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Is your wardrobe full to bursting and you need to make more space? Or do you just need some extra cash for a new gadget? If so, you might be wondering how to sell your old clothes on your mobile phone.

Indeed, while you might not get what you originally paid for them, selling old clothes in great condition could result in some valuable cash. A useful addition to your budget calculations when you’re considering your next top-of-the-range tech purchase.

If you’ve never sold old clothes using your mobile phone before and don’t know where to start, follow this easy step-by-step selling guide. It’s sure to help you get the very most for your surplus togs.

There are lots of great ways to make money using your mobile phone, and selling old clothes is just one of them. But you don’t want your gains to be wiped out by the loss, damage or theft of your mobile – that’s why having the right insurance for your mobile phone is crucial.

What to do before selling old clothes

To have a hope of getting the best price for your old clothes you really need to put in some effort beforehand. Here are 10 top tips to follow if you want to succeed in sales.

1. Do your research

Just as with finding the best mobile phone insurance, research is the most effective way to succeed when it comes to selling clothes online. Just as you wouldn’t expect to pick up a Hermes bag at Asda or a £10 T-shirt in a Bond Street boutique, the same goes for clothing resale sites.

There’s an app for every budget and each of them can have quite specific audiences. So, make sure you do your research on resale sites so you can target them with the right items to sell. If you’ve got some high-end fashion wear or a beautiful wedding dress to shift then you’ll want to get the best price at the best site.

As well as knowing your market you’ll also want to know what the website’s policies are. Such as do they handle postage? What fees do they charge? What’s their protocol on returns? Not only do you want your old clothes on a site where they’ll sell well but you’ll also want to know how much it will cost you in terms of time, money and effort.

In view of the competitive nature of selling online, any hours spent in research will pay off down the line. According to a recent survey, two-thirds of 18 to 24-year-olds have sold items via their mobile, with clothing being by far the most popular item. Indeed, such are the returns to be had that a third of young people are considering quitting their jobs to sell full time! When you’re going up against young, savvy sellers you’ll need to be at the top of your game.

2. Check for damage and condition

Whether you’ve got a never-been-worn designer coat with the tags still on or a well-loved vintage dress from the 60s, buyers expect clothes to be in a decent condition. Even on new items, look out for holes, rips, fading or stains as part of your quality check before listing.

Making sure clothes are clean and freshly laundered is a good way to keep buyers happy. And even if you do find a rip or a missing button, if you’re handy with a sewing needle then you’ll quickly increase their value with a speedy repair.

How you store your clothes is also an important consideration. If you keep clothes in good order then they’re sure to be worth more later on. For example, store clothes away when you’re not wearing them. Also keep jumpers folded rather than on hangers as it’s easy to stretch the shoulders.

Be aware, moth larvae can soon eat into your profits if you’re not careful. So, invest in some moth repellent or cedar balls and vacuum the inside of your wardrobe to get rid of any dust.

3. Search out any accessories

Belts, buttons, detachable hoods and a whole host of other items can easily get separated from clothes if you’re not careful. If you want the best price then an item needs to be as complete as possible. If not, make sure you are clear about that in the item description to avoid any problems.

From store labels and shoe boxes to spare buttons and thread, high-end clothes manufacturers such as Gucci and Chanel take as much pride in the packaging and little extras as they do in the clothes. So, when it comes to selling old clothes, these are well worth searching out, too.

The original packaging and accessories all make a good impression on buyers. Showing you’re a thoughtful and responsible owner means you should be able to achieve a decent price.

4. Don’t forget you can advertise on more than one site

There are plenty of apps which you can use to list items online and you don’t have to use just one. By listing items on multiple sites, you’ll get far more viewers and (hopefully) bigger profits.

The only drawback of doing this is the possibility your clothing sells on two sites at the same time. If you want to avoid negative feedback then you’ll need to keep a close eye on sales and delete items from other sites as soon as you sell.

5. Take a great picture

Before photographing items for sale you’ll want to tackle any stains, wash and iron out any wrinkles on garments. Clear and crisp photos are the order of the day, blurry photos are a sale no-no!

So, find a spot with great natural light and a decent backdrop to show them off to their best advantage. It’s probably also worth using your very poshest coat hanger here – you're selling the dream after all!

It's also worth including pics of the sizing and brand labels, too. Always photograph imperfections like pulls, missing buttons, broken zips and so on so it’s clear what the condition of your item is.

And if you're selling a bag or other accessory, it’s worth photographing an item alongside it to show size and scale. It’s just another way to avoid unhappy customers, unnecessary returns, and negative feedback.

While most mobile phone cameras are now more than capable of showing up detail well, if yours doesn't, consider using a digital camera instead.

6. Write the perfect description

Alongside a great photograph, if you're listing online, you’ll also want an accurate written description. Start off with the brand, size, dimensions and fabric details from the label. For more expensive items you’ll also want to mention if the item is from a certain exclusive line, or bought at a particular store. The more information you include the better.

You then need to be completely honest with potential buyers about the condition of the item and detail any flaws (even if they seem very minor to you). Getting an irate email from an annoyed buyer later will only add to your workload and could end up costing you money.

8. Don’t dilly dally. Get things sold!

If you think it might be time to sell-on one of your favourite items, try to list it as soon as possible to get the best price. This is particularly the case if it's a current fashion trend or brand that might become less popular. Unless your items are particularly rare or vintage, their value is unlikely to go up over time. They’re more likely to go down in price as items become less fashionable.

9. Keep an eye on the season

That said, it could be worth waiting if an item you’re wanting to sell is seasonal wear. For example, as we head towards warmer months it’s worth prioritising lighter jumpers, spring dresses and T-shirts. Hold back the thick winter coats and heavy jumpers until the weather turns colder. Although if you’re happy to post items to international locations then an item could sell at any time of year. After all, if it’s summer in the UK it’ll be winter somewhere else!

10. Watch out for postage costs

Congratulations, your pair of vintage Wellington boots sold! Unfortunately, this now means you need to deal with one of the most unpopular parts of online selling – shipping.

Depending on the app you’re using, the process you follow could be slightly different. However, it’s always worth remembering that paying extra in postage can really eat into your profits. So, get to know your platform's protocols well.

For example, if you’re using Royal Mail for postage, you can make substantial savings if you can fit items into ‘large-letter’ size (35cm x 25cm x 2.5cm) rather than ‘small parcel' size (45cm x 35cm x 16cm).

Where to sell your old clothes

There are a whole range of places where it’s possible to sell your old clothes for easy cash. Here’s a quick look at some of the top apps used by UK fashionistas.

• eBay – Needing no introduction, this is obviously one of the biggest online marketplaces for clothes. With an estimated 185 million users worldwide it can be very busy and hard to stand out. You’ll need to be committed to relisting your items if they don’t sell. And improving the copy and photos if they aren’t attracting the best bids. Look out for it’s ‘sell for £1 max’ promos.
• Depop – Particularly popular among the younger crowd looking for rare, niche or vintage finds. If you’ve an eclectic taste in fashion then this might be the site for you. Selling by bundle is popular. Be aware that many buyers will try to haggle for a better price.
• Vestiaire Collective – A hub for those looking for pre-owned designer pieces. The French-owned site is super easy to use and will probably bring you more cash than some of the other sites on this list. As you would expect, classic, timeless items like Chanel bags and Hermes belts hold their value and sell for a good price. But upmarket high street brands such as Zara also do well. The fees can get hefty the higher the price of the piece.
• Hardly Ever Worn It – Another good option for shifting clothing with designer labels. As the name suggests, this is popular with those who like to wear things once and then sell them on before buying something new. It attracts buyers who are ready to spend, but the fees are steep.
• Vinted – With a large, supportive community, this platform is free to list and sell things on. It’s a great way to get started and test out the online selling waters. Low- to medium-priced items from the high street sell well.
• Facebook Marketplace – Is there any corner of the online world that Facebook isn’t part of? If you're having a wardrobe declutter and have a mix of clothing and other items, it's a safe bet for a sale.
• Shpock - Short for Shop In Your Pocket, the free Shpock app is perfect for selling items locally. It’s also fee-free. Similar to Facebook Marketplace, it's focused on local buyers and sellers. Simply take a pic, post an ad for your unwanted clothes, and buyers pop round and pay cash in hand.

Mobile phone insurance from Gadget Cover

Your phone can be the gateway to making a bundle from your old clothes. That’s why it’s important to get it insured as quickly as possible. The dedicated team at Gadget Cover will quickly set you up with a mobile phone insurance policy to suit your needs and budget.

Policies arranged through Gadget Cover include protection for common hazards like accidental damage, liquid damage, theft, breakdown and unauthorised usage. And for an extra premium you’ll be covered against loss, too.

So, if your clothing sale has given you enough for a new phone then don’t delay looking for the best insurance deal around.

Call our team of specialists for a quote and protect your tech with mobile phone insurance.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.