Posts Tagged ‘craigslist 101’

Today I’m continuing my Craigslist 101 series to {hopefully} answer some of the many questions I get, asking how we sold our house on Craigslist.

Yup, that’s right — Dave and I sold our first house on Craigslist…

by owner…

and got THREE offers…

in only THREE days!

And no, we did NOT know what we were doing and had no experience selling a house!

Oh, and did I mention that Michigan has been in the middle of a HUGE buyer’s market for well over a year?

How We Sold Our House on Craigslist:

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Even though we had fixed up our cute little starter home {which was in a great location} I’m convinced that one of the main reasons our house sold so quickly was because of the time and effort I put in to properly advertising it on Craigslist….

#1. Before I posted our ad, I create a free WordPress.com website for our house.

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I posted tons of {nicely edited} pictures with descriptions.

I clearly listed all the updates we had done and when we did them.

I listed every single new appliance, new light fixture, and new anything.

I highlighted the benefits of living in that house with that yard and that location.

I listed several local amenities {shopping, parks, restaurants, highway access, etc.}

I clearly stated our price and our contact information.

You can view the website I created here. {I did delete some of our personal information}

The whole website only took me about an hour, so I would definitely say it was worth my time investment!

#2. Then I drafted a Craigslist ad and inserted the link to our new website.

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I followed my rules for Selling Successfully on Craigslist, but also clearly stated that any interested parties should click on the website link for lots more pictures and information.

And this might be obvious, but when you create your Craigslist ad, just make sure you choose “housing offered” as the type of post, and “real estate – by owner” for the category {as long as you are actually selling it by owner!}

Another cool thing about having a WordPress blog for our sale was that I could easily check my stats to see how many people visited our site via the Craigslist ad — we had a pretty good response.

#3. Then we waited with our phone and email available at all times!

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I posted our ad on Friday evening {weekends are usually the most active selling times} and we got our first two calls within the hour! One family came to walk through our house Saturday morning, one came Saturday afternoon, and the third came Sunday afternoon.

ALL of them said that they were very impressed with the website and had never seen such a professional looking “for sale by owner” ad.  I actually received several emails from people who weren’t even interested in buying our house but thought the website was such a great idea

By Sunday night we had 3 offers and by Monday we had our good-faith deposit.

I have since helped 2 friends create websites to sell their homes and I’ve created a couple of website for my parents to sell/rent some of their rental properties.

No, I’m not a fantastic website creator, I’m certainly not a great photographer, and I know NOTHING about real estate, but I did do a great job of providing as much information possible — and making it really easy for anyone to get that information.

Obviously creating a website is not the only way to sell a house on Craigslist, but worked for us, it worked for a few of my friends, and it worked for my parent’s rental properties… so it just might work for you too.

Plus, it’s free — so you really have nothing to lose {and we saved a bundle in Realtor fess!}

What is the biggest thing you ever sold on Craigslist?

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{top Image Credit}

Previous Posts in the Craigslist 101 Series:

• How to Buy Successfully
• How to Sell Successfully
• Do You Have Time?
• What You Need to Get Started

13 comments →

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I’ve received a lot of positive feedback from the first few posts in my Craigslist 101 Series; but I’ve also received even more questions!

One of the questions I’ve gotten a few times is, “What do I need to get started selling my stuff on Craigslsit?”

My answer is, “Not Much!” That is the beauty of Craigslsit!

What You Need to Get Started:

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1. TIME:

If you don’t have the time to post your items, the time to respond to emails and questions, or the time to meet potential buyers, then selling on Craigslist might not be the thing for you. You’ll save yourself a lot of stress {and space} by just donating the items now instead of trying to make time to sell them later.

2. STUFF TO SELL:

Obviously, you must have something of value to sell — not your kids stained and ripped clothing, not your old DVD’s that skip, not your broken kitchen appliances. Something of REAL value that others will want to purchase.

3. COMPUTER, INTERNET, and EMAIL:

You’ll need a computer that is connected to the Internet in order to log onto your Craigslist account. And you’ll need an email address so people can contact you.

4. DIGITAL CAMERA or CAMERA PHONE:

You’ll hear me say this over and over again — but if you aren’t willing to post at least ONE good-quality photo of your item, then you really shouldn’t even waste your time trying to sell it. I will almost never email a seller unless they have a photo posted.

5. PATIENCE :

If your items are priced right, they will probably sell very quickly. However, if you want to get a little more for your items, or you are in a remote location, it might take a bit longer. You may have to re-post your items several times and you will probably have to wait!

Also, I guarantee that you will eventually encounter irresponsible buyers who say they will show up at a certian time… but don’t. No-shows are SO annoying, but you’ll have to deal with them at some point. You’ll also have people who show up, but after seeing the item, don’t want to purchase it. That is normal — you shouldn’t let it upset or discourage you.

Oh, and even if you write “NO SPAMMERS” in  your post, there’s a pretty good chance you will still get a few spam emails. Just delete them and wait for the good ones to come rolling into your inbox!

So you see, it really doesn’t take much to be able to start your own mini “business” of sorts, selling unused and unneeded items on Craigslist!

I promise — it’s easier than you might think!!

Previous Posts in the Craigslist 101 Series:

• How to Buy Successfully
• How to Sell Successfully
• Do You Have Time?

3 comments →

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Last week I talked about how to buy successfully on Craigslist and how to sell successfully on Craigslist.

Both buying and selling on Craigslist are great ways to save money and make money…

But they also take TIME!

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Buying on Craigslist usually takes a lot more time and patience than simply ordering something from Amazon.com or purchasing it from the mall, but it can easily save you 75% or more!!

Selling on Craigslist takes a lot more time than just donating the items to your local thrift store, but like I mentioned in my previous posts — I’ve made thousands of dollars by selling things on Craigslist — so it can be worth it.

If you are short on time but still want to try buying and/or selling on Craigslist, here are a few things to think about.

How to make the MOST of your time on Criagslist:

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BUYING:

1. Only search for the things you want/need to buy — don’t waste time just “browsing”

2. Call the seller if they provide their phone number — this often goes faster than email.

3. If they don’t provide a phone number, then email the person and provide YOUR phone number so they can call you right away.

4. Only search for items in your city, town, or general area — this will reduce your travel time.

5. Negotiate over email/phone. If I think the price is too high, I’ll often try to negotiate ever before I look at the item. If they won’t budge on their price, then I don’t waste my time driving out to look at the item!

SELLING:

1. Start by selling one or two “big-ticket” items. You’ll have fewer no-shows and hopefully get a good return on your time investment.

2. Don’t waste time selling books or clothes – I’ve found those don’t sell very well on Craigslist

3. Don’t wast time selling items for less than $5.00 — it’s just not worth the time it takes.

4. Add your phone number. I personally don’t do this, but you will probably be contacted faster if you do.

5. Set specific hours. If you don’t want to wait around all day, simply put specific hours to contact you in your Criagslist post. Example: “I will be available to contact or to purchase items from 7-9pm on week days”

6. Don’t “hold” an item. I can’t stress this enough because ”holding” an item means waiting…and waiting takes time. Just sell it to the first person who shows up with cash!

Also, If you are NOT willing to spend the time dealing with no shows and non-buyers, then Craigslist might not be for you!

And that’s ok!

It’s not for everyone, and you certainly shouldn’t feel bad if you prefer to donate your things to a great cause instead of selling them. The important thing is that they are out of your house and you don’t have to think about them any more!

What about you?

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Do you try to sell your unused items via Craigslist, Ebay, garage sales, and consignment stores? Or do you just donate them?

Previous Posts in the Craigslist 101 Series:

• How to Buy Successfully
• How to Sell Successfully

8 comments →

Earlier this week, I posted a bunch of tips to help you BUY successfully on Craigslist… so if you’re looking to find a great deal, head on over there!

However today, I’ll be talking about how to SELL successfully on Craigslist.

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Over the past 3 years, I have made thousands of dollars by selling unused items on Craigslist. It’s a good way to clear the clutter from our house, it’s a fun hobby for me, and it’s a great way to make a few extra bucks in the process.

If you’ve never sold anything on Craigslist, or tried and failed to make any money, here are a few of my favorite tips.

NOTE: I’ll be going into more detail over the next several weeks, so if you have specific questions, feel free to leave them in the comments and I’ll try to address them in upcoming posts.

1. Post Good Photos:

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This is listed first for a reason — because honestly, if you aren’t willing to take at least ONE GOOD photo, then don’t waste your time trying to sell something. Most people will not even contact you if you don’t post a photo. Or they will contact you asking for a photo!

It’s OK to post pictures from retail websites, but buyers want to see the actual item too…so you should post at least one picture of the actual item in your home. The photos don’t need to be top quality, just make sure they aren’t blurry, fuzzy, or too dark; this makes it look like you are trying to hide something.

2. Set a Reasonable Price:

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Even though you may have paid top dollar for your items, it doesn’t mean you will be able to get your money back. Remember your items are USED…not new, so set your prices accordingly. Consider what you might pay for a similar item at a garage sale and use that price as your starting point. You might also search to see what other similar items are selling for.

I always follow my price with, “or best offer”. This shows buyers that I’m ready to negotiate!

Finally, please do NOT set your price at $1 just so you show up in more search categories. It is SO annoying to click on an ad that is $1 and then find out they are really asking $25 or $100. This totally turns buyers away.

3. Create a Detailed Descriptions:

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Disclose as much information as you can about the items you are trying to sell. Include all measurements, materials, pieces, and other items that are (or are not) included. {This is where multiple pictures come in handy.}

The more honest you are, the easier it will be to find the right buyer…which will ultimately save you a bunch of time later on.

I’ll be talking A LOT more about how to write a good post…but for now, just be as detailed as you can be.

4. List Your Location:

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If you live in a small town, it is probably OK to just list the town. However, if you live in a large city, it’s helpful to include SW, NE, or a specific land mark. For example, I used to live near a large mall so I would say, “Grandville, near Rivertown Mall”. Now, I live very close to a highway exit so I say, “Hudonville, off 196 exit”.

I personally have no issues with people coming to my house to buy an item, but I do NOT include our home  address in my posts — except when I sold our home {but that post is coming in a few weeks!}

If you are nervous about meeting at your home, you should still list your city/town. But then when people contact you, simply request to meet at a neutral location like a restaurant, gas station, bank, etc.

5. Provide Appropriate Contact Info:

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There are lots of stories about Craigslist scams, but I promise, they are not as common as you may think. Be smart, but don’t be afraid to include your contact information on each post.

Personally, I don’t include my phone number, but if you are not someone who regularly checks your e-mail, it might be necessary to include the best number to contact you at.

Also, if you don’t want them to email you {like for a garage sale posting} then click the button to “hide” your email address.

6. Link Between your Posts:

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I often post 20 or 30 items at a time and have found that it is extremely helpful to provide a link between all my posts so potential buyers can see everything I’m selling.

I’ll talk more about this later, but to create a “link” between my posts, I simply say, “Search ‘adekker’ to see all my posts”. Now, every single one of my posts has the word “adekker” so if someone searches for “adekker” {like they would search for “lamp” or “minivan”, all my items will show up in a nice, organized list!

It’s VERY simple and it has increased my sales tremendously.

7. Create a Post Template:

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If you are going to post multiple items all in one day {which is what I do}, then you’ll save a TON of time by creating a post template in Word or another similar program.

This is what my basic post template looks like:

We have a _______ for sale from a smoke-free, pet-free, very clean home in Hudsonville — near the 196 exit.

Then I list specifics about the product including dimensions.

Height:

Depth:

Width:

Size: {for clothing}

Materials:

Where/When we purchased the item:

We are asking _____ or best offer, and will only accept cash. Please contact us with any questions or to come look at the product. We will not hold an item, but we WILL remove this post once it is sold.

We have a bunch of items for sale. Search “adekker” to see them all.

Thanks for looking!

Short, concise, with only the information a buyer would need to make their decision. Plus, by saving this “template” as a Word document on my desktop, I can simply copy and paste… and then fill in the blanks. I save LOTS of time

8. Be Available:

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This might sound obvious, but if you plan to post several items on Craigslist, you’ll want to be available for the next 24-48 hours to answer e-mails and schedule pick up times.

I’ve already sold items in less than 15 minutes – so be ready!

9. Don’t “Hold” an Item:

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If your item is in high demand, you will often get several emails in the first hour or two. Many of them might ask you to “hold” the item until they can get to your house. I’ve agreed to this a few times and unfortunately, I was burned nearly every time.

Now I simply sell my items on a first-come-first-serve basis. Whoever shows up with money first, wins! This works well and I don’t get screwed over by no-shows or other irresponsible buyers.

10. Save Your Emails:

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Even if I have an interested buyer who seems promising, I always save the e-mails of others who want to buy the same item. Then, if the first buyer no-shows (which happens a lot), I have several other e-mails to fall back on.

I also have a “Craigslist” label, in gmail where I dump all my Craigslist emails so they don’t clutter up my Inbox but I can still reference them if I need to.

11. Follow the Rules:

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You’re technically not supposed to re-post an item for 30 days, but in my opinion, if your item doesn’t sell, go ahead and re-post it but then DELETE your previous post.

And if you just delete the email that says you posted the item, that does NOT delete it from your Craigslist account. You actually have to log into your Craigslist dashboard, click “manage” for that specific item, and then click “delete”. {see image below}

If you post something twice with no response, lower your price…or just donate it. It is very annoying to buyers to see the exact same post and price over and over again.

OK, so these are my best tips and tricks for successfully selling on Cragislist. I’ve been “perfecting” my sales techniques over the past 3 years and have a pretty good system {if you ask me – LOL!}

Did I miss anything?

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What are your no-fail tips to using Craigslist?

What do you want me to talk more about, or go into more detail?

What are your biggest problems with Craigslist?

Previous Posts in the Craigslist 101 Series:

• How to Buy Successfully

47 comments →

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If you’ve been reading my blog for any amount of time, you know that I have a mini infatuation with Craigslist…  it’s like the hugest on-line garage sale and I just LOVE it! I’ve found so many great deals and steals, and I’ve sold THOUSANDS of dollars worth of “stuff” over the last 3 years… seriously!

Craigslist is an amazing FREE tool that I use to my advantage, but over the past several months, I’ve come to realize that many people have no clue how to successfully buy or sell items on Craigslist. I get so many questions and emails that I figured it was time for me to put together a post {or series of posts} about how to Buy and Sell Successfully with Craigslist.

So today, I’ll be talking about how to BUY successfully on Craigslist, and then Friday, I’ll share my tips for SELLING successfully on Craigslist {so make sure you come back to read that!}

1. Search Often:

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In your specific area, there are literally thousands of new posts every day. So if you’re searching for a freezer {this is currently at the top of my list}. You might want to search for “Freezer” every day or every other day to make sure you don’t miss a great deal.

I have a list of things I’m looking to purchase right now {specific baby items, extension ladder, freezer, etc.} and I do a quick search for these items nearly every day. It only take 5-10 minutes and I know I’m not missing out on anything!

2. Search Smart:

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I use the Craigslist Preview extension for Chrome which allows me to see preview images of every item without having to click on every title {see image below}. You can also use the Craigslist Image Prefetcher for Firefox or Craigstoolbox Image Preview for Internet Explorer. {If you haven’t installed one of these yet, you will seriously save SO much time!}

This way, I can just scroll through pages and pages of Craigslist postings without ever having to click on them!

3. Ask Lots of Questions:

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You are in control here so don’t let the seller “push you around”. If they don’t have a picture, ask for them to email you one or two. And if they only post a picture of the product from a retail website, ask them for an ACTUAL picture of the item in their home. You’d be surprised how junkie the item might be in real life!

If they don’t have the dimensions posted, ask for them. If they don’t have their location posted, ask. If they don’t have the price listed, ask. Make sure you know what IS and IS NOT included. Ask if they have the manuals, warranties, spare parts, etc. You get the idea!

You can even try asking them if they would be willing to deliver — or at least meet you half way. You’d be surprised how many people are willing to do this — especially with smaller items.

4. Email Whenever Possible:

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Sometimes the sellers only provide a phone number, but if there is an email address, I will use that every time because then it’s “trackable”. I can look back through my email conversations if I forget the seller’s name, address, or phone number. I can also refer back to the questions I’ve asked them and the answers they gave me.

Also, any time I send the sellers an email, I include the URL link to the exact product ad at the bottom of my email. That way, I can quickly find the product if I want to look at it again, show Dave, or reference it for any other reason.

I would also suggest that you create a “Craigslist” category or label in your email so you can keep all those emails together. If you’re doing lots of Craigslist buying {or selling}, you’ll get lots emails and your life will be SO much easier if you keep them organized in one location. If you use Gmail, I show you how to create labels here.

5. Know What You Want and How Much You’ll Spend:

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Like I said earlier, I keep a specific list of everything I’m looking for and what I’m willing to spend. For example, I have been looking for a grill for several months and because I knew exactly what we wanted, I could search specifically for “propane grill” from $50 – $200.

I don’t wast my time searching for just any grill in any price range, I search specifically for what I want.

I almost ALWAYS type in a specific price range because there are so many people who post their items for $1 and then really ask way more than that. So I start my searches at a minimum of $5 to weed out those annoying $1 ads. {note to sellers: don’t post your items for $1!}

6. Be Ready to Move:

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I know that when I finally find exactly what I’m looking for… I better be ready to move.

Craigslist items go quickly so if you’re interested, you better be ready to stop what you’re doing, drive over there, and pick it up right away.

Just last week, I found THE grill — it was everything we wanted, only 10 miles away, and only $65. It posted at 8:45 pm — I saw it at 9:00 pm, and by 9:45 pm it was back at our house! Dave and I literally stopped everything we were doing, jumped in the truck, and headed over. And how we have a $500 grill for only $65!

Obviously, not every situation is like this, but most sellers will not “hold” an item for you… so don’t contact them if you can’t go look at the item for several days.

7. Learn How and When to Negotiate:

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As a frequent Craigslist buyer AND seller, I’m 100% confident in my abilities to negotiate {I’m really good!!}

For example, when we went to pick up our grill, I realized it was an AMAZING deal so I did not try to negotiate a lower price…that would have been ridiculous!

However, I looked at a baby monitor priced at $45, and even though it was the exact monitor I wanted and it was in VERY good condition, I figured I could get it for $35. So I made my offer, and it was accepted.

It’s important to know how much that item would be worth brand new, and then be confident when you negotiate. I often do a quick “Amazon” or “Ebay” search for the item before I go look at it, just to make sure I know what I’m talking about.

I knew the grill was probably close to $500 brand new, so I didn’t feel comfortable negotiating any lower than $65 since it was in excellent condition. However, I knew the monitor was only about $120, so I felt $45 was still a little high.

8. Have a Plan of Action:

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You all know how much I love “plans” so it should come at no surprise that I think you need a plan for your Craistlist shopping too!

Make sure you have the address and adequate directions of how to get there. Make sure you know the name of the person you will be meeting and have exchanged phone numbers in case the plan changes.

Also, make sure you know what you’ll do if you try to negotiate {see #7} and they don’t accept your new offer. Will you walk away, come back with a counter offer, or simply purchase it for their asking price? This is why it’s important to know how much you’re willing to spend.

Oh, and I should also mention that you should NEVER, EVER feel pressured to buy something just because you drove to see it. You’ve already wasted your time, don’t waste your money too if it’s not exactly what you want.

9. Have Cash:

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This is the hardest part for me because I normally don’t carry a lot of cash. We use credit cards for everything and then pay the bill {in full} at the end of the month.

However, most Craigslist sellers only want cash… so if I’m actively looking for a bunch of items, I’ll make sure to have a stash of cash at home. Sometimes, if I’m short on cash, I’ll ask the sellers ahead of time if they would take a check… it never hurts to ask!

Also, if you are going to pay with cash, make sure you do not need change. I’ve already had someone pay me $40 for something I was only asking $35 for because they only had two $20′s and I had no change {and they really wanted the item}.

I usually try to keep lots of $10′s, $5′s, and $1′s with me when I go to purchase something —  just in case they accept a lower offer. That way, I know I’ll always have the right amount — and I won’t look ridiculous by offering a lower price and then asking for the seller to make change!

10. Don’t Waste Time with “Dealers”:

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I know, this is kind of biased, but I’ve NEVER had a good experience working with “dealers” so now I only buy from “owners” {see image above}.

There are only a few things you can specify between dealers and owners — like cars, motorcycles, furniture, concert tickets, and houses — but I’ve found that the dealer prices are WAY higher and often seem like a SCAM {see #13 below}.

So, speaking from LOTS of experience, I personally would not buy from a dealer.

11. Test Your Purchases:

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Obviously, this doesn’t apply to every purchase, but for many purchases, it is important to adequately ”test” it out before you hand over your money. When we purchased our grill, we specifically asked him to have the propane tank hooked up so we could test all the burners.

When I buy furniture, I make sure it is fully assembled when I go to look at it so I can test every drawer, every cabinet door, etc. When I purchased my baby monitor, I fully tested all the features before agreeing to the sale.

Just like you would never buy a car without test driving it first, you should never buy something on Craigslist without testing it out as well.

If you purchase jewelry, I would suggest meeting at a reputable jeweler so you can have them verify the item.  If you’re purchasing technology — make sure you know what to look for or bring someone who does.

If you purchase a baby car seat, you should have it inspected at your local fire station to make sure it hasn’t been in an accident. And if you purchase any appliance, make sure it’s plugged in and hooked up when you arrive so you can test all the functions.

12. Don’t “No Show”:

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Seriously, there is NOTHING more frustrating than a buyer who says they will show up at a certain time and then doesn’t. If you say you will be there… then be there; and if something comes up, then at least call the seller and explain that you can’t make it or ask if you can come 15/20 minutes late.

I’m asking this on behalf of anyone who has ever sold anything on Craigslist — don’t “no show”!

13. Don’t Get Caught in a Scam:

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I’m a pretty savvy Internet shopper so I’ve never gotten caught by a Craigslist scam… but they are definitely out there. These scams mainly target elderly shoppers who might not know what they are doing; but if you are concerned, here are a few things to watch out for.

• Anyone who asks you to send them money ahead of time — NEVER DO THIS!
• Any products that needs to be “shipped” — that is fine for Ebay, not for Craigslist
• Anything that sounds suspicious and/or seems “too good to be true”
• Posts that only show retail images — and won’t email you another image if you ask
• Sellers who won’t answer all your questions or seem to be dodging your questions
• Sellers that ask you to cash a check for them {yes, these weirdos are really out there!}
• Click here for more SCAM information from Craigslist.com

14. Be Safe and Be Smart:

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Let me just reitterate that I have NEVER once had a problem buying or selling anything on Craigslist. I’ve never felt nervous or uncomfortable, I’ve never gotten caught in a scam, I’ve never gotten “screwed” or received a faulty product — but I know it does happen.

Safety is one of the constant questions I get from women who are interested buying or selling on Craigslist — so if you are worried about this, here are a few of my tips.

• Don’t meet anyone in a secluded place
• I’m fine with going to someone’s house, but I usually won’t go alone if I’m meeting with a male
• Tell someone where you are going {address} and when you expect to return
• Don’t go into a neighborhood you don’t trust {there are some neighborhoods around Grand Rapids that I won’t buy anything from!}
• Ask the sellers to have the items by the front door, in the garage, or somewhere that you can quickly and easily access them.
• Talk to the seller via phone. I almost ALWAYS get a phone number from the seller and actually talk to them via phone before I purchase an item. I feel like I “know them” a bit more after hearing their voice and I’ve already had one time where I decided not to go look at an item based on my phone conversation.

Craigslist is not a scary thing, and as long as you are safe and smart about your online shopping, you should have no issues!

If you’re the type of person who’s never had great luck finding the deals on Craigslist, you might want to try implementing a few of my tips. I can almost guarantee your luck will improve!

Now start shopping!!

What are your best tips for BUYING successfully on Craigslist?

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All summer long I’ll be talking about different Craigslist tips, so make sure you search “Craigslist 101” if you’re looking for more information!

13 comments →

Have you ever purchased or sold anything on Craigslist?

If not, let me fill you in on what you’re missing. It’s like the ultimate online garage sale!

Here’s my latest purchase — just bought it today! A nearly new IKEA couch, slipcover and ottoman for $250.

I have used Craigslist extensively for the past 2 years. I’ve purchase items I need for dirt cheap, I’ve decluttered my home, and I’ve made a nice chunk of change.

Sound good to you?

If you would like to try out this awesome {and free} service, keep reading for a 10 helpful tips.

1. Post Good Photos:

It is essential to post at least one photo of each item you are trying to sell. I won’t even consider purchasing something until I see a photo.

Use a digital camera {not a camera phone} and take one or more good photos from various angles. You don’t have to be a professional photographer, just make sure your photos are not blurry, fuzzy, or too dark; this makes it look like you are trying to hide something.

2. Don’t Price Too High:

Even though you may have paid top dollar for your items, it doesn’t mean you will be able to get your money back. Remember your items are USED…not new, so set your prices accordingly. Consider what you might pay for a similar item at a garage sale and use that price as your starting point.

It’s also a good idea to follow your price with, “or best offer”. This shows buyers that you are ready to negotiate.

3. Write Detailed Descriptions:

Disclose as much information as you can about the items you are trying to sell. Include all measurements, materials, pieces, and other items that are (or are not) included. {This is where multiple pictures come in handy.}

The more honest you are, the easier it will be to find the right buyer…which will ultimately save you a bunch of time later on.

4. List Your Specific Location:

If you live in a small town, it is probably OK to just list the town. However, if you live in a large city, it’s helpful to include SW, NE, or a specific land mark. For example, I live near a large mall so I usually say, “Grandville, near Rivertown Mall”.

It’s probably not a great idea to include your home address (unless you’re selling a home)! And if you are nervous about meeting at your home, simply request to meet at a neutral location like a restaurant or gas station.

5. Provide Adequate Contact Info:

There are lots of stories about Craigslist scams, but I promise, they are not as common as you may think. Be smart, but don’t be afraid to include your contact information on each post.

Personally, I don’t include my phone number, but if you are not someone who regularly checks your e-mail, it might be necessary to include the best number to contact you at.

6. Link Between your Posts:

I often post 20 or 30 items at a time and have found that it is helpful to provide a link between all my posts so potential buyers can see everything I’m selling.

To create this “link” I simply say, “Search ‘adekker’ to see all my posts”. All they have to do is type “aldekker” into the search bar and all my items will show up. It’s VERY simple and it can increase your sales tremendously.

7. Be Available:

This might sound obvious, but if you plan to post several items on Craigslist, you’ll want to be available for the next 24-48 hours to answer e-mails and schedule pick up times.

I’ve already sold an item in less than 15 minutes – so be ready!

8. Don’t “Hold” an Item:

If your item is in high demand, you will often get several emails in the first hour or two. Many of them might ask you to “hold” the item until they can get to your house. I’ve agreed to this a few times and unfortunately, I gotten burned nearly every time.

Now I simply sell my items on a first-come-first-serve basis. Whoever shows up with money first, wins! This works well and I don’t get screwed over by no-shows or other irresponsible buyers.

9. Save Your Emails:

Even if I have an interested buyer who seems promising, I always save the e-mails of others who want to buy the same item. Then, if the first buyer no-shows (which happens a lot), I have several other e-mails to fall back on.

10. Follow the Rules:

If your item doesn’t sell, re-post it and delete your previous post. If you post something twice with no response, lower your price…or just donate it. It is very annoying to buyers if you see the exact same posting over and over again.

Did I miss anything? What are your no-fail tips to using Craigslist?

linked to Top Ten Tuesdays over at OhAmanda

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