How to sell your things before leaving Argentina
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Start 4–6 weeks before you leave: big and expensive items first (furniture, appliances, a bike), and small items and giveaways in the last week. People sell through Russian-speaking marketplace groups (including the "Market" section on ArgHub), Facebook Marketplace and Mercado Libre; whatever hasn't sold can be given away free to the City or a charity.
Where do I start selling before leaving and how much time should I allow?
- 4–6 weeks ahead: make a list of your things and split them into three piles: "selling", "giving away", "taking with me".
- List the big items first: a sofa, bed, fridge and washing machine take the longest to sell, and the buyer has to arrange transport.
- 1–2 weeks ahead: small items, dishes and clothes — in one "clearance sale" listing or in bundles of small things.
- The last days: sell what you still sleep on and cook with on the condition "collect on the day I leave" — agree that in the conversation beforehand.
Where do I list my things for sale before leaving?
- Platform — Who it suits — What to keep in mind
- "Market" on ArgHub — Russian-speaking buyers in Buenos Aires — The listing stays up for 30 days and can be renewed; up to 6 photos; price in ARS or USD, or "free"
- Telegram marketplace groups — Russian-speaking audience — Listings sink down the feed quickly — bump them according to the group's rules
- Facebook Marketplace — Local buyers — Write in Spanish; lots of "¿sigue disponible?" questions
- Mercado Libre — Appliances, expensive items — Needs an account with identity verification and usually Mercado Pago (see the article on Mercado Libre for foreigners); for which documents a foreigner needs, check Mercado Libre's help pages
How does a listing on ArgHub work?
- You can post a listing on the ArgHub site or in its Telegram bot: title, description, price in pesos or dollars (or the "free" mark), condition, neighbourhood and up to 6 photos.
- The listing is active for 30 days and can then be renewed; mark sold items as "Sold".
- Your contact is hidden by default: buyers write to you in ArgHub's in-app chat. Showing your @username or WhatsApp is optional.
- ArgHub is a platform, not a party to the deal: you discuss payment, the meeting and delivery directly with the buyer.
How do I set the price for second-hand items?
- Look at similar listings in the "Market" and on Mercado Libre — use second-hand prices as your guide, not new ones.
- State the currency explicitly: "USD" or "ARS". If it is in pesos, remember the rate changes; the current one is on the "Rates" page.
- Before you leave, time is worth more than money: a price a little below similar listings sells faster than haggling until the last day. After a week with no replies, lower the price and renew the listing.
What do I write in a sale listing?
- Model, dimensions (in centimetres, for furniture), age of the item, defects.
- Where to collect it (neighbourhood) and by what date: "collect by 20 Nov, I'm leaving".
- For appliances, the voltage: Argentina's household supply is 220 V (Resolución 618/1999); if an item is from the US at 110 V, warn the buyer.
- Photos in daylight, a general shot plus close-ups of defects.
How do I get paid if my account is about to close?
- Cash at the meeting — simplest if you leave in the next few days.
- A transfer to an account or wallet — only if you see the money arrive in your own app, not a screenshot from the buyer (more in the article "How to buy and sell second-hand safely in Buenos Aires").
- Don't accept "I'll pay later" and don't hand over an item "on trust until payday": after you leave you won't be able to get anything back.
- Pesos left over from sales can be changed at an exchange office — exchange office cards are in the "Currency exchange" section.
What do I do with what didn't sell?
- Give it away with a "free" listing on ArgHub — those go fastest.
- In Buenos Aires you can book a free pickup of furniture and appliances in good condition for reuse (the "Donación de bienes de hogar en desuso" procedure, via 147 or BA Colaborativa) — see the article "How to give away or donate furniture and clothes in Buenos Aires".
- For broken and bulky items, use the free "residuos voluminosos" collection via 147 or the Boti WhatsApp.
Can I take my things with me?
Taking personal belongings out of Argentina in luggage is usually not restricted, apart from the airline's general rules and prohibited items. Paintings and other works of art have been free to take out since December 2024 (Decreto 1037/2024); a declaration of value is enough for customs. Archaeological objects and palaeontological finds (fossils), however, may not be taken out without permission from the INAPL or the Natural Sciences Museum (MACN) (RG AFIP 3932/2016).
Frequently asked questions
When should I start selling my things before I leave?
4–6 weeks ahead: furniture and large appliances first, small items in the last 1–2 weeks.
Where do Russian speakers sell fastest?
In Telegram marketplace groups and the ArgHub "Market" section; for local buyers, on Facebook Marketplace and Mercado Libre.
How long does an ArgHub listing stay up?
30 days, then it can be renewed; sold items are marked with the "Sold" button.
How do I avoid losing out on payment when I sell?
Hand the item over only once the money is visible in your banking app, or you have received cash.
What do I do with unsold furniture?
Give it away with a listing, or book a free pickup via the City's 147 line.