How to Sell Furniture on eBay

Research your item thoroughly. You need to know the dimensions of the piece, the model, maker, any serial or model numbers, the material it is made of, etc.

Sign into your eBay account. If you do not have an account, register for one by following the "Register" link at the top of the eBay home page.

Click the "Sell" button at the top right of the "My eBay" page. You are redirected to the "My eBay" page right after you log in.

Select the large blue "Start Selling" button on the page.

Enter at least three keywords about the piece of furniture you want to sell and hit "Search." This will result in a list of relevant categories. Choose the category that your item best belongs in and hit "Continue." This will bring you to the page where you fill out all the information on the item.

Create a catchy title. Be as descriptive as possible in the title. You can add a subtitle for an extra charge.

Fill out the "Item Specifics." The "Item Specifics" is a section with drop-down menus to describe the condition, type, style, color, etc., of the furniture. These will help the buyers to narrow down the search options to ensure they find exactly what they are looking for. The selections given will be relevant to the category you chose for the item.

Add pictures of the item. Take a lot of pictures of the item. Take a full-view picture, pictures from different angles and pictures of any defects or damages. Upload the pictures to your computer and click "Add pictures." The first picture is free. There is a minimal charge for each picture after that.

Describe the item. Repeat the specifics you chose in the "Item Specifics." Pay attention to detail. Describe the smell if there is an odor, the feel of it if it has a unique feel, give the dimensions, and include other details like these. Be sure to describe any defects or damages to the item.

Add a theme for a small fee, and for free you can add a "Visitor Counter" for your listing.

Choose the way you want to sell the item. Choose between either selling by "Online Auction" or by a "Fixed Price." For the "Online Auction" option, choose a "Starting Price." The lower the price, the more likely you will be to draw in bidders, but choose the price carefully. If you list it at less than the minimum you want to sell it for, you may only sell it for that amount, meaning you won't sell it for as much as you want to. Also, the "Starting Price" is what determines the amount of the "Insertion Fee" that eBay charges to list an item. The "Buy it Now" option is there to give bidders a buy-out price to bypass the auction. Choose the duration and start time. The "Fixed Price" removes the "Starting Price" option. You give buyers only a "Buy it Now" option.

Choose if you want to donate a portion of your sale to a charity.

Choose a payment method. Most eBayers prefer to use PayPal for transactions. If you do not have a PayPal account you can sign up at their official site. (See "Resources.")

Select your shipping details. If you are selling a large piece of furniture, it may be better to select "No Shipping: Local pickup only." If you want to ship an item, choose the method that suits your item. Use the "Shipping Wizard" and "Research Rates" in the shipping section to determine the best shipping costs for your item.

Select to apply sales tax and if you want to allow returns.

Review your listing and submit.

Ship the item or arrange to meet with the buyer (depending on the shipping arrangements you described in the listing) after the item is sold and paid for. You can keep in touch with the buyer through eBay's messaging service, which can be found on your "My eBay" page.