Have you ever wondered how to get rid of unnecessary items around the house, while still banking some cash in the process? Are you familiar with Craigslist.org? This website could well be your answer, but you may first want to consider a few bits of advice.
Especially when you come across a bulky item, popular sites like eBay.com or Amazon.com may not be your best option for posting, due to potentially high shipping costs. Instead, posting your item for local sale allows the buyer to save on shipping costs by picking up the item in person. Of course, this face-to-face interaction with an unknown buyer does require some general security measures, which are discussed on your local Craigslist homepage. So if you are ready to sell, here’s are some pointers to help ensure a smooth transaction:
How to Sign Up For a Craigslist Account
Once you have navigated to your local Craigslist site, click on ‘my account’, then choose to ‘Sign up for an account’. You will then enter your email address, which is your main avenue of communication with Craigslist and potential buyers. Once you pass the verification step, choose a handy password, click the ‘create account’ button, and you are ready to begin posting your items!
Know that you technically do not need to setup an account to post on the site, but the setup process is really easy and your posts will be connected to your email address regardless.
How to Sell Your First Item
If you are signed into your Craigslist account, you can initiate a post from your personal homepage by clicking the button in the upper-right portion of the screen. (If you chose not to create an account, you can begin a post from your local Craigslist homepage by clicking the ‘Sell an Item’ link.)
Craigslist will walk you through a few simple questions to narrow down your location and type of item for sale, and you will soon find yourself at the item description page. Here you must supply a title, price, and specific location for your item, along with identifying the kind and condition of item for sale.
You also must decide how to receive contact from potential buyers: whether through your email address directly (Craigslist gives you the option to conceal your actual email address via an anonymous address), or even by phone. The anonymous option is recommended for email contact. Use caution when giving a phone number to avoid being swamped by calls over your hot item! You can sometimes get as many as fifty calls an hour if you offer a very popular item!
How to Add Pictures
Including pictures of the item is optional, although doing so will significantly increase the interest of potential buyers. If you do take pictures of your item, make sure to capture any hallmarks on the piece as well as any significant defects that should be pointed out. Also, take care to clearly depict what is for sale (no unnecessary clutter!).
One word of advice – never try to hide any flaws, cracks or other defects in the item you are offering. If an item is significantly damaged, not working, or has any funny smells or stains, say so in the auction listing. The buyer will most likely immediately find the defects upon arriving in person, and will be angry at you for lying about the condition. In fact, if you take a clear close-up photo of any damaged areas, you will get more replies to your ad as people will see that you are an honest person.
After this, you will proceed to verify the information you have entered, and then you are only one click away from sharing your post with the community!
Posting Your Final Listing
Now you eagerly await contact from those who are interested in your item. You might end up negotiating your sale price or exchanging further information with your buyer through email. If someone is genuinely interested in your item, make sure you are not the only person home when they come to pick it up, for safety reasons. Alternatively, pick a public place (during the daytime) so that you can meet and make the sale. Again, read through the security tips on the Craigslist website to ensure a safe transaction.
Soon enough, you may have found a new hobby or side income for yourself!
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