How to Use Craigslist – Tips for Selling on Craigslist

“The average family has several thousand dollars worth of stuff lying around,” according to Cari Cucksey (HGTV's Cash & Cari).

Are you average?
 

Do you have $3000 worth of unwanted stuff lying around?

I'll bet your first reaction is, no way!

So, please take a moment and walk through your house, peek in your closets, the attic, the basement and the garage. Make a list of all your unwanted items.

I'll wait.

Now it's time to learn how to use Craigslist and make some money! Couldn't we all use an extra $3000?

How to Use Craigslist

1. Go to craigslist.org
2. Choose your location…country, state, city.
3. Click on “post to classifieds” in the upper, left corner. You do not need an account to do this.
4. The next question you'll answer is “what type of posting is this,” and since you're selling stuff, click “for sale.”
5. Choose the category that best describes your item…you have lots of choices! For example, if you're selling the trumpet that your son doesn't play anymore, choose “musical instruments, by owner.”
6. Now it's time to create your listing, and let's pretend we're selling that trumpet.
7. Here's the information you'll need to create your listing along with tips for selling on Craigslist…

 
•Posting Title – Trumpet

•Price – Do some research and see what other people are selling similar items for and price your item accordingly.

•Specific Location – If you live in a large metro area, you might be prompted to enter a more specific location. I live in West Palm Beach, but my
Craiglist postings show up as South Florida which is a really large area! Shoppers may not want to drive 2 hours to buy my trumpet, so it's
helpful to let them know what part of town you're in.

•Reply to – Enter your email address and choose “anonymize”. The anonymize feature allows you to receive emails from prospective buyers without
your email address being revealed.

•Description – Include as many details as possible like dimensions, condition, original price paid.

•Show on Maps – When selling items on Craigslist, try to meet the buyer at a public location like the Target parking lot, bring the item and only
take cash. If your item is large, it is easier to have potential buyers come to your home, so you may want to choose “show on maps” to make it easy
for them to find you.

•OK for others to contact you about other services, products or commercial interests – I do not suggest checking this box unless you want to receive
a lot of solicitation emails from moving companies, delivery services, etc.

•Add Images – You can upload photos and add up to 8 images…photos will help sell your item, so take the time to add photos.

•Review and Confirm Your Ad – This is your chance to preview your ad and make any changes.

•Publish – You'll receive an email with a link that you must click to publish your ad.

•Manage Your Listing – Save the email that you received to publish your ad because this is the same link you'll use to manage your listing. When you click on the link, you'll have a few choices.

-Edit Posting: Use this if you need to change any details or the price of your item. I suggest lowering the price if you don't have any
inquiries after a week.
-Delete Posting: If your item sells, take the time to delete the posting, so you don't continue to receive emails about it. Craigslist
postings remain active for 30 days unless you delete them.
-Renew Posting: You can renew your posting every 48 hours which simply means it will move to the top of the search results. This is very,
very important!

 
Once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to publish an ad in about 5 minutes!

Now, sit back, relax and check those emails…a potential buyer might be waiting in your inbox!

P.S. – Don't forget to check your spam folder daily…many of my potential buyers have ended up in spam.

Still not convinced that Craigslist is the way to go? Here are a few items that I've recently sold on Craigslist…

• Bed Linens – $60
• Mirror – $40
• Small Chest – $80
• Upholstered Chair – $100
• Hurricane Shutters – $200
• Terra Cotta Pots – $25

 
What's in your closet, attic, basement and garage?

Please leave a comment to share any tips you have for selling on Craigslist.