See Jane Get Rich

Alright, my bedroom set and my mattress has officially been posted for sale on Craigslist.  Now, if only those interested Craigslist buyers who are “really interested” would actually make it through!  I have moved almost everything to the living room and pulled out my air mattress to sleep on.   Now, its time for Craigslist to do its job so that I can turn the furniture to $.   It always helps to keep a few things in mind when selling things on Craigslist. 

Five Tips for a Sane Selling Experience on Craigslist

• A picture is worth a thousand words.

Always post a picture of the item that you are selling.  If you don’t have your own picture then use a manufacturer’s picture.  It is also helpful to provide a link to the item so that buyers.  This will save you a lot of questions about the item from people who are slightly interested. 

• But, that doesn’t mean you can skimp on the details.

It is important to include as much information as possible about a product.  If you are listing a coat then you may want to let the buyer know more than just the size and color such as what material the coat is, presence or absence of any stains, whether or not you or any of your close family member is a smoker, whether you live with pets etc…  If you are selling furniture then it is very important to list the dimensions and this information is easily obtained by looking up the product online. 

• Price your items competitively and with leeway for further negotiation.

You can sell your item quickly and competitively if you search for the item before listing to see the range that is commanded by other sellers.  If for some reason there is no one in your area selling them item then you can command a higher price as most people wouldn’t want to drive out of the way.   Be aware that with most of the transactions there will be negotiation between the buyer and the seller.  This may occur over email or while the buyer is looking the product over. 

• Adopt a no holding/first come first served policy.

Craigslist buyers are notorious for not following through with their expressed interest.  If you hold something for someone then know that there is a strong chance they will come back and say, “Oh, I changed my mind.  I don’t want it anymore.  Oops! Sorry!”

• Adopt a cash only exact change policy. 

To make sure that you get your money it is better to make it cash only so that you get your money right then and there and you can be done with the transaction at the point of sale. 

Now, onto my crazy Craigslist Story

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