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!
Brenda says
Thanks for the great tips! I love craigslist, have found so many great pieces, and sold some too. Your best tip for today though? The “show images” box. I can’t believe I have never seen that, and I look on craigslist all the time. I am so excited about that! I don’t have to click on every link to see the picture :)
Carla says
The guy I bought a dresser from made me sign a printed receipt. That made me think about whether the possibility exists that someone could sue should I sell them, say, my computer or other electronic device that suddenly stops working. Have you ever issued a receipt? I’m not sure how the legal system works specific to “garage sale” type items, but I’m not sure if an “as-is” thing automatically kicks in.
Also, I found a lovely mid-century side table for $9 at a thrift shop and resold it for $95 on Craigslist. The women arrived at our meet-up destination (never my home; always a public place) with a $100 bill, something I didn’t prepare for. She was more than happy to hand over the entire thing without change, since I drove two towns over to meet with her, but still … I felt badly about that. So definitely anticipate things like this when selling.
:o)
P.S. I don’t see any way to subscribe to my comment. Didn’t you used to have that feature?
YoungHouseLove says
We haven’t ever issued a receipt. I personally hate to reinforce the idea that if you’re dissatisfied with the purchase that you can return it, since it’s my belief that on CL and yard sales all sales are final and that’s unfortunately the risk we all take as buyers and sellers in those forums.
As for subscribing – we did used to have the feature but not many people took advantage of it and ended up being too glitchy (where people were accidentally subscribing to all comments and then couldn’t unsubscribe) so we just removed it. Sorry!
-John
heather says
“What’s your return policy”
“You return, I call the police”
So many good Modern Family quotes.
Allison says
You didn’t mention filtering through spam as a seller. Do you guys get very much of that? I get loads! I’ve found most of the emails I receive are in fact fake, and are just people fishing for my real email address. I don’t reply to emails that say things like “Do u stil hav the item?” And of course the obvious ones that ask you to click on something or have some CRAZY story to go with it.
YoungHouseLove says
We don’t seem to get a lot of it, but I tend not to reply to the “is this still available” emails until I’ve gotten through the ones that are bit more descriptive in their requests.
-John
Nina says
When meet for the exchange after buying/selling I always try to pick a public place to meet. Like “let’s meet at that police station by the grocery store!”
Krystle @ Color Transformed Family says
Great advice! My co-worker once suggested that the transaction should take pace in front of the police station. Then no one would try any funny business.
Mary @ Ms Redo says
We rarely sell/buy furniture on CL, but my teen is a wheeler and dealer with electronics. We get potential buyers to meet us at our local Mickey D’s where we have a huge audience plus we have the the register peeps scan those $20’s to be sure they’re real. So far that’s worked well. Lovin’ me some CL!
jenh says
I’m curious if you guys list your last name when selling, or if you give it out when you want to buy. Have people ever showed up to buy something or you showed up at their place, and they knew who you were from reading your blog? Does that discourage you from craiglisting?
YoungHouseLove says
We never make it public on the listing and we use CL’s anonymous email feature when listing. But once I start communicating with folks I include our last name (it’s in my email addy) but not our blog URL. So yeah, some folks have known by the time we make the transaction but it’s always nice that the first inquiry is made because they’re interested in the piece itself!
-John
bridget b. says
Thanks for sharing your tips! I love craigslist! I’ve bought and sold a lot of home decor on the site, which I blogged about here: http://623designs.tumblr.com/post/34763170109/parsons-chair-switch.
And just last week, I also scored a great little snap-and-go stroller for more than half off for getting around town with my new little one.
Isn’t it great how using the money from selling your old stuff takes away the guilt of buying new stuff? :)
Ammie says
So, I made the mistake of going back and reading all the bed bug posts because I was curious about John’s horrific experience. Now, even though I’ve never been anywhere close to a bedbug, I feel like they’re crawling all over as I sit at my desk at work! Ew.
Angela says
Love these tips! I use craigslist alllll the time, too! I actually got super lucky and found this amazing credenza on craigslist for only $20!! I live in Chicago, so something like this usually sells for anywhere from $100-200. (I painted it as soon as I got home. It was originally all plain wood and had a huge clunky mirror attached). http://distilleryimage4.s3.amazonaws.com/a6b1ecf4d3b411e181dd1231381b5f1f_7.jpg
The desk in the photo was actually also from Craigslist.
Most recently, I had this huuuuuuge, clunky, old dirty heavy gross couch in our apt that I wanted to get rid of (you can actually also see that in the photo). But it was too large to put in the alleyway and my ex and I couldn’t move it alone. I put it up on Craigslist and said “Free to anyone who can pick it up tonight!” I got lucky and some college guys in their first apartment came to pick it up.
Can’t wait to see y’all in Chicago!!! Can you please they’ve already had to close RSVPs because of the response?!
YoungHouseLove says
Great scores! And can’t wait to see you in Chicago!
-John
Amelia R. says
I only ever sell or pick up Craigslist things at neutral locations with parking lot cameras. I’m nervous about home invasion and kidnapping (both of which have happened locally and nationally) so the comfort of knowing someone will be able to locate the killer with a phone number doesn’t calm me much.
When I post items for sale, I mention that we’ll meet up at location x, then arrange a time and date when we agree on price. And I’ve walked away from items if the person selling to me won’t meet anywhere but their home. Creeps me out.
Sabrina says
Love the cragislist advice, but the best words I read this morning were…”Your Amazon.com order of “Young House Love: 243 Ways…” has shipped!” So excited :) Had to share!
YoungHouseLove says
Awesome! So glad it’s on its way.
-John
Mrs. Ronso says
CL is the best! We once sold a couch in 11 minutes!
We also move things into the garage/driveway so people don’t have to come in our house. If it is a relatively small item, my husband will meet the buyers at his work or in the mall parking lot or other public place.
Thanks for all the good tips. I am inspired to list some stuff I’ve had piling up for awhile. :)
Renee Muller says
This comment has nothing to do with your blog post today, but I just have to shout it out MY BOOK HAS SHIPPED. Your book will be arriving at my doorstep on Monday and I can’t wait!
YoungHouseLove says
Woo hoo! A reason to look forward to a Monday for once. :)
-JOhn
Erin C says
Thanks for the info! On a side note, we had bed bugs in our apartment a few years ago, and it was absolutely the worst. I feel your pain, John!
Melissa C says
Hi Sherry & John!
This is somewhat unrelated, but… I just wanted to let you know that this morning, I found out that my copy of your book has shipped!!!
I’m super excited and can’t wait to get elbow-deep in some of your amazing projects. Your blog has been so inspirational in my DIY adventures, and I’m looking forward to showing my home even more love once the book arrives!
Cheers, and thanks again!!
Melissa
YoungHouseLove says
We’ve been hearing that a lot. We’re so excited for everyone to get it!
-John
suganya says
Look what I got in my inbox today: Your Amazon.com order of “Young House Love: 243 Ways…” has shipped!
YAY YAY YAY!!!
YoungHouseLove says
We second those YAYs!
-John
KathyG says
I am more afraid to buy than sell, I feel I have control with the sale, but none with the buying. Is it reasonable to request that the item be outside their home, if I have taken all diligence to believe that this is a piece I will be leaving with? Even furniture?
YoungHouseLove says
It’s certainly something you could ask, but I’m not sure everyone will be willing to oblige – especially if weather is a concern or the person is unable to move the piece themselves.
-John
Julia says
I’d say you could ask that (and let them know that it’s due to safety concerns), but there are other things you could do first that would put less onus on the seller. I almost always go with someone else. In addition, before I leave, I email all the information that I have (location, name, email, phone number, what they might’ve sounded like on the phone, what I’m purchasing) to my siblings. Then I call a sibling as we arrive and tell them to expect to hear from me in X minutes. I might even mention that, or tell them in the middle of the transaction that I need to just call and let so-and-so know things are taking longer than I expected.
I often set up a “safe” word/phrase with the person who’s accompanied me that we can use if either of us are skeeved out and need to skedaddle. If we aren’t getting a “read” off the person right away, one of us might hang back a little, wait at the front door. I’ve also double-checked the price at the beginning, and then said “good, because that’s all the cash I brought and I wanted to make sure so I didn’t waste your time” (so they know I don’t have extra money).
Maria says
My sister was trying to buy expensive jeans for my niece. She emailed the seller back and forth, and had an “uneasy feeling” She entered the name and the seller (male) had prior convictions. Needless to say she just said she told him she found the jeans elsewhere. Never hurts to google sellers/buyers names.
YoungHouseLove says
Eeks! Smart.
xo,
s
Maggie says
Great tips all around (also enjoying the comments section). I would add that in addition to using synonyms when searching, you can also put a group of them in the bottom of your own listing as “tags” that will make it easier for your listing to show up in search results. Sometimes I’ll misspell a word when I’m searching (“bufet” instead of “buffet”) because unlike us decor bloggers, most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about how to spell furniture words ;) Sometimes I also just search for “pair” and see what gems pop up.
YoungHouseLove says
Fun!
xo,
s
Kasandra says
I am so thrilled that you guys are coming to CT. I thought I originally wouldn’t be able to see you because I’m a teacher but they’ve cancelled school for the week due to the hurricane. I’m sure you have your connections but I just wanted to let you know that a good portion of the area is still without power and transportation is still having issues. For example, they closed down the highway just now because there was a major gas leak that caught on fire…fires are starting up all over because of leaking gas. So I would be worried about you being able to get from CT to NJ in one day.
BUT I’m going to try to get to Wilton to see you!!! So excited:)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip! We are going to travel as safely as possible and do everything in our power to get everywhere with lots of extra time to spare (ex: allowing 5 hours if something says its 2 hours away). My whole family is in NY and NJ so they’re giving us updates as often as possible.
xo,
s
Wendy says
Buyer tips
*Know specifically what you are looking for and how flexible you are willing to be with said item. This will save you time when you are searching.
*In the amount (price boxes) try putting in “free” into the categories. The free category is not the only spot where free items are found on CL.
*Be honest and realistic. If you cannot drive to pick up an item, don’t contact the seller. If your schedule is busy, know it.
*Use the buddy system. My husband and I scored a free pack ‘n’ play before we moved (along with most of our nursery items and more). I didn’t want to drive, and was going to politely e-mail the person giving it away for free, but my hub was willing to drive.
With that also said, if you cannot get to an item, perhaps you have friends/family in the area who are willing to help you out with it.
*Be willing to take a chance. We scored a free crib, thanks to my Mom and Dad living 15 minutes away. It was missing screws, and my hub felt confident we could find them. In the process of finding them, we learned the crib was recalled.
We completed the recall form and received a brand-new (non-recalled) crib for FREE. It was FedEx’d and ready for our cross-country move 6 weeks later. :-)
*Be open to gifts. The woman from whom we received the crib contacted us via e-mail after we had previously picked up a free baby bathtub and booster seat. She thought we could use it, and wanted to pass it along.
Megyn @Unstuffed says
I’ve been Craigslisting for over 5 years now. I guess I’m a pro ;)
My biggest pieces of advice are the following:
-READ AN AD IN FULL & FOLLOW DIRECTIONS! So often I get emails/texts/calls when it’s obvious the person only looked at a picture or read the ad title.
-Have a standard template to include things like “If you see this ad, it’s still available” “cash only” “no calls” “pick up only”
-For free items, leave them outside for pick up. It will save you so much time and angst.
-Don’t give out your address, but rather x-roads unless the person is on their way.
-Inform your buyers! If you have people in line, let them know. If someone can come tomorrow and this person can come today, let both parties know about the other. People give you a lot more respect when you keep them informed.
-General pricing should be 1/2 of retail price unless brand new. For older items, Ebay is a good place to check for current selling prices.
-Clothes don’t go well on CL (at least not in our large metro area), so I suggest not wasting your time on that
-Consider the cost of time v. cost of item. We generally have a rule of donating things that would not sell for at least $20 on CL.
Of the over 5 years I’ve been an active CL member, we have yet to have a single bad experience…and that’s with dealing with over a hundred people!
YoungHouseLove says
Great tips! Thanks to everyone for sharing them!
xo,
s
Amanda says
i wrote my own set of “tips” on craigslist selling earlier this year when we sold the vanity from our guest bathroom.
http://amidawn.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-not-to-get-craigslist-killer-ed.html
your tips are much more useful, extensive, and eloquent than mine were!
Cara says
My husband doesn’t want me to buy on craigslist because he thinks I will be murdered. Lol! You have some great safety tips. I just got an email from amazon and your book has shipped. I should get it saturday. Yipee!
YoungHouseLove says
So exciting!
xo,
s
Amy J. says
Totally unrelated post, but my YHL book was just shipped and I get it tomorrow, on my birthday!! Great present to myself :) :)
YoungHouseLove says
No way! That’s awesome. Hope you love it and happy birthday!
xo,
s
Heather says
Just received an email, my YoungHouseLove: 243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update, & Show Your Home Some Love just shipped!!! Yay!!!! Soo excited!! Congratulations, you two and enjoy this upcoming book tour!!
YoungHouseLove says
Ahhhhhh!
xo,
s
Whitney says
I do love to Craigslist, however I am usually too hesitant and don’t end up buying anything. I did get a nice little nightstand that I painted and it is now in our guest bedroom.
On a slightly unrelated note, I just received a note from Amazon that my “Young House Love” book has shipped and I jumped up and yelled “YAY” in my office. My coworkers think I am a little on the weird side.
I am super excited and I cannot wait to read it! Hope to see you guys in Boston!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Whitney! We hope to see you in Boston!
xo,
s
Erin says
Great, helpful post!
This is totally unrelated, but we’re looking into buying our first house soon and are definitely going to buy something that needs a little TLC. I would love to hear from you guys what kinds of tools, DIY equipment, etc. you recommend for the DIY homeowner to build up their arsenal. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Here ya go!
https://www.younghouselove.com/2011/12/a-handy-little-holiday-gift-list/
xo,
s
Sarah says
Thank you so much for this post! I have dealt with Craigslist only once yet, and it was sort of intimidating. I didn’t want to offend the person I was trying to buy from! I was looking at a set of bedroom furniture (figured my hubby and I should up grade from my childhood set..) I found a beautiful set from the 1940’s, and they were including a headboard, footboard and frame, and matching floor lamp. The price was very resonable, but I just didn’t have that on me at the moment. I contacted the seller (turned out to be the wife), and asked if she would take a little less, and if we could work out delivery options. (they were almost an hr away, I’d have to borrow a friends truck, etc.) She gave me her husbands number, and told me to ask him. So I did….and he sent back that if I would come the whole way, I could have it all for free! I scrambled to accept before he found out about the offer to his wife lol. When my husband got there the seller was super excited to get rid of it all…he just wanted his garage back :) I now feel more confident to tackle CL again, esp with this post! Thanks!!
Rachael @ Determined Darling says
I love Craigslist thank you for this post it makes me feel about safer about using it. I have been nervous about posting our wood burning stove because the person would have to come to our house. Your tips make me feel a bit safer about the whole thing. If you don’t mind me asking I would love to know what price you guys listed your wood burning stove. I have not found any for sale in my area and I have no idea what to ask for it. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
I think we asked $40 just because it was so old and heavy, we just wanted someone to haul it for us.
xo,
s
jessica w says
if there is a specific item you are looking for you can search it on the regular site and then hit the rss feed button and it will then show any listing with the word in it which can be really handy.
Lynn @ Our Useful Hands says
Great tips! I also enlist bringing one of my huge as a house brothers that just sit in the van whenever I go make a purchase. Sometimes they double as the braun to move the furniture too. I only meet people in public places like our Wal Mart parking lot or Win Dixie because of the safety factor. I never thought to send out an email to family to let them know – which I will start doing now. I call on the phone though every time because I agree that creepy can be picked up on over the phone. I once asked a lady “Now you aren’t a serial killer and are planning to knock me out or anything right?” and she said “No dear. I’m a nurse. If I did knock you out, out of sheer guilt I would nurse you back to health.” !!! Haha! Have fun in your travels guys. Stay safe.
My best, Lynn
YoungHouseLove says
That’s hilarious!
xo,
s
Linda says
I love Craigslist! I’ve used it a lot to buy and sell (plus find roommates and sublet my apartment) and I’ve never had any problems. I will say that I’ve never thought too much about the safety aspect of it, so I guess that’s something I need to think about.
My two favorite Craigslist finds: before I recently bought my condo, I was living in a small studio with no extra space. I was looking for nightstands on CL for my sister’s house when I saw a gorgeous red, three-drawer Campaign dresser. Prior to that I had never even heard of Campaign-style furniture, and I had no real need or space for one. Plus, it was over $200 so a bit of a stretch for me. I loved it though, and would go back every few days to look at it (it was love at first sight, what can I say? So basically I stalked it). After a week or so, the price dropped by about $60 and I immediately contacted the seller, said I could come with cash immediately, etc. It was still a little more than I felt I should pay, so I asked the seller if he could be flexible on the price. He (very nicely) told me that since he had just dropped the price and had other buyers interested, it was firm. No biggie, I took it at the price and I love it! It’s such a statement piece too.
My other favorite piece I just got a few weeks ago for my new (bigger) condo. I needed a buffet for my dining room, and searched a variety of terms like you guys mention. I saw a beautiful solid wood, Asian-style piece, and loved it. I was very upfront with the seller about asking if I could come get it on the weekend, because my parents were visiting with their SUV, and there was no way it would fit in my little car. I think since I was clearly interested and explained why I couldn’t come right away, she was fine with it. When I got there, I asked if she could be flexible on the price (it was $240). She asked what I had in mind, and I said $200, fully expecting her to counter at $220. Instead she paused and said, okay. Score!
Christina says
I LOVE Craigslist and have probably made over 100+ transactions (both buy and sell), including 3 cars!
The BEST tool that my tec husband suggested to me are Chrome extensions for those of you who use Chrome as their browser. Here is the link for several Craigslist extensions: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/search/craigslist. You just download one (I use Craigslist Preview) and it shows all the pictures in a much bigger format! You don’t have to go into any new website, you just go to craigslist.com as usual but it is kind of an “overlay” over the site.
Highly recommend as a fanatic Craigslist user. Love you guys! Hope you are coming to Cali or AZ for your tour!
Skaie (sky) Knox says
Thanks for the great post Sherry & John! Here are a couple other tips: (1) As mentioned above by Jill, Square is fabulous, safe and easy to use and can be shipped directly to you to use on your iPhone, iPad and android devices…here’s the website: https://squareup.com/. Also, there is a wonderful home improvement and decor site called DiggersList that is a classifieds like craigslist. Though it’s still growing nationally, it boasts lots of low priced items (furniture, cabinets, windows, outdoor and lawn, tools, etc.) and has ONLY stuff for the home. The other great thing is that they have also partnered with Habitat for Humanity ReStores, so if you wish, you can also use DiggersList to donate items directly to a local Habitat and receive a write-off easy-peasy! Here’s the site: http://www.diggerslist.com/. Hope this is helpful! Thanks again!
Kelly says
changing the subject a bit………….i just got an email that said my copy of your book has shipped!!!!! I’m too excited. It’s like Christmas early for me :)
YoungHouseLove says
Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Every time someone says that my heart skips. Haha. Hope you love it!
xo,
s
Amanda says
I just made my first Craigslist sale this week, and I love all these tips! I didn’t talk to people on the phone first, but I did google them (to make sure there was a real person who matched with the info from the emails).
Something else for people buying on Craigslist: be careful about how you ask things. I had someone contact me to say she was interested and her first question was where do you live. We hadn’t set up a time for her to come look at the item, so since she knew what town I live in, it weirded me out. Since her second question was “When do you work?” I opted not to set up a meeting with her.
That may sound paranoid, but asking when I’m away from home and not when I could meet sounds like “When can I come and rob your house when you won’t be there?”
Sheri says
When I sell things on Craigslist, I always like to check the potential buyers’ email addresses on Facebook, just to see if I can find out anything about them ahead of time. Recently I discovered that the girl buying my record player was friends with some of my friends! It makes me feel a little more secure, even if I just know what they look like ahead of time. Love the blog, kids!
Dreda says
I understand comments about meeting in a neutral spot, but when I buy soemthing, I really prefer going to the house. The appearance of the home gives me a lot of information about the potential sale. For example: I’m a lot more encouraged about buying something from a home that looks well cared for. My one tip is: If you are interested in something, but your seller says “someone else is coming over for it” – stay interested. In our area there are many no-shows and other glitches that may keep a sale from being completed. If you stay upbeat and encourage them to keep your number in case things don’t work out, you may find you have a second chance to get the item.
Sara Lofton says
Holy cow! I never noticed the “Show Images” thumbnail option! That makes things so much easier!!!! Thank you! My Craigslist goofing off will be much more efficient now.
Rachel says
If you want to sell a seasonal item, wait for the best time. I moved into a house with central air so I waited until the first day over 90 degrees to put my window air conditioner unit on CL. I got rid of it in an hour for a good price.
Bob says
Randomness – Your mention of Montell Jordan led me to Google (“where is he now?” curiosity). Turns out he’s left R&B to become the Worship Minister at a church in Georgia — “This is how he do(es) it” now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKld0A6_YQo
:)
YoungHouseLove says
No way!
xo,
s
Becky says
Great post!!
I especially love it because you talk about safety. Sometimes when I tell people I buy and sell on Craigslist, they act like I’m crazy. They ask about crazy people and con artists. But my methods are very similar to yours and I’ve NEVER run into a problem. Everyone I’ve bought/sold with is just like me…a nice person just trying to save some money! I tell people to just be smart and it can be an incredible resource!!!
Andrea Ferree says
OMG! I did not know you could show the pictures without clicking the link! Life changing.
Emily says
When we sell stuff on Craigslist I typically stay inside and send out my boyfriend. No one comes in the house. I am also his excuse. For example, we were selling one of those builder basic Roman tubs (we upgraded, yay!) and I insisted on $75. He did not think we would get it, but sure enough, a buyer offered that much. When the man got to our house, however, he asked if we would take sixty. My boyfriend jokingly/laughingly said, “If I don’t go in there with $75, she’ll kick me out.” This gets laughs (usually) and keeps any negotiating heat off of him.
Elizabeth says
I love CL! I agree with all the notes listed especially the taking/having someone with you. We don’t live in a big big city but we still have some weird people that sell off CL. I would add one more thing to it though. I would always ask to make sure the product is what they are selling. I had an experience where I found this awesome metal headboard that they said was supposedly a queen size. They apparently didn’t know what they were selling because I got home and the bed was actually a full-size :( My fault for not measuring when we went to pick it up because I was so excited for the awesome find! I’ll definitely know better next time.
Stephanie Phillips says
I’ve bought and sold everything from cars to appliances to furniture to clothes to bushes on the CL. LOVE IT.
Best CL story- my folks moved into a new house in NoVa and offered us a TON of furniture, appliances, and even area rugs to do with what we wished. Mom even paid for the UHaul! We drove it all back down to NC to sell piece by piece. By the time everything was gone (thankfully, only a few short weeks) we had gained enough money to entirely gut our addition and install a bathroom, laundry area, and lay new flooring throughout. It was like winning the lottery every time an item sold.
Karen says
I can’t tell you how much time I’ve spent on Craig’s List and I never knew about the thumbnails. Oops! (And thanks!)
One thing I’d add to your buyer tips is to look on google maps yourself to make sure the item is in a location you’re willing to drive to. As a Craig’s List seller, I get so frustrated when I’ve emailed back and forth with someone and then they ask me where I am, only to tell me I’m too far away. (Or worse, they ask me to tell them how far I am from their house.)
Oh! And related to your synonym tip, don’t forget about misspellings. If you want something that’s wrought iron, you’d be wise to search for “rod iron” too. ;)
Ann says
I have had great luck with Craigslist both buying and selling. My favorite feature is “Renew this Listing”. Once your ad is 48 hours old, you can renew it so that it goes to
the top of the list. It really comes in handy.
My son, on the other hand had a bad experience. Some man sold him and his roommates a dryer that didn’t get hot enough to dry clothes. Shame on him for taking advantage of college students!