For some, mowing is a dreaded weekend chore, but for others, it’s a hobby they look forward to all week long. Many people take pride in their lawns, and for these individuals, only the best lawn mower will do. However, this often means trading up, which means getting rid of their old mower.
If you need to make space in your garage for a new toy or just have a broken mower lying around, you might be wondering, “where can I sell my lawn mower”?
People can sell used and broken lawnmowers in many places, such as online, in a yard sale, at a pawnshop, through word of mouth, in the local classifieds, and even at some scrap yards.
Continue reading to learn some helpful tips and tricks for selling your lawnmower, including where to sell it and how to get the most money for it.
How Can I Find out What My Used Mower Is Worth?
Aside from finding a buyer, determining what your old lawnmower is worth is one of the hardest parts of selling it. On the one hand, asking too much will scare off any potential buyers, and you will be stuck with the machine forever.
On the other hand, although you would sell it much quicker, pricing it too low could rob you of money that could otherwise have gone towards a new mower. Luckily, there are a couple of ways that you can find out what your mower is worth.
Asking Around
One of the best ways to get an accurate idea of what people are willing to pay is to ask around. Even if your neighbor is not in the market for a new mower, asking them how much they would realistically pay for your machine will not hurt.
Ask family, friends, and the guys who gather for coffee at the corner store each morning. Additionally, this can allow you to practice negotiating prices without being locked into a deal.
Researching and Comparing Prices
This method is commonly used by pawn shops to price items when they are unsure of their value. They will go online, look for similar items that have sold, and compare the closing price of each item sold.
While this may not show you what the actual value of your item is, it will show you what people are willing to pay. Remember, the key here is to look at items that have sold and not what people are trying to sell them for.
Estimation Calculators
Finally, you can use an online calculator to figure out what your used mower is worth. By factoring in the price you bought the mower for, its age, and the depreciation rate, these calculators determine the price of your lawnmower in the same way that they would find the price of a used car.
CalculateThis is one such calculator, but you can find others with a quick online search.
Getting the Most Out of Your Used Mower
Depending on the model, lawnmowers can be an expensive purchase, and it makes sense that people want to recoup as much money as possible when they sell their old machines. Like anything, the more “like-new” the machine is, the more money people will pay, and there are a few things you can do to raise the value of your used lawnmower.
Keep up with the Scheduled Maintenance
Just like a car, a mower will have a maintenance schedule that should be followed if you want to keep it in prime working condition. While the exact repairs/replacements will vary from model to model, changing the oil, storing it correctly, and cleaning certain components are all important tasks.
Often, especially with more expensive tractors, potential buyers will ask about the maintenance history, and being able to tell them exactly what has been done, or even showing receipts, will help you fetch a bigger price.
Give It a Good Cleaning Go the Extra Mile
What would you pay more for, a mower that looked like it just ran a marathon through the mud, or a machine that looked like it just rolled off a showroom floor? People like shiny, they like new, and while this technically has nothing to do with how it performs, giving your machine a good cleaning will help restore it to a more likable condition.
Additionally, cleaning your mower after each use will help you to avoid rust and corrosion that might lower its resale price in the future.
- Use an air compressor or broom to clean off grass, dust, and other debris.
- Use a toothbrush or stiff brush to clean the small nooks where grime collects.
- Touch up areas where the paint has chipped or scuffed off.
- Wash the machine with a degreaser or pressure washer to ensure you get all the stubborn stuck-on grime.
- Make sure to rinse and dry the machine thoroughly to avoid soap and water spots.
- Use light wax to restore that loveable shine.
- Oil and lubricate areas that need it.
In addition to the things mentioned above, going the extra mile may be an effective way to get a better price. For example, changing the oil and replacing the blades are both small ways to make a big impression. However, make sure you do not spend more on these repairs than the value they add to the mower.
Take Good Pictures
As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. After putting all that effort into making your mower look shiny and new, it would be a shame to ruin that demanding work with a terrible picture.
- Use a good camera.
- Avoid lighting that will cause a glare that could make the paint look worn or faded.
- Take multiple pictures so that you can choose the best ones later.
- Take pictures of multiple sides and angles to show that you are not trying to hide anything.
- Make sure the pictures are crisp, clear, uncluttered, and at the right perspective.
- Do not take a picture of a nice shiny machine in an old dirty garage!
Do Not Jump on the First Offer
Finally, while this may seem common sense, patience can go a long way when trying to sell a used item. There are a lot of people who make a living by buying things well below their valued price. If you have done your research, you know what your machine is worth, and it is okay to say no to someone who offers you well below this price.
Where Can I Sell My Used Mower?
There are many obvious, and not so obvious, places to sell used items, and you can find a list of places to sell your used lawn mower below.
- Online Marketplaces (Craigslist, Upsell, etc.)
- Social Media
- Local Classifieds (newspapers, flyers, etc.)
- Local Bulletin Boards (restaurants, schools, stores, churches, government buildings, etc.)
- Pawnshops
- Scrap Yard
- Worth of Mouth
- Online Auction Sites (Amazon, E-Bay, etc.)
- YardSale
- Secondhand Shop (ask if they will allow you to sell it there for a commission)
- On the Side of the Road (ask a friend or family member who lives on a busy road if you can park on their lawn)
- Online Search (search for people who are looking to buy a used mower)
While all the ideas listed above are great, the best way to sell any item is to list it in as many local classifieds and marketplaces as possible and wait for the buyers to come to you. If a few weeks pass without an offer, you may have it priced too high. Readjust your price and try again.
With a little determination and patience, you should be able to sell your used mower and buy a new one in no time!
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- About the Author
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John Cunningham is an Automotive Technician and writer at Lawnmowerfixed.com.
He’s been a mechanic for over twenty-five years and shares his know-how and hands-on experience in our DIY repair guides.
Johns’s How-to guides help homeowners fix lawnmowers, tractor mowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, power washers, generators, snow blowers, and more.