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When you've finally ordered that brand new three-piece suite you've had your eye on for months, it's all too easy to forget that you need to get rid of the old one before its replacement turns up.

Fortunately the advent of the internet has meant it's far easier to pass on unwanted items of furniture to a new owner than it's ever been before. Whatever you want to sell, an online classified advertising site is one of the best ways to reach thousands of people from the comfort of your own home. You can also buy or rent online through these sites, but many people use them to offload unwanted items and make some extra cash.

The secret to posting a successful classified ad is to make sure you include all the most relevant information and don't waste words unnecessarily. Think about what you are trying to sell and ask yourself what its most important features are.

For example, if you are selling that old three-piece suite you will need to mention its dimensions as accurately as possible. The colour will also be important as it may not match with the colour scheme of someone who may be interested in it. If you are including your phone number in the advert, you may want to make sure you aren’t bombarded with lots of unnecessary phone calls so by taking the time to write an ad that is packed with relevant facts, you will only attract the interest of those who may genuinely buy your item.

When you place your ad on a classified advertising site, it’s vital that you include the words "collection only" somewhere in the text – unless you are willing to deliver the item to the buyer. If you are, make sure you stipulate what distance you are prepared to travel. This will make sure there is no confusion over how the exchange will be made.

If you want to sell your item, it’s a good idea to set a price and put the letters "O.N.O." after it. These stand for "or near offer" and allow people to haggle with you to agree on a price. If you set a rigid price you may end up not selling the item at all if people feel the price is too high.

Alternatively if you just want someone to take the item away for you and you don’t want any money for it, make sure you state this clearly in your ad. This is an ideal solution as you will be saved of the hassle of transporting bulky items to the local dump.

So if you have something big to get rid of, use the internet to find a new home for it.

Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys traveling.