What is the best way to sell an old record collection?

Before you sell, sort the records by genre and pull out anything that looks unusual: jazz, blues, soul, early rock, punk, imports, promotional copies and records in very clean shape. Look up a sample of those on a record database to see recent sold prices, matching the exact pressing.

Clean jackets and records sell better, but do not use harsh household cleaners on the vinyl. Store records upright, not stacked flat, and keep them away from heat. Count the collection and take photos of the labels and jackets of the better records.

For a large collection, a record shop may make an offer for the whole lot, which is convenient but will be below what you could get piece by piece. Selling individually brings more but takes time. For collections that include rare records, an auction company can reach collectors who compete for them. Ask several buyers before you accept an offer for the whole collection.