You want family and friends to come and visit you in your new Assisted Living Community, right? Here are some tips to not only plan for visits, but to plan for your comfort and safety as well. Senior Downsizing is joining a community to increase social interaction, as well as to continue to enjoy your family and friends. This video is a summary of the important points in the article published on here.
Pumpkin Pie Trifle
Fall is here and this recipe encompasses all the flavors of this cozy time of year! The only equipment you need to make this delicious trifle is a bowl, a whisk, and spoons to layer it into your desired containers. Invite a couple of friends to your apartment to enjoy this delightful trifle!
Serves 6–8
Ingredients
Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together pumpkin-layer ingredients until smooth.
- Pipe, and fill layers into a glass jar or serving vessel, alternating pumpkin, whipped topping, and crushed gingersnaps.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Delicious Espresso Milkshake
Here’s a great, easy recipe for a delicious and healthy milkshake that only requires a blender to make!
Instructions:
- Place yogurt, espresso, bananas, agave, and coconut milk in a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Pour into a glass, and top with whip topping and cherries before serving.
How Clean Is Your Bed
We wash our sheets on a regular basis, but what about keeping the rest of our bed clean? Here are some tips for cleaning your bed to help you have a healthy night’s sleep!
Dusting
It’s easy to overlook this step when you’re cleaning your bed, but it’s important to dust your bedframe about once a month. When you see particles floating in the air on a sunny day, most of them are dead skin cells. Especially if you have allergies, you don’t want your bedframe covered with dust . This could have you coughing and sneezing constantly. Make sure you dust in a direction that brushes the dust outward and away from sheets, pillows, and blankets. (Of course, vacuum the floor after brushing dust onto it.) It’s a good idea to take this step before cleaning the rest of your bed so that if any dust does end up on the bed, you’ll end up removing it when you clean your sheets and mattress.
Caring for your mattress
Take the time to clean your mattress about every six months. You should start by vacuuming the mattress. Then, sprinkle it with baking soda, rub that in with a scrub brush, and let everything sit for ten minutes. Next, you should vacuum your mattress again and remove any stains using these DIY stain removal mixtures. Then, if possible, and if your mattress doesn’t have a pillow top, flip the mattress over and repeat these steps. Even if you don’t notice obvious stains on your mattress, mattresses build up sweat over time. You should also rotate your mattress every three months to a year, unless you have a Tempur-Pedic or Sleep Number mattress.
Washing sheets and pillowcases
Every night, you rest your body on your sheets and lay your head down on your pillow. You probably don’t think about the last time you cleaned your sheets or pillowcase because they don’t appear dirty. At the same time, you wouldn’t wear your clothes for weeks or months on end, but many of us sleep in our beds night after night without cleaning our sheets. Although your bed might look clean, it actually builds up oil and sweat each time you sleep in it. This could contribute to skin issues like acne. For optimal cleanliness, you’ll want to change or wash your sheets once a week or once every two weeks with hot or warm water.
Cleaning blankets and pillows
Check the tags on your comforter and pillows for care instructions that explain how to clean these items. Typically, you can throw both into your washing machine at home using cold water and dry them on low heat. You should wash all the pillows and blankets on your bed at least twice a year. This will protect against dust mites. If you’re feeling sick and spending a lot of time in your bed, make sure to wash everything on the bed once you feel better to remove lingering germs.
Protecting against bleach
Many acne medications contain benzoyl peroxide, which reduces redness of zits because it acts as a bleaching agent. When you wear these products on your face or body during the night, you can stain your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets with bleach. This leaves everything looking discolored and splotchy. You can either opt for white sheets or purchase benzoyl-peroxide resistant sheets, which won’t discolor even if you use bleaching acne medication or other products. You’re free to purchase colorful sheets without staining your pillowcase.
If you’re sleeping eight hours a night, you’re spending about one third of your life in your bed. It’s worth it to spend a little time making sure this is a clean, healthy space for you to spend such a large portion of your time.
Are you experiencing the endowment effect?
Simple Steps To Improve Indoor Air Quality
Air quality is not something people generally think about when cleaning their home, but it has a huge impact on health. There are simple ways to get cleaner air in your home with little to no effort.
Indoor air pollution
Chemicals found in synthetic furniture, flooring, and some appliances leak into the air in your home without detection. This, coupled with a lack of air flow, can be the culprit for most indoor air pollution. Minor sources of indoor air pollution are excess moisture and unnatural household cleaning products.
Indoor AIr Quality (IAQ) and how it’s measured
IAQ (indoor air quality) refers to the air quality as it relates to the comfort and health of the building occupants. IAQ is measured through an IAQ Sensor. Some varieties can be expensive depending on how much you want analyzed, but basic ones are affordable. The sensor monitors and gives feedback on the level of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) in the space that come from paints, sprays, cleaners, and furniture.
What is a good IAQ Index Score?
A home with an IAQ Index score of 150 would be considered to have very poor indoor air quality. A score of 0 would be an exemplary IAQ score.
What health problems can poor air quality produce or enhance?
Poor IAQ can produce a wide array of health issues. Minor issues include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Symptoms like these will come and go like a cold, commonly mistaken for allergies. Long term effects after exposure for long periods of time can be different respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and sometimes cancer.
What can I do to improve my IAQ?
Have no fear, because there are simple, easy steps you can take around your home to instantly improve your IAQ. Options include: air purifying plants, air cleaners, ventilation improvements, and natural cleaning products or furniture.
What are the top 10 air purifying plants?
CAUTION: If you have a cat or a dog in your house, you need to do a little more research on which plants are toxic to them.
Spider Plants
Dracaenas
Golden Pothos
Areca Palms
Chrysanthemums
Bamboo
English Ivy
Rubber Plants
Chinese Evergreen
Peace Lily
It can be stressful to hear that our spaces are full of different health risks. Now that you know about IAQ, you can take the suggested steps to improve your living space.
Slow-Cooked Corn Chowder
Simple and easy to dump into the crockpot for a quick dinner.
Adapted from Taste of Home.
Ingredients
- 2-1/2 cups 2% milk
- 1 can (14-3/4 ounces) cream-style corn
- 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
- 1-3/4 cups frozen corn
- 1 cup frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
- 1 cup cubed fully cooked ham
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- In a 3-qt. slow cooker, combine all ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
