How To Sell Your Stuff : Part Two ~ Craigslist

{ If you missed Part One of this series, you can check it out here!}

I use Craigslist a lot. To sell and to buy. We are lucky to live in an area with a rather

active Craigslist site. I know some of you have told me that yours is not very

helpful at all. However, even if you have a slow site I still believe you can sell your

items on there. It might take longer than someone in a larger city but with patience

and determination you can get it done.

I reserve Craigslist for thing I can't or won't sell on eBay. For instance, I just

sold our 7 foot tall and 10 feet long entertainment center on Craigslist. Right now,

I have some excess laundry baskets as well as various housewares listed. If an item

is too heavy to ship (i.e. furniture) then I always put it on Craigslist. Or if the item is

not worth the expense of eBay posting (i.e. some Walmart dishes), then I put it on there.

Those $5 sales DO add up. Here is how I make sure they do.

Top 10 Craigslist Selling Tips

1. The more you list, the more you sale.

When I list items, even furniture, I try to make multiple listings of various things.

I have always found when shopping Craigslist, just like yard sales, people are willing

to buy more if your willing to give a better deal. I make it easy for the buyer to see all my items

by making a special phrase in my listing that they can search.

Example:

Crockpot for sale $10

I have more items for sale, just search MichelesTreasures for all my listings.

The more you buy, the better the deal!

2. Be clear.

Make sure you describe the item as well as possible. Pictures do not

always do it justice. Also be clear the area you live in and how much you want

 for the item. Make sure you give the buyer a way to contact you as well.

I have seen many posts where someone does not check the email settings 

and fails to leave a way to get in touch with them.  

3. Never give out your personal information in the ad.

Always check the anonymize email address. And never include your address or phone number.

I know you see many people do this, but unless you want random people showing up at all

hours of the day then make sure to protect your information.

4. Research your price.

There are a lot of people who make a living off Craigslist that will disagree with my next

advice but I have found it to work and it also makes me feel like I have passed on a good deal.

Price your items just as you would if your having a yard sale.

Unless your item is a rare collectible (which I would then suggest it go on eBay) then

make sure your items are reflecting their used condition. Now, what you price your

yard sale items at and what I do may be two different things. Use your own logic there.

Remember, I am looking to move items out of my home. If I make some money along the way,

that is great. However, this by no means is advice how to  make a living off eBay or Craigslist.

Just a way of putting some change back in your pocket.

5. When to post.

I find that since postings are renewable (putting them back at the top of the list) every 3 days

then posting on Tuesday and VERY early Saturday morning is helpful. If you can only

post one day I would suggest Saturday morning. People are often checking out yard sale

postings and/or getting time to sit down after working all week. Your items will be fresh and

on the top of the pile for them to pick.

6. Decide where to meet.

If the item is transportable without much effort, then pick out a central meeting place

for you to meet your buyer. Most like that they don't have to figure out how to get to your

place and that you have safed them time & money. It also helps with what I said tip #3, in

that your address and home is kept safe.

7. Get ready to wait.

I have items take minutes to sale and a month to sale. It depends on the item and who

is looking at the sale ads at the time. Be prepared to wait it out. If your needing money quick, then

yard sale or 3 day auction on eBay may be a better alternative. Craigslist is unpredictable in the time frame of making a sale. You can have the best item, the best photos, the best price, the best description but if the people who want it don't log on to search for it, then it becomes a waiting game.

8. Learn the scams.

Cash only and in person. If you stick to that then you won't be suckered into these scams

going around. No bank transfers, no checks, no Paypal or even trades most of the time.

My hubby has done trades quite successfully on Craigslist. But he knew what the value of

the item was and was very knowledgable on the items. His advice, unless your a collector or

expert on the item, don't do a trade. The rest of these offers I listed up there are 200%

scams. If you keep the motto, cash and in person, you won't be fooled.

9. Communicate, communicate, communicate.

Just like eBay, communication with your potential buyers is very important. Make sure you

can answer emails promptly. Otherwise you are going to miss sales. You have be prepared

to invest your time in this or things won't move.

10. Delete your ad.

Once you have sold your item, delete your ad. That way people know the item is sold.

And you don't have to field anymore emails!

Watch for Part Three coming soon....how to hold a successful yard sale! :)