After a bunch of you requested a post about this, we’re finally writing a loooong rundown about how we use Craiglist to score affordable secondhand finds as well as to sell things we no longer need.
Sherry scratched the surface with a few tips on buying back in this post, but we wanted to share more info that was specific to interacting with sellers/buyers and writing up your listings, so here it goes. Craigslist can definitely be intimidating for first-timers. It doesn’t boast the glossy interface that makes using sites like Facebook feel so welcoming.
Plus, some few-and-far-between but no-less scary crime stories are enough to make anyone wary of it. Even Sherry and I had a slightly unnerving experience in our early days of Craigslisting in New York City. The man who showed up at Sherry’s apartment to buy a TV from her before we moved to Virginia pulled out the money to pay us from his pocket… and the hunting knife that he was also carrying came out along with it accidentally. It was a harmless encounter, but just the presence of that weapon was enough to make us realize that we needed to be smarter about using the site.
Buying On Craigslist
Obviously there’s tons of stuff for sale (or even for free!) on Craigslist everyday. It’s always one of our go-to spots when we’re looking for a piece of furniture because you’re bound to find things that are reasonably priced and decently cared for among the crowd. Here’s just a snapshot of some of the items that we’ve scored thanks to Mr. Craig and his list (you can read more about each purchase here, here, here and here).
So when you’re on the hunt for something, here are our tips:
- Be patient. Just because the item you’re looking for doesn’t show up today, that doesn’t mean someone won’t be posting it tomorrow. So don’t give up if you come up empty on your first try. We usually like to camp out and check frequently over a few days or weeks (and it might take 20-30 clicks over time to find what we’re looking for, so we just try to keep calm and search on).
- Search smarter. Sherry is a die-hard fan of the original Craigslist site, but I’ve started using the Craigslist iPhone and iPad app too. There are also apps out there by others (like cPRO) that make it easier to browse and search (especially by putting pictures more front and center). Even when Sherry uses the basic site, she clicks the button to show thumbnail images next to each listing so she doesn’t have to click into each one to see the pics… so that’s a tip for you old school folks.
- Remember that prices are negotiable. We never put a maximum limit on price when searching because we know things that are listed above our budget can be negotiated into an acceptable range. While simply asking a buyer to accept a lower price is perfectly fine (“would you take $45 instead of $60?”) you can also make a stronger case by referencing similar Craigslist listings for lower prices or even compare it to how much the item retails for originally (“I could buy it new for just $20 more than your listing, so could you come down a little?”). Never hurts to ask.
- Be synonym happy when you search. If you’re hunting for a buffet for your dining room, be sure to search a whole slew of similar terms because you never know how sellers might describe the item you want. So hunt for buffet, sideboard, console, entry table, and even broader terms like dining set, dining table, or simply “wood furniture.”
- Be willing to travel. Depending on where you live, you may need to cast a wide search net to have the best shot at finding the right piece. We check the Richmond listings first, but sometimes we expand to Northern Virginia, Charlottesville, DC, and the Norfolk area (all 1 – 2 hours away) since some craigslist values can make the drive worth it.
Once you’ve located the item that you want, here’s how we’d suggest going about making it yours.
- Start slow. Don’t inundate the buyer with a million questions in your first email. Just a simple “is it still available, if so I’d like to come by tonight with cash” can be enough to get the ball rolling and not scare the seller into thinking you’re too high maintenance for them by asking a bunch of questions.
- Ask for the info you need. Once you’ve confirmed that the item is still available, don’t hesitate to contact the seller for more information. Just remember to ask specific questions (“could you please provide dimensions?” or “is the color in the photos accurate?”) because you may not get the answers you want by simply asking for “more information.”
- Sound ready and willing. Most sellers just want this to be easy, so appeal to that sense by telling them that you’re flexible about pick up times, you have the money ready, and you’re eager to get it home. Saying “I can pick it up in two weeks” is a quick way for them to look for another buyer.
- Be prepared to get it home. Some sellers will offer delivery, but in most cases you need to think about how you’ll transport the item home – even if it means borrowing or renting a vehicle big enough. Ask questions about the size and weight of the item before you arrive and be sure to bring enough manpower to maneuver the piece yourself (don’t assume the seller will be able to lend a hand).
- Stay safe. We like to buy from people who we’ve talked to on the phone. It means there’s a record that we called them on our house phone/cell phone (which makes someone less likely to do anything creepy), and that way we’ve at least heard their voice, which usually sets us at ease. We also email a relative with their phone number and address to tell them we’re going there (so there’s someone else on the planet who knows where we’re going and when we’re going there) and we also prefer to pick up things outside (just because being outside to do the transaction can feel more “public”).
- Bring cash. Cash is the one-and-only currency of Craigslist transactions (at least in our world) so hit up the ATM before you head out.
- Be ready to take a risk. No matter how much info you’re able to get on a piece beforehand, at some point you’ll just have to go for it and make the drive to see it in person. There’s only so much you can learn about a purchase by email, so you may have to decide if it’s really what you want when you see it in person.
- Feel free to say no thank you. If you arrive and the piece isn’t quite what you expected (or what the seller described) you have ever right to say “nevermind” and leave empty handed (well, except for the cash you saved). The seller may be disappointed or frustrated, so just be prepared to explain why and stand your ground. You can also offer to still take it, but at a lower price.
Selling On Craigslist
Now, as much fun as we have discovering great stuff on Craigslist, the thrill of selling something we no longer need is almost more exciting for me personally. Something about de-cluttering and getting cash in return presses all the right buttons. And it never ceases to amaze me the stuff that people will search for on Craigslist. From bushes and gravel to granite counters, we’ve gotten rid of tons of stuff on the ol’ CL.
So if you want to get a piece of that action, let’s start with our tips for making a successful listing.
- Don’t be brief. We personally love listings that are robust. We’re not talking novels, but nothing turns me off more than a clipped, non-descriptive five word listing. Not only do detailed descriptions help buyers understand your item better, writing in complete sentences can help paint the picture that you’re a smart, respectable seller.
- Play salesman. Remember you’re selling something, so don’t hesitate to remind people that it’s “a gorgeous color” or “in great condition” or whatever other selling point you might have up your sleeve. And be sure to include some of this in your listing title too.
- But be honest. Don’t oversell your item so much that the buyer is mislead. If your item is worn or damaged somewhere, be upfront about that. We have found that people love and appreciate this honesty (and probably don’t expect mint items on craigslist anyway). If you worry this is undercutting your sale potential, just remember it’s much less trouble to lose a sale at the listing than once you’ve coordinated a pick up time and the buyer has come to pick it up (you might have a disgruntled person on your hands!).
- Explain yourself. We always like to head off the assumption that we’re selling it because it’s broken / ugly / haunted by explaining our reason for no longer wanting it ourselves. Sometimes it’s a simple “we moved and it doesn’t fit our living room anymore” can help set someone at ease who worries it’s infested with bedbugs or something crazy. Oh and speaking of bedbugs, my apartment in NY had them years ago (worst time ever) but thankfully I now know what to look for while buying something – so there’s more on that here.
- Price things reasonably. If you’re having trouble determining a sales price, try to find similar items on Craigslist and go a tad lower in order to compete (many times others will overprice something, so cutting your price below that may not be underpricing it, it could just be a fair price that someone will actually take you up on). If the item is available at retail stores, link to that so people can see how much they’re saving by buying it used (you also benefit from the photos and details they feature if you link up). And know that people may negotiate for a lower price, but you don’t have to agree to anything that you don’t want to (sometimes we’re firm, and other times we’re happy to be flexible).
- Pictures. Pictures. Pictures! We usually don’t even bother looking at listings without pictures, so we wouldn’t dare post one without a picture… or two… or four. These are your best sales asset, so put time into making them good and helpful. Show the whole piece. Show it in situation. Show details. Even show close-ups of where it’s worn or damaged so people won’t have an excuse to cancel the sale when they arrive.
- Feel free to point out some of your parameters. If you want to, feel free to include conditions like “weekend pick-ups only,” “bring cash,” or “call, don’t email” within your listing. Sherry and I sometimes save these for once we’ve started an email exchange or a phone chat with an interested party though, just so we don’t scare them off with too many rules upfront.
You can click the image below to see some actual listings that we’ve posted as some point. None of them have images since Craiglist removes those shortly after a listing has become inactive, so ignore the fact that they appear to violate that suggestion above.
Once you’ve got your listing up and made it live to the world, here’s our usual plan of action from there:
- Commit to a fair system. As much as a “Highest Bidder” system might get the best price, we just like to work on a “First Come, First Served” basis. This means whoever is able to schedule the first full-price pick-up has claim to it. We’re not shy about telling people if they ask because it we think it helps conduct the fairest transaction possible (ex: no one thinks we’re dallying in order to hold out for a higher bidder).
- Choose a safe pick-up location. You guys know we’re protective our address, but it’s not realistic for us to transport every item that we sell to another location for pick up (although sometimes we do that). So when we sell directly from our house, we like to do it in the safest way possible. I don’t provide our address until I’ve scheduled a pick-up time, which means it only goes to the most serious buyers. And whenever possible, we move the item into our carport or outside so the buyer doesn’t enter our home to make the transaction (and it’s out in “public” so no one tries anything funny). This also means they don’t see our alarm system, which helps us feel more secure since no one has “cased” our house while buying something.
- Don’t go it alone. We only schedule pick-ups when both of us can be present. And we make it clear to buyers that there will be more than one of us here. It’s not like Sherry says “my husband is home, so don’t try anything” but a nice subtle “both my husband and I will be home to help you lift it” mention helps. Hint successfully dropped. This tip goes for when you’re a buyer too – always try to bring someone with you, even if just for safety reasons.
- Be ready to stand your ground. Sometimes we find buyers trying to take advantage of the fact that they’re with us in person with cash and others are not, so if someone says “how ’bout just $40 instead of $50” it’s really your call. If you’ve got other buyers waiting the wings, feel free to respond with “we agreed to $50, so we’d like to stick to that please” or even “I have others interested for the full price, so we’re afraid we’re firm on it.”
- Expect cash. If you haven’t made it clear upfront that cash is expected and the person shows up with a check, don’t be shy about telling the person that you’re happy to wait while they go to the bank. Because if you take a check and it bounces, you may be out the money and the item you listed.
Obviously all of these tips are just what works for us, so feel free to tailor them to whatever’s comfortable for you. And we’re always happy to learn new things, so if anyone else has Craigslist tips to share, we’d love to hear them!
Elizabeth says
Great post! I don’t often use Craigslist, I use Kijiji more. I found 4 parsons dining chairs for $100 last winter!
Kate says
I set up RSS feeds in my Google Reader if I’m really on the hunt for something. It’s easy to check, and you know when new items have been added.
Esther says
when I click on the “more on that here”, where John says he knows what to look for when buying furniture for bed bugs, it goes to your post on the $6 kitchen cabinets for the office?
No need to post my comment just wanted to let you guys know in case its a mistake :)
YoungHouseLove says
Yep, that’s correct. The $6 office cabinets talks about how we checked them for bed bugs. But if you want my NY story, just click the link earlier in that sentence.
-John
Esther says
I just did! What a horror story! So glad you survived to tell the tale! will definitely be checking out for those little signs in the future
Abby says
The “thumbnail trick” is not working for me. I tried hovering my mouse over the “pic” or “img” link, and I also tried clicking those links specifically rather than the link to the whole post…but I don’t see any thumbnails. What am I missing?
YoungHouseLove says
Look for the words “show images” on the top left of your search results. That should make the thumbnails show up. Hope it works!
-John
Josie says
Thanks for the tips! I’m about to move in with my fiance and we definitely have a lot of stuff to sell.
Liz says
I sold all my furniture on CL before two cross country moves and some of the most important things I looked for in a buyer and did as a seller:
1. Have a legitimate email address.
– As a girl when someone emailed me from [email protected] (fake but you get the idea), I would disregard that from the person who emailed me from a school district email account. As a seller, [email protected] inspires slightly more confidence than the above example.(you can Google, Facebook the person, etc.).
2. Be thorough in your description but not too wordy! -Nobody wants to read 4 paragraphs. Bullet points are your friend to stress points.
3. Use multiple terms when selling.
– I.E. when selling a tv make sure to put tv, television, plasma, big screen, hdtv all worked into the ad to make sure it shows in plenty of search results.
4. If you HAVE to be alone ask for ID of the buyer/seller and text the picture to a friend.
– And have a friend on the phone and casually hold your phone. This was my situation when selling furniture and a car and you know anyone that balks is up to no good.
Melissa says
I’m curious to know your thoughts on this recent experience we had…
We recently sold a television (box style) on Craigslist and we listed it at 32 inches and sold it for $40. When the buyer arrived, he said, “this is 32 inches?” and I said, “you’re welcome to measure it– let me get the tape.” And he said, “No, that looks about right.” He paid us and went on his way. Two days later he emailed us and said that it wasn’ 32 in…because we had measured it incorrectly and he wanted a refund OR he would sell it and then give us what he got for it. We searched on craigslist and found that we had actually sold the TV at its actual size for lower than what comparable ads were for so we said, “We’re so sorry, but all sales are final.” We also mentioned the other ads.
I was super worried because of a few things:
A) He had our address
B) He had our email (which has our names in it)
C) Since he knows our name, he can find us on the internet, etc.
So, the moral that we learned is never meet at the house, use a non-name email address for craigslist. What would you guys have done in this situation?
YoungHouseLove says
Good question and probably a fair concern to have because you just never know. I probably would’ve have done something similar to you. We had one instance where a guy who showed up tried to tell us that it wasn’t in the condition he expected. So I told him he wasn’t obligated to take it, but if he did then the sale was final. He ended up deciding to go for it and we never heard any complaints after that. But had our buyer (or yours) been overly upset or angry in his emails back to us, I probably would’ve offered to take it back and refund his money. It’s not worth the stress, especially if I could sell it to another person for a similar price.
-John
Sarah Kate says
These are all great tips! I have such a love/hate relationship with CL! I’ve sold many items but I always seem to have bad luck with no-shows, non-responders, and low-ball offers. Just this morning I got a response that simply said “give me a call” with a name and phone number. No mention of the item or if he wanted it, etc. Ugh. Honestly, if I get a lot of offers, I filter by which responder sounds the most interested and has the fewest spelling mistakes, ha!
YoungHouseLove says
We get those too. If it’s my only response then I’ll entertain it, but otherwise I often defer to people who are bit more communicative in their messages. :)
-John
Amy says
LOVE CL! I’d say about 80% of our stuff comes from there. Most recently we upgraded to a larger dining room table w/ leaves so that we can seat our relatives at the holidays. We had a 4 seater, and now that our twins are almost 3, we needed more chairs! So I sold our old set for $125, and bought a new gorgeous table w/ 2 chairs for $50 and a not so nice table w/ 6 nice chairs for $75. Now I’ll sell the not so nice table for $25 and we actually made a few bucks AND have a much better seating arrangement!
Courtney says
Thank you for this post; I’m in the process of my first sell on CL and so far so good. I’ve been going through your archives from the beginning (yes, I’m one of those types!) and I’m so curious how you word posts for your in-the-ground-still plants. I have a yard full of overgrown nandinas and box woods, but have to clue how to arrange a dig-it-yourself post. Suggestions?
YoungHouseLove says
I don’t have an exact listing to reference, but we were sure to mention that type of plant and that it was free if you dug it out yourself – I think we said something like “if you provide the labor to successfully transplant the bush – it’s yours for free!” or some other way to note that it’s not our fault if the plant doesn’t survive. We did ask for people to contact us so that it wasn’t just a “show up whenever” situation. That way you can also direct them as to where the plants are and be sure they don’t take anything you don’t want them to!
-John
Amy L. says
OMG-ness! I NEVER KNEW THERE WAS A SHOW IMAGE BUTTON!!!!!!!!!!!! Biggest tip EVER!!!
Gabriella @ Our Life In Action says
This is so helpful. Surprisingly enough, I have never Craigslist…I know, I know, I can hear your gasps all the way up North. But now I am inspired to venture out and give it a try.
Gabriella @ Our Life In Action says
P.S.- John’s expressions are priceless. You guys should do a post just on those. ;-)
Ashley says
Amazing title! Though now I’m going to have that song stuck in my head all day!
Being in Canada as well, I also use Kijiji.ca much more than Craigslist, though the sites basically do the same thing. I’ve been selling a lot of stuff on kijiji lately in an attempt to de-clutter, and one thing that drives me bonkers is when people ask me if the item is still available. I suppose, yes, not everyone is super diligent in removing their ad once the item is sold, but I think it’s fairly safe to assume that if the ad is active, the item is available. It’s just another delay in the getting-the-item-out-of-my-house process. Amazing advice on everything else though! I should be better at telling others when a buyer is picking something up. And definitely do not buy or sell anything alone!
Lauren @ muchadoaboutsomethin.blogspot.com says
Thanks for posting this – I’ve been freaked out by Craigslist in the past – I’m going to give it a try now!
Amelia says
I would also suggest selecting the ‘by owner’ option only. The dealer sales always seem to be rip offs, scams, or just advertisements.
Nicole says
Thank you! This comes in handy as we are about to sell our old range on CL to make room for our snazzy new one. Also, love the thumbnail trick… so excited to try it out!
Val says
And if you’re looking for a dresser on CL in Alabama, be sure to search for “chester drawers.” I’m so ashamed that my peeps down here don’t understand that it’s “chest of drawers,” not “chester drawers.” One of my Top Ten CL Pet Peeves of all time.
Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate says
Too funny. I’m a big fan of “Rot Iron.”
Katy
Amy says
haha, here in Boston people list things as “chest or draws”. Drives me nuts.
KarenH says
ha! I search for sewing machines all the time and especially treadle machines. I have to search for sewing, sowing, treadle, treddle, treble (yes, really), pedal, and peddle. I think the all time favorite was an ad that stated, “I don’t sew, so I don’t know if it works, but the stabby thingie goes up and down when you turn the dial.” (“Stabby thingie” = needle) :D
Penny says
Y’all have got to be kidding. These are hilarious!!
Lisa R says
!!! I live in NW Indiana and until I was in my late teens, I thought it was Chester Drawers! I blamed it on my mom not speaking clearly enough. I still get teased to this day!
Katie says
Whoa whoa whoa… a hunting knife is a tool, not a weapon. Just like a hammer, saw, screwdriver, ballpoint pen and other tools, it can be used to hurt and as a weapon, but it is a tool.
But yes, be mindful when inviting strangers to your home or when traveling to someone else’s place.
Reenie says
I’ve had good luck with both buying and selling on CL. I’ve even had the sellers deliver (since I don’t have a truck). One followed me home with a buffett (was listed for $30.00 ~ but I offered $40.00 for him to deliver); also had the seller deliver a treadmill from another city about 30 minutes away…. I paid him extra to deliver; another guy delivered a daybed, mattress, etc…. it was brand new ~ for $50.00. I kind of freaked out on that one tho, not sure why. So I mentioned that “my husband” [which I don’t have] won’t be home to help me unload it. He said he could do it himself. So, before he gets there….I rummage thru my CZ rings and put one on… thought it was too big and he’d kill me over a CZ ring!! HA! When he pulled up with his lil 19 month old girl…. I was relieved.
A funny experience…. my self-propelled part of my lawnmower went out. Instead of having it fixed I got a new one, and listed the old one on CL. Long story short… after making several trips up and down my driveway (to get tie-downs for guy picking it up)…. he said as I was walking away (and I kid you not) “nice panties” ….. I stopped and thought he did not just say that…. I turned and said what ~ he said “nice panties” {I’m thinking…but I don’t have any on ~ I know TMI} I looked at him puzzled ~ and he said ~ “you have a huge hole in your jeans” …. haha!!! I said ~ I do not ~ he said yes you do!! I backed down my drive waving good-bye to him. I went in my house and took off my “working jeans” and sure enough a huge hole. haha!!! My friends got a big kick outa that story…. make sure you check your “working jeans” before someone comes over ;) HAHA!!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my! How forward of him. Too funny!
xo,
s
Rachel K says
I do everything you mentioned except for one thing. On the listing I actually write “I will remove the posting when it is no longer available and I will not respond to emails asking if it is still available”.
I started doing this after selling my first few items where I would get TONS of emails just saying “Is it still available?” I would respond to all of them and never hear back. So I feel like it weeds out the people who aren’t really serious about buying. As a result people only email me either negotiating the price or asking for a pickup time so it definitely works!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah, that’s a great thing to add. We always remove our listing as soon as it’s sold too.
-John
Ashleigh says
I love gumtree (our version of craigslist) but I got diddled when we sold some sofas on there, it was my own fault for not counting the money infront of him but he cheated me out of £20. Grrrr!!!
Since then we have sold a lot of things and I have to admit I have been in alone sometimes when we have, but my fiance has all the details so hopefully that keeps me safe!!
Unfortunatly gumtree here seems really expensive and we don’t find many bargains.
Great post xox
Melissa says
Your tips for using Craigslist are great especially the one about posting photos! One thing I’ve found is that I do better selling items if I list them late in the week, Fri or Sat. People seem to be looking more on the weekends and your post doesn’t end up a couple pages back. If something doesn’t sell right away, I also bump my posts up regularly to make sure they aren’t buried.
Robin E. says
My best tip for Craigslist selling is to post more than one ad. Every time I’ve posted two ads (with the same pictures, but slightly different subject lines and descriptors), I’ve gotten way more responses. May just be that some folks who aren’t liable to click on one post click on another.
I also think it’s helpful to take and post measurements upfront, and second the pictures hint. I try to take three or four different angles of whatever I’m selling. And then finally, I have posted the same picture and description of the item I’m selling on Facebook at the same time I post on Craigslist, since selling to a friend or friend of a friend has also worked in the past. Good to try to cover multiple bases.
Angel says
I Love craigslist! We got my sons crib on craigslist – a beautiful like new Dwell Studio two tone crib, for only $100!!! I almost spit out my drink when I saw it. In case that wasn’t enough, the guy threw in the brand new crib mattress that his daughter never slept on, he delivered it since he had a truck and we didn’t, he helped us carry it up the stairs AND helped us assemble it! Nicest person ever, and best deal ever.
I agree so much about waiting though, I probably looked at 200 just-not-right craigslist cribs before I found THE ONE.
Angela says
My son (28) had a freaky experience selling a pair of expensive tennis shoes on Craig’s List. (He is one of those who stands in line when the new ones come out.) He agreed to sell a pair and they agreed to meet outside a Starbucks. As soon as the deal was completed and my son had the cash, another man came up to him and asked if he had any more shoes and then stood there staring at him, then walked away a little distance but still turning to stare. The first guy got in his car and left and my son thought maybe the second guy was there to get the money back. My son scooted back into Starbucks and waited for the second guy to finally leave. Scary!
YoungHouseLove says
Scary is right! Glad to hear it turned out okay.
-John
Connie says
The editor in me caught this one:
…and even boarder terms like dining set, dining table, or simply “wood furniture.”
I’m sure you intended broader, but what’s a transposition among friends?
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Connie! Fixed!
-John
Nate says
I also use SearchTempest.com which you can search Craigslist in nearby cities also with one simple search. To top it off, you can subscribe to feeds from there and have them automatically show up in Google Reader / Feed Reader of choice.
I have feeds for vintage, retro, and mid-century in 2-3 nearby cities that I can check throughout the day easily with a quick look at Google Reader.
Helen says
One of the most useful things I’ve done regarding CL is learning the search syntax. Now I can look something up without having to try fifty different searches. For example, a while back I was keeping an eye out for a leather couch or sectional that does not have bonded leather or microfiber, so I would search with this:
leather -bonded -microfiber (couch | sofa | sectional | “L shaped”)
Full guide with examples here: http://www.craigslistsearch.org/advanced_search_syntax_exclude.html
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a great tip. Thanks Helen!
-John
Jennifer says
I am a Craigslist fan as well (both the buying and selling sides) and have found lots of great items that way. One idea for safety – tell the other party to meet you at a local high school. Most of the time everyone knows where the school is, and if school is in session there is usually a police liason or cop right there!
Jeri says
I love, love, love Craig and his list! After we had an addition made to our house, the contractor left us high and dry with a disaster of a backyard – way too much dirt, completely uneven, and full of rock and debris – total mess. We posted free limestone rocks on CL, and several people came and did much of the work for us. Some neighbors we’d never met before responded and took some, so was a good introduction. Another guy even paid us!
Kelly Anne says
Also be aware of counterfeit money! I had a co-worker who was selling something (I don’t remember what) that was several hundred dollars. When the buyer paid for it, he counted out the correct number of $20 bills into my friend’s hand. It wasn’t until after the buyer was gone that they realized that only the $20 on top was real, the rest were fake. Sad lesson to learn, but in this case, seller beware!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no! That sucks – but is a good reminder!
-John
Christa says
Great tips. Because we live in a very small town, I also like to add that we are 10 min from such and such town, or 1 hour from Baltimore (or whatever larger city is close by). That helps the buyer know how far of a drive to expect.
I am a big fan of Craigslist too and have used it to sell, buy and advertise yard sales.
Mina says
We’ve bought and sold on CL and have never been disappointed. I just got a Macbook Pro, brand new off of there. Of course, when buying something pricey… I would say to bring someone who can check it out. My dad and I brought our family company’s IT person to check the computer through and through before we forked over the cash. The seller didn’t seem to mind one bit. : ) We paid our IT person for his time, but the $100 we paid him saved us a good $3000 on buying the Mac at the store and adding all the expensive software that came with it. So, it was well worth it. : )
Hannahbanana says
I adore Craigslisting, I really do- but due to a recent bed bug infestation that I am LITERALLY still PTSD-ing over, I’ve sworn off. These creatures are so insidious, and the outbreak is worse now than it even was in 2009. The guy who came out to our house said that we wouldn’t believe all the places in town that he’s treated. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to bring something new OR used into the house without feeling like I’ve “compromised security”:(
Kaitlin says
I was planning to sell my old IKEA entertainment center on CL for $40 (new it was $80 5 years ago). During a visit to IKEA I found the same entertainment center new for $50. Getting $20 is not worth the hassle of CL so I’m putting out a curb alert this weekend. I’d much rather it be gone then get money for it.
Colleen says
Inexpensive Ikea furniture doesn’t really seem to retain much value in my local CL listings, unfortunately. It’s probably easier to sell in localities that don’t have an Ikea nearby.
ann says
Also for selling: please include measurements! Pictures can be deceptive and you can save the hassle of multiple emails if you just include measurements in the listing.
Mallory says
One tip that I try to use is respect the seller’s requests on how to get a hold of them. If they say “please text me at…” I won’t email or call. Some people won’t even respond if you don’t use the method they said. It also helps reduce the number of spammers you get if you say, “Please call” and you start getting a bunch of emails.
I’m sending this link to my sister because she just moved into her first apartment and has starting using Craigslist to get rid of some of the furniture that doesn’t fit or work. I had to laugh because I was her “extra body” when she sold her first dresser and she had to have said every Craigslist “don’t”. At one point the sellers had to return with a larger vehicle, and she even said, “It’s okay, we’re going to go out to dinner, so we won’t be home for an hour or so.” I gave her such a hard time when the left, (luckily they were a sweet couple with their two daughters in tow), but I told her it was as if she wanted them to come back and steal it from her, letting them know that no one would be there to stop them! Thankfully, since then she’s learned her lesson!
Blair says
Agreed. I don’t know why but I hate phone calls when I sell something. I always write “text or email” and I will still get phone calls. I don’t answer when I get a call from someone I don’t know but I’ll occasionally give them a chance if they leave a voicemail that sounds like a normal human.
Although I did just edit my current listing to add that calling is okay because I REALLY want it gone.
Tyler @ HomeSpot HQ says
Craigslist is an amazing website and the best part is they’ve managed preserve the integrity of it even though it is one of the most trafficked sites.
Lauren says
Recently while doing my CL searching I search for what I am looking for but misspell it. For instance I found a treadmill by searching for “tredmill” instead.
It’s like hidden treasure!
Katy says
Make sure you have the exact amount or change available! That’s the only tip I didn’t see above or in the comments. It definitely saves you time and money if you have a stubborn buyer/seller. I had to go buy French fries at McDonald’s once because a seller didn’t have change and I wasn’t willing to pay more. French fries > paying $10 more for a jumperoo!
YoungHouseLove says
Good reminder!
-John
Shauna @Satori Design for Living says
You have found such good buys on Craigslist. I seem to be impatient and usually give up after 15 minutes! Hope your book tour is going good!
Sarah says
I definitely second the being super careful thing! I also never share my address until I’ve talked with the person on the phone. Must make sure they’re not total weirdos.
I have to say, I dislike when people only email with “Would you take $x?”. Ugh. At least wrap it in some niceties!
Kay says
Sherry, I think you and John need to release an album of 90s hip hop remixes all about home decorating. I would definitely buy it.
YoungHouseLove says
LOL. That would be epic.
-John
Erin says
I avoid the scammers by telling interested parties to put something sort-of related but random in their subject line. For instance I just sold a set of plates and said “I WILL NOT RESPOND TO YOUR EMAIL UNLESS ‘ROUND’ IS THE SUBJECT LINE.” Sure enough, a couple of emails came through that did not say “Round” and the email just said “Hi, is the item still available?” – a sure-fire sign of a scammer. I’ve had pretty good luck separating the scammers out that way.
Cathy says
I began singing Montell Jordan immediately upon seeing your post title, before seeing your invitation to do so. I’m either proud or scared. Some of the song lyrics actually fit well with the subject matter of your post (the part about making yourself an attractive buyer) – “The girls see I got the money, a hundred-dollar bills y’all!” Lots of great information in here — thanks guys!
YoungHouseLove says
LOL. We didn’t even think of that. Of course, as I started singing Montell in my head it slowly morphed into No Diggity and now that’s been swimming around in my brain for the last two hours.
-John
sharon says
these are excellent recommendations about buying & selling on craigslist.
one that i might add is courtesy of my father-in-law — get a google voice number to give as the phone number for people to call. he has a google voice number that rings his cell phone & he can always see what number they called to reach him which means he knows if he will/will not answer. this could also help narrow down what phone calls are craigslist phone calls. if you had several items you could probably even set up separate phone numbers for separate items to help keep them straight.
Elisabeth Crisp says
Great advice! Thanks. I picked up two Italian leather living room chairs this fall from Craig’s list. $700 for both is a lot cheaper than retail. Your blog inspired me to check it out. The seller’s perspective is terrific information too.
Jill Matthews says
Wow, what a helpful post! I am moving soon, and didn’t know how to sell on Craig’s List. Thanks so much, I’m ready now :o).
P.S. Have ordered your book, can’t wait to receive it!
Jenny @ House Full of Pretty says
Love this post!
We have furnished practically half our house with Craiglist purchases, and they are often my favorite pieces because they feel more one-of-a-kind and have some history.
I usually set up Craigslist alerts (I use List-Alert.com) for items I’m looking for so I don’t ever miss a post, and can often be one of the first to inquire, which helps seal the deal!
Sabrina says
I found and awesome deal on a coffee table and 2 end tables. They are solid oak and they only wanted $10 for them! I have also found that by my mother who lives in a more lucrative area that I can get a lot more for less. She hates when I ask her to get me something lol Where I live, people have less money and I went to see a sideboard just like you guys have, and they wanted $1000!!! Crazytown! I recently went to purchase this antique rocker and the woman took forever to get back to me, finally after 3 weeks she did and wouldn’t give me her address. She just kept emailing me what town she was in lol I even asked her and she again emailed the town name. I guess I was supposed to go knocking on all doors till I found it? I really wanted that chair too! lol