10 Craigslist Tips & Tricks

If you're willing to do a piffling extra work, secondhand items are a corking agency to create a genuinely unique abode on a pocket-size budget. And yous know I hateful it! One of my favorite sources of corking secondhand items is Craigslist. And since you've asked, today I idea I'd percentage a few of my favorite tips. So, hither they are...my 10 Craigslist Tips!

#1. Frequency, Baby.

When it comes to Craigslist shopping, frequency is key. It's merely similar thrifting inwards that the to a greater extent than yous do it, the amend materials you're gonna find. There are hundreds of items inwards each expanse that become upwards on Craigslist every unmarried day, as well as most of the fourth dimension the practiced materials is gone inwards less than a day. I depository fiscal establishment friction match the site several times a calendar week as well as search for the specific items I'm looking for. With a little persistence, I tin normally discovery precisely what I looking for.
 For example, after a few weeks of searching for a very specific item...a Queen Anne trend tufted upholstered chair (for nether $20...mandatory.), I establish this hottie for $15. 

This piffling thang needs some work, but I'm thinking it volition live the perfect champaign of written report for me to larn how to reupholster something amongst tufting. 

Sigh.

This experiment could become downhill FAST, thus wishing ol' blueish luck.

#2. Use Keywords
Knowing how to utilisation keywords is super helpful when finding the correct materials on Craigslist. Let's utilisation my Queen Anne tufted chair equally an example. If yous are looking specifically for that, search 'Queen Anne Tufted Upholstered Chair'. If naught shows upwards amongst your super specific search, drive leaving out dissimilar words as well as merely searching 'Queen Anne Chair' or 'Tufted Chair' or 'Upholstered Chair'. You never know how people volition pull their item, thus yous may cause got to utilisation several variations of your keywords.

Personally, I honey using Craigslist to discovery corking antique as well as vintage pieces that can't live establish inwards stores anymore, as well as these keywords are a corking starting point. 

For example, I establish this amazing mirror merely today for $50. 

#3.  Use multiple spellings 

If yous can't discovery anything amongst keywords, drive dissimilar spellings of the word. Misspellings are a mutual employment on Craigslist, as well as if a give-and-take is spelled wrong, yous may non discovery the listing. For example, when I establish my office desk, I was searching for 'tables', equally I knew I wanted to utilisation a pocket-size dining tabular array equally my desk. After coming upwards empty handed, I randomly decided to drive searching 'tabel' as well as that's when I establish the perfect tabular array for $50 that had gone unnoticed for ii weeks. I realize it's ridiculous, but yous would live amazed at how oft this flim-flam has worked for me. 

#4. Use synonyms

Similar to #3, if naught else is working, drive searching for synonyms of the item yous desire to find. For example, when searching for my table, I searched for all sorts of related items similar the following: dining table, entryway table, buffet, console table, sideboard, wooden furniture, furniture, dining set, desk. Eventually, it's highly probable yous will find something. 

#5. Search By Picture.

To brand all of this searching a fleck easier, I ever conduct to search inwards 'pic view', as well as thus likewise click on the tab higher upwards that says 'has image'. This filters out all the listings that don't cause got images, as well as thus allows yous to take in all the pictures inwards the residuum of the listings. You tin hover over whatever of the thumbnails, as well as the large painting exhibit volition popular up. It's an awesome characteristic as well as makes life thus much easier.

If you're life revolves unopen to Craigslist. UNITE!

#6. Look for things amongst a corking shape.

When looking for your adjacent corking slice of furniture, don't live deterred past times things that merely facial expression ugly. Seriously. Give it a infinitesimal as well as facial expression beyond the headgear as well as jorts. As long equally they cause got a corking shape, as well as you're willing to do a piffling work, yous tin ever paint, stain, reupholster, as well as bedazzle merely nearly anything. For example, this miserable piffling fella I establish on Craigslist a few years ago...once an ugly duckling...

...now a total swan.

#7. Negotiate

Once you've genuinely establish an item you're interested in, it's fourth dimension to contact the seller. I normally prefer to e-mail a seller commencement as well as negotiate the toll correct off the bat, offering less than what it is listed for. Once the details are worked out, I follow upwards amongst a telephone phone telephone to setup the meeting. 

Here's what yous demand to know. Craigslist is similar a garage sale. People normally facial expression yous to haggle. Basically, at the 8AM garage sale you're gonna pay $30 for that amazing lamp. By 3PM, the seller is loading it inwards your van for free. 

When I was looking for a headboard for our guest bedroom last year, I establish a corking forest headboard for $50, as well as was able to negotiate it downwards to $25 past times letting the seller know that I could alternative it upwards that same day.

#8. Be quick.

 I've learned from selling on Craigslist, that if a buyer can't adjust to pickup the item quickly, I'll normally merely motion on to some other interested buyer. Buyers tin live flaky similar a croissant on Craigslist, thus sellers normally won't hold back unopen to for yous if at that topographic point are other interested buyers. You'll acquire dropped similar a hotcake. If yous desire to acquire the practiced stuff, as well as at a corking price, allow the seller know that yous tin acquire the item ASAP as well as thus follow through.

#9. Feel costless to country no give thank yous you.

 If yous exhibit upwards to acquire the item, as well as it merely isn't what yous expected, country no give thank yous you. For example, I should cause got totally employed this tip on the table that is yet haunting me to this day. Do your due diligence earlier mitt as well as enquire nearly measurements or anything else non inwards the listing thus that yous tin avoid an awkward province of affairs as well as avoid inconveniencing some sweetness former human being amongst a table.

#10. Stay SAFE.

We prefer to purchase from people we've talked to on the phone. It leaves a record, as well as puts us at ease past times hearing their voice. We ever setup our coming together at a world place away from our abode as well as allow a friend or relative know when as well as where we'll be, along amongst the make/model of the machine as well as the parent of the individual we're meeting. I almost ever purchase smaller items that tin live transported to a secondary location, but if I cause got to become to someone's home, I ever cause got Jesse or a super burly relative amongst me. Burly men come upwards inwards handy when lifting large items and/or fending off weirdos. 

Have ane handy.

Don't brand him fish you. 

Basically, merely live cautious, trust your gut, as well as do things the correct way. As long equally yous are careful, yous tin genuinely discovery some awesome materials as well as cause got tons of ridiculously strange fun doing it.

Virginia as well as Jesse post-craiglisting circa 2011. (That mightiness likewise merely live an awesome appointment picture, but it serves our purposes, thus shhhhhh.)

So, that is all for today, my friends! Thanks thus much for stopping by! Feel costless to pivot this post thus yous tin discovery it later!

Happy Craigslisting!

That's all for today! 'Til adjacent time!

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