The right price sells your item quickly without leaving money on the table. Too high and buyers scroll past. Too low and you're giving it away. Here's how to land in the middle.
1. See what similar items are selling for
Start with research, not with what you paid.
- Search Adify.ie and other Irish sites for the same brand and model, or the closest match you can find.
- Look at how long ads have been up. An ad that's been sitting for weeks is probably priced too high, so don't copy its price.
- Check the price new today. A used item rarely sells for close to it, unless it's hard to get or barely used.
What you paid doesn't set the price. What buyers will pay today does.
2. Adjust for condition
Be honest with yourself about the state of it:
- Like new, boxed, with receipt or warranty: price near the top of what similar items sell for.
- Good, with normal wear: somewhere in the middle.
- Worn, marked or missing parts: towards the bottom. Say exactly what's wrong in the ad.
Extras add value: the original box, chargers, manuals, accessories, or proof of where you bought it.
3. Think about what affects the price
- Brand and model. Well-known brands hold their value better.
- Demand and season. Bikes and garden furniture sell best in spring, heaters and winter coats in autumn, and school items before September.
- Size and collection. Big, heavy items like wardrobes and sofas sell for less, because the buyer has to arrange to move them. If you can deliver, say so.
- Location. Buyers will travel further for a bargain on something valuable than for something cheap.
4. Leave a little room to haggle
Many buyers will make an offer, so you can set the price slightly above the lowest you'd accept. Decide on that lowest figure before anyone messages you, so you're not deciding on the spot.
If your price is firm, say so in the ad, like "Price is firm". If you're open to offers, you can write "or nearest offer" in the description.
5. Round numbers work
Buyers search and filter by price, so a price like €50, €120 or €1,500 is easy to compare. Odd prices like €47.83 look unusual and can put people off.
6. If it isn't selling, adjust it
If there's little interest after a week or two, the price is usually the reason. You can edit the price at any time from My Listings. A small drop, around 10%, is often enough to bring in new enquiries.
Free ads on Adify.ie stay live for 30 days. If you're getting views but no messages, also check your photos and description.
7. Giving something away?
Enter a price of 0 and your ad shows as Free. You can also post it in Free & Community. Giving things away is a quick way to clear space, and it keeps good items out of landfill.
Ready to sell? Post a free ad. Better photos help your item sell at the price you want, so see our tips on taking photos that sell. Selling a car? Read our guide to selling a car privately in Ireland.