Before paying for a clearance, the same question always comes up: what is worth selling, and where? Short answer: sell the easy pieces on 2ememain and Marketplace, entrust valuable pieces to an expert, and don't lose three weeks over €50 worth of trinkets. Details below.
Sort first: sell, donate, discard
Sort into three piles: sellable (functional, clean, sought-after), donatable (good condition but low value — see our guide on donating to charities), waste (headed for the Recypark or a professional). Hesitating over a piece of furniture? Our guide to recognising valuable furniture settles it in 2 minutes with 3 photos.
The online platforms, one by one
- 2ememain.be — the Belgian reflex for furniture. Free listings, local buyers who collect themselves. Suggested pricing: 20 to 40% of new price depending on condition.
- Facebook Marketplace — the fastest in Brussels for everyday furniture and appliances. Replies within hours, but expect to filter out time-wasters.
- Vinted — excellent for decor, tableware, vinyl records and small items. Unsuitable for heavy furniture (postal shipping).
- eBay / Catawiki — reserved for collectibles (watches, art, signed design) with a European audience.
Mobile apps for fast listing
The 2ememain, Vinted and Facebook apps let you photograph, publish and reply from inside the property while sorting. Enable notifications: in Brussels, bargains are gone within 24 hours. For lots (complete dinner service, entire library), publish one lot listing rather than 30 separate ads.
💡 The 7-day rule
Anything unsold after 7 days online at 30% below new will probably never sell at the hoped-for price. Drop by 20% or switch to donation or buyout deduction — each week of storage costs more than the difference.
Dealers, auction houses and professional buyout
For antiques and signed design, a dealer or Brussels auction house (15 to 25% commission) always beats online selling. And if the whole property must be emptied anyway, our antiques buying service values and deducts the amount directly from the invoice — zero listings, zero buyer visits, a single point of contact.
⚠️ Don't undersell signed pieces online
An Art Deco or Scandinavian piece listed at €150 on Marketplace sells within the hour — because it was worth 1,500. If in doubt about a signature or stamp, request a free valuation before publishing.
📸 3 photos are enough for a valuation
Send your pieces via WhatsApp — free reply within 48 to 72 hours, deducted from your clearance quote.