Start with facts, not adjectives
Before writing, gather the information you actually know: brand, item type, model, size, colour, material, specification, condition and any relevant identifiers. If something is uncertain, verify it or leave it out rather than turning a guess into a listing fact.
Build the title from useful search terms
Put the information most likely to identify the item into the title. The exact order depends on what you are selling, but a useful structure is often:
Not every item needs every field. The point is to use the title for information a genuine buyer may search for, not filler.
Avoid stuffing the title with repeated synonyms, unrelated brands or unsupported claims such as “rare” simply because they sound persuasive.
Use item specifics carefully
Structured item information can help buyers filter and understand listings. Complete relevant fields accurately, but do not select an attribute simply because it appears to make the item more discoverable.
If you cannot verify a material, model, style or other characteristic, do not present it as certain.
Write a description a buyer can scan
You do not need an essay. Give buyers the useful information in a sensible order:
- What the item is.
- Important identifying or specification details.
- Size or dimensions where relevant.
- Condition.
- Specific faults, marks, wear or missing components.
- Anything else that materially affects the purchase decision.
Condition needs specifics
Words such as “excellent” or “good” are subjective. They are more useful when supported by observations: where wear exists, whether there are marks, whether an item has been tested, or whether parts are missing.
If a buyer received the item tomorrow, would anything important surprise them that you already knew today? If yes, the listing probably needs more information.
Photographs and copy should agree
Show the item clearly and include important labels, identifiers, details and defects. The written description should not contradict what the photographs show, and editing should not conceal meaningful condition issues.
Do not promise what you cannot prove
Be cautious with claims about authenticity, age, provenance, rarity, compatibility or performance unless you have a reliable basis for making them. A confident sentence is not evidence.
Price after the item is understood
A polished listing cannot rescue a price with no relationship to the market. Research genuinely comparable items and understand what your evidence represents before choosing a listing price.
Use our resale pricing guide for the wider method, or How to Sell on eBay UK for the complete workflow.
Final pre-publish check
- Does the title identify the item clearly?
- Are the important item specifics accurate?
- Have you described known faults?
- Do the photographs show the actual condition?
- Have you removed assumptions presented as facts?
- Is the price supported by relevant evidence?
Turn confirmed item details into listing-ready content.
The Resale Coach is designed to keep the item information you confirm and use it to prepare marketplace-specific listing content, including eBay.
See how The Resale Coach works →