During a home renovation, you often tear out bathroom vanities, doors and windows, sinks and even items like trim and wood. These items fill up a dumpster rental extremely quickly, costing you money to dispose of, filling landfills and not making you money by easily selling. During our old farmhouse renovation, we have literally torn everything out but the studs and floor joists. We have made thousands of dollars by simply listing and selling literal trash on Facebook Marketplace. ( One man’s trash…ya’ know.) People are always looking for ways to save money on expensive building supplies so they sell very well. Here are the 40 best salvaged materials and how to sell on Facebook Marketplace successfully.

40 Best Salvaged Materials and How to Sell on Facebook Marketplace

I’m not trying to make a living off these items with high prices, just make some extra money for our renovation. So I try to price items at a great price so they will sell fairly quickly. I’ve included the price I’ve sold items for in our Midwest location (different places around the country will mean different prices.)

Read below in my step-by-step instructions and tips for selling on Facebook Marketplace how to list so people will actually buy your salvaged materials!

Exterior and Outdoor

• Doors ($5 – $125 each)

We have sold every kind of door imaginable – interior, exterior, storm, screen, hollow core, solid wood, sliding glass door, old barn doors, completely trashed out Mid Century door that had been outside for over a year, antique pocket doors with the hardware and even wood and glass doors originally from our State Capitol building. In my experience, doors will ALWAYS sell as they are high-demand items.

• Windows ($25 – $50 each)

I have sold mostly old vinyl windows. Even when they’re not in the greatest condition, they will sell.

• Window shutters

• Metal siding ($50 – $200 for siding off part of the house)

As we tear off metal siding from our house, we have sold it in groups. Tin is more valuable than aluminum, so test with a magnet to tell what it is. (Tin is not magnetic.)

• Rusty corrugated tin metal ($150 for a small pile)

This goes zoom, zoom at the right price point. From crafts to Rustic home decor, corrugated tin metal will make you several hundred dollars for a small pile.

• Wrought iron porch railing ($15)

Porch railing and pillars are also used in a variety of ways, so they are also pretty popular sellers.

• Porch pillars ($45)

• Backyard fence (privacy and chain link)

We tore down a very poor quality, old privacy fence. (Honestly, it was bad.) Rather than burn it or throw it in the dumpster, I decided to post it for sale at $5 per panel. People went crazy, and about twenty fence panels were gone within a day. Not a bad way to make $100 using FB Marketplace.

• Fence posts (T posts, etc)

Fence posts of all kinds are really expensive new, so you won’t have any problem selling them used.

Structural Items

• Ductwork ($15 for two pipes)

• Foam roofing panels ($100)

The farmhouse addition we torn down had three inch foam panels as the roof. It sold very quickly for a hundred bucks.

• Aluminum trim and beams for roof ($50 for a pile)

• Wood lath ($10 for a bundle)

Our farmhouse was completely filled with lath and plaster walls. The old wood lath strips can be used in a variety of ways in crafting and decorating. I sold just a few bundles. I didn’t end up selling more because the best way to sell them is with the nails out, and I didn’t have time to do that.

• Old bricks

Don’t throw old bricks away! If they are still in one piece, people loooooove them. And if they have a maker’s stamp on them, do your research because they just might be more valuable.

• Copper wiring

Everyone knows copper wiring is worth a ton of money, right? If you have copper wiring in your trash pile, sell it! People ransack old houses and steal that stuff.

• Electrical wiring 

• Any wood 

Wood is soooooo expensive right now. Any wood in basically any condition is valuable. And don’t think the old stuff is trash! The old stuff is sometime worth more since it was cut thicker back in the day.

Interior Finish

• Ceiling fans ($10 – $50)

I’ve always been able to quickly sell ceiling fans, light fixtures and chandeliers of all sizes and styles. Sometimes I sell them pretty cheaply, but it beats filling a dumpster!

• Light fixtures and chandeliers ($15 – $45)

• Closet shelving ($15 – $25)

Closet shelving of any kind is something almost everyone needs. I’ve sold wire shelving within a couple days of listing it.

• Fireplace mantle surround ($100 – $200)

Fireplace mantle surrounds are not only beautiful, but they’re worth a lot of money! I would always advise leaving an original fireplace surround in the home, but if you must get rid of one, make sure to sell it.

• Carpet in decent condition ($75 for large room)

Weirdly enough, people will buy used carpet (but don’t sell it if it has pet stains!). We had a huge room with red carpet. What can I say? It was red…and ugly, in my opinion. But it sold!

• Spindle stair railing ($25 – $75)

This is a hot item. Make sure you take it apart carefully so you can make money off of it.

• Wood laminate flooring ($25)

I had about 80 square feet of decent condition laminate flooring in our old kitchen. I stacked it up, took a picture and bada-boom-bada-bing made $50 off of it.

• Old hardwood flooring

Old hardwood flooring is a hot commodity. Not only is it expensive in the stores, original hardwood floors are many times made from old growth wood, which is simply not available any more, making it highly sought after.

• Wall paneling ($5 – $10 per panel)

Yes, those 4 x 8 sheets of 1970’s paneling. Our farmhouse was filled with them. While I didn’t actually sell them, I could have. I actually wished I had saved some because our mobile home has them (painted), and I need to replace some damaged paneling.

• Wood Trim

• Door handles and hardware($5 – $20)

If you’re replacing door handles and hardware, bundling them up is a great way to sell them. 

Kitchen and Bathroom

• Bathtubs and shower inserts ($100 – $300)

These have always sold well for me and make us an extra several hundred dollars each time.

• Sinks and vanities ($25 – $150)

Sinks of all kinds sell. Make sure they’re clean as no one wants a filthy bathroom sink.

• Faucets ($15 – $20)

• Bathroom medicine cabinet ($15 – $45)

• Toilet ($44)

I can’t get past the mental block of buying a used toilet, but they are worth selling. Local buyers will purchase in a heartbeat (as long as it’s clean!).

• Cabinets and countertops

Cabinets and counters are so expensive new at retail price, so used sell pretty well. 

• Cabinet knobs and hardware

• Garbage Disposal

Things with Motors

• Broken power tools ($15 for broken tabletop table saw)

Strangely enough, I have sold a non-working small Craftsman table saw and other power tools. I make sure to note that IT DOES NOT WORK. Be honest. The right buyer will try their hand at fixing it.

• Stoves and refrigerators ($75 – $300)

All appliances in good condition will sell very well. At the very least, call a used appliance store to see if they’re interested in buying it from you.

• Washers and dryers ($75 – $150)

• Window air conditioning units

Tips for Selling on Facebook Marketplace

1. Group like things together (a pile of metal siding rather than a couple pieces)

A big grouping of like items will gain much more attention in an online marketplace than one small, single product. So neatly pile up scrap wood, windows, siding and anything like that.

2. Sell with the option to buy individually or as a group

While groups of items might look good, people might not need the whole pile or group. Set a price per item and then a slightly discounted price for the whole group. I usually list windows together, but people usually buy them 1 – 3 at a time.

3. Take good photos in good lighting

A picture tells a thousand words…we all know this. And yet, a lot of people fail miserably with the main thing that attracts buyers. You can boost sales when you list items with lots of clear, well lit photos.

•     Panned out of entire item/group
•     Up close down the length of a long item
•     Views of different angles (inside, sides, back)
•     Up close of any damage

4. Edit photos

Your phone camera app will have the ability and is the easiest way to edit photos. Don’t use fake filters, but brighten the lighting a little so people can see it well. Dark interior photos get lost as people scroll by.

5. Take dimensions (height, width, depth and any inside measurements)

If you don’t take dimensions of EVERYTHING, then people will usually skip on by or pester you with questions. Make it easy to purchase by providing dimensions in your listing description so they know if it will fit.

6. Research what similar items are selling for on Marketplace

What should I price things on Facebook Marketplace? That’s the question everyone has. First thing, you will want to do a search in your area for what Facebook users are paying for similar items. You will not get even close to the new price, so get out of your head “what you paid for it.” It’s not new. 

7. Price correctly

•     Take into account damage
•     If your item is damaged, knock off some of the selling price.
•     Take into account availability

    Sometimes things are only available in other cities or states. If it’s a large item, you can list at a higher price if there are few around you. On the other side, if there are a lot available in your area, you’ll have to ask less and offer a good deal to your target audience.

8. Pick a medium-high average price

    After my quick research on social media, I take those search results and price things medium-high comparatively. My goal is to get rid of the items first, so I don’t want to price too high. 

9. Write a detailed description with allllllllll the keywords

You need to write a product description for your new listing that includes what the item is, all the dimensions, the condition, the price and your approximate location. Also, include all keywords people might use to search for your item. 

10. Post at the right time

Post your salvaged building materials when DIYers and contractors are off work and searching facebook groups (evenings and early weekend mornings). I always list products Friday night and early Saturday morning as this is when potential buyers are looking. After 9:00 Saturday and DIYers are already out DIYing and not browsing a Facebook page.

Also, different times of year mean different results. Outdoor items sell in a more timely manner during the warmer months. Holidays are generally a slow time. I always think it’s worth posting when you have the time. You might just need to renew it a couple times during the busy season.

11. Wait

Some items you post will have a hundred people messaging you through Facebook Messenger…literally. And it will sell within a couple days. Other items will be crickets. You have the option of renewing your listing several times (do this Friday night or early weekend mornings as well). I have sold items months after posting many times.

12. Do porch pickup for small, cheap items

I am comfortable with porch pick up in my area. I give the buyer my address, set the item on the porch and tell them to leave the money under the doormat or in a special box. After doing this hundreds of times, I’ve never had a problem, and it’s a good way to avoid waiting for someone (who is always late) to come give me five bucks. But do what makes you comfortable and makes sense in your area. I don’t do this with items over $20 as the risk is higher.

13. Accept Venmo or Facebook Pay

If you want to do porch pickup but not have money on your porch, let people pay with Vemo or Facebook Pay. I also do this to accept advance payment for larger items people want me to “hold.” 

14. Be willing to deal

This is like a garage sale. Don’t be offended if people ask for less. If there are several people asking, you can say “No, unless it’s not sold by next week.”

15. Don’t hold an item more than a day

Facebook Marketplace buyers are notorious for not showing up. I don’t hold items long. I will keep it until the agreed on pick up time and then move on if the buyer is a no-show.

16. Prepare to be annoyed

Sometimes people are great at coming when they say they will, giving you the money and taking the items. Many times, potential customers are terrible at coming when they say they will. Just know that you will get annoyed with flakey buyers.

17. Take down the listing after it sold

To keep people from messaging you later, take down your Facebook Marketplace Listings as they sell. This will make it less frustrating for buyers as well.

Now that you have this list of 40 best salvaged materials and how to sell on Facebook Marketplace, you can look at your home renovations differently as you tear out items. Sure, you could do like HGTV and just throw absolutely everything in the dumpster rental, but that is pretty wasteful and unrealistic (like most of HGTV as much as I love it). At the very least, donate building materials to Habitat Restore, a great place who will happily take it and give you a tax receipt for its value. 

Again, this step-by-step guide of 40 best salvaged materials and how to sell on Facebook Marketplace might not make you rich, but with building materials as expensive as they now are, you will be able to sell things pretty well and make extra cash. With just a little time involved, we have made several thousand dollars over the years, and that’s good enough for me!

Read more about buying used items and our old farmhouse renovation below

25 Best Places to Shop Everything Second Hand

Where to Buy Authentic Materials for Old House Renovation (On a Budget)

Authentic Farmhouse Renovation – How I Chose New Windows

Old Farmhouse Addition During Photos

Farmhouse Remodel Before Photos

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