Selling safely on Craigslist

[sukhakuli]

We bought a house last fall, and it came with a horse corral, lean to and shed. We will never have horses, so I want to sell it.

I've never sold on Craigslist before, but it seems like that is the only real option to sell something like this. It's huge - 24 panels and 2 gates, so the buyer would have to come here to check it out. It makes me nervous having total strangers show up here. I'll try to coordinate it with my husband's work schedule, but his hours are all over the place and it's hard to plan. Should I make sure the kids are at school, too?

Is there a safer way to sell a large item than Craigslist?

 

[clh2]

We sold a large Rainbow playset on Craigslist. It worked out great for us! We listed it for more than we ultimately wanted, and the guy "bargained" us down to what we wanted to get for it. Win-Win!

We were VERY specific in our posting that the buyer would need to dismantle and remove the set. we still couldn't believe how many people wanted it for next to nothing, and wanted us to take it apart and install it at their home 1.5 hours away. UM NO.

I would recommend being very specific about what work needs to be done. I.e. they need to dismantle, load up their truck etc. Weed out the buyers who are not able to meet your needs. Also - specify your payment terms (I would recommend cash.)

I always find on craigslist that good pictures are essential.

And - if you can - don't use your family-name on your craigslist e-mail. We have an e-mail that is our first initials. I just don't want anyone to identify me or my family.

If your husband is not home - do you have a sibling, neighbor etc who could be home with you? My biggest safety thing would be to not do this if you are home alone, and to not let them in your house.

 

[havaneselover]

Single mom. I've sold a bunch of stuff on cl (crib, bikes, bar stools, bedding, train table, etc) and I always feel safe. I just take cash. And count the cash.

 

[texasroni75]

We have sold many things on Craigslist. I, too, did not like being home alone or with just me and the kids, when people came to see them. I tried to schedule it around DH's work schedule too so he would be there. Never let them come IN your home if DH isn't there. I would meet them in the driveway or front porch with the item when it's smaller. I never offer any information about my schedule, (like "oh we won't be home at that time"), I just say "you can come see it Monday or Tuesday between time A and time B".

And it sounds obvious, but don't schedule any visits after dark. Many people will tell you it's the only time they can come see it due to their work schedules, but really - how much are they going to see in the dark anyway that they couldn't see from photos?!

Always have your cellphone on you. And like previous poster mentioned, if you have a neighbor or friend available, have them come over to just stand next to you if possible. Tell them to bring exact amounts, don't offer to make change for them.

 

[puffkin]

I have sold tons of furniture and baby gear. I always make sure to give them a time that my husband is home. I keep the item in our attached garage for them to look at. I make sure all the doors to the house are locked and I only let them in the garage door. That way it can't be a distract and rob type of situation. I only take cash. I have never had a single problem and have met lots of very nice people.

The email inquiries get annoying. I got cursed out about a bedroom set I sold because I priced it too expensive, but I just hit delete. I got multiple offers on it so I think it was priced right. And any offer that looks too good to be true probably is. But generally I have had no problems.

 

[tvguy]

Our sheriff's department got so fed up with taking reports on Craigslists sales going bad that they now just say there is no sure safe way to sell on Craigslist.

 

[msmama]

I prefer to meet people when possible but obviously not possible in your situation.

1. If you have a local Facebook garage sale page you could try that. I find that most people on mine are friends of friends of friends so no one is truly a stranger.

2. It sounds like a pretty specific audience you're targeting so maybe you could call around to some local farms or some thing in your area and either offer it to them or maybe they know someone who is looking or you could put up flyers at their location.

Good luck!

 

[sukhakuli]

I hadn't thought of a distract and rob thing. I guess I'll keep our big dog in the house just in case? I was going to keep him out of the back yard anyway and tell them that he's aggressive. He's not, but he looks and sounds intimidating.

I read that I should set up a Google Voice account, so I can put in a phone number and have it routed to my cell. And set up a dummy e-mail. And I guess it's a thing to price high so that people can haggle you down?

Obviously I've never done this before.

Horse corrals are surprisingly sought after in my area. Having anything with hooves is NOT in my life plan, so off it goes. We're putting in a swing set instead.

Oh, and I'll see if there is a garage sale facebook page, too.

Thanks!

 

[Sagginit]

i totally agree with seeing if there is somewhere horse specific that will allow you to list it, like an equestrian club that can let you put up a listing poster. as wierd as it sounds too, don't underestimate putting up signs in places like the foodstore on those bulletin boards. i got my current apt by finding an ad at my bus stop. it was great for me as i found a place within 10 blocks of where i was living, and it was great for my landlady, no craigs list creepers.

i sold a car two years ago. craigslist people all bailed or wanted to get the car for super cheap (someone offered like $100 ). i put a for sale sign on the car and ended up selling it to my neighbors for cash within a few days, vs weeks of hassle on craigslist.

list the price higher, people always want to haggle. be firm on the price and look for clues, if there is too much back and forth they typically aren't genuinely interested. if you do find a buyer, go to staples and for a few dollars you can get a money pen to check the bills they give you

 

[mattykin]

If it is small I meet them at the Fred Meyer store near our house. We sold our car last weekend (hubby bought a new one) and we parked it right outside our neighborhood development but how out home is situated we could see out from out the back windows, we put the cross streets where the car was and my DH put his cell number on the listing and said to call him after they looked at it and he would meet them there if they were interested. Sold it in a day and a half

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

We have sold on CL before. I don't really think it is much different than selling something through the classified ads in a newspaper.

I understand your concern for sure. I guess I am probably too trusting of a person, but I feel that most of the people you encounter will be good. You just have to make a judgement based on talking to them before you meet them. Based on the item(s) for sale, horse corral, shed etc... I do not think that is the type of thing that would attract "creepers". I would say if at all possible, absolutely yes make sure your husband is available to be there when somebody comes to look. If not, maybe have a friend or neighbor around. I seriously doubt you will have any problems.

Also, Texasroni75 made some very good suggestions.

 

[pixiewings71]

We sell corals on CL, yup, corals for a salt water fish tank. When we started I told DBF that he had to be home when people came over and it's never been a problem. We have people over often to look and to buy. In your situation I would simply schedule it around your DH's schedule, I know you said it was hard to do but for safety reasons it's important to do that.
I also like the suggestion of seeing if you can list it in equestrian locations, I'm sure you'll be able to get rid of it soon.

 

[bumbershoot]

Our sheriff's department got so fed up with taking reports on Craigslists sales going bad that they now just say there is no sure safe way to sell on Craigslist.

Of course, they are ONLY seeing the bad outcomes. They don't hear about all the good outcomes; no one's calling them to report those.

I agree with that one very much. Feed store, tack store, etc. If there's a big horse community in your area as you said, there's a big horse-supply community as well. Take a good picture or two, put up some nicely done flyers, put them up where horse people will see them. Of course, those people are going to know a good price, so you'll have to price it fairly.

 

[tvguy]

Of course, they are ONLY seeing the bad outcomes. They don't hear about all the good outcomes; no one's calling them to report those.
.

True. However, the bad outcomes have been soooo bad, I'm sure never using Craigslist.

 

[Judique]

True. However, the bad outcomes have been soooo bad, I'm sure never using Craigslist.

I've sold furniture on Craigslist with good pictures and offered to deliver for a reasonable fee. $25 to $50 in the area - basically enough to cover gas. My stuff sold fast. Some sold over the phone or by text without being viewed in advance.

No problems whatsoever. I just bought a $1000 item also where I had to go to the home to see it. Again, no problems.

Use reasonable common sense. Don't have people come when you are home alone. Take cash only. Check the cash carefully.

I also bought a used dryer for a rental we have. It was advertised at $50. When we went to pick it up, the lady said it didn't work well and she gave it for free to get rid of it. We took it to the house and unclogged it from tons of lint and it works perfectly - I guess she had never thought of cleaning out beyond the filter.

 

[laura3773]

As other posters have mentioned, take only cash. And look at the secret service website for the Know your Money pdf. We have had a rash of people getting counterfeit money for craigslist items in my area - down to $10 bills. You may think you know what money is supposed to look and feel like, but I am a teller supervisor who ends up having to take counterfeits several times a week from disbelieving clients (not just from craigslist stuff, but a lot of counterfeits get passed at grocery stores, bars, restaurants and the like) and send them in the the secret service. Don't be afraid to look at all your bills for the various security features on the poster - color changing ink, blue and red fibers, security strip, water mark, ridges on the jacket of the portrait. We had a client who sold a TV for $600 and got all counterfeit bills. She was DEVASTATED, and there was no real legal recourse since craigslist is so anonymous.

 

[Robinrs]

I buy and sell on CL regularly, sometimes several times a month.

I'm a 4foot 10 single mother but I do have a 21 yo BIG son so I bring him with me everywhere we go or have him there if a buy comes by.

I have only met WONDERFUL people on CL, some of the nicest people ever!

I guess it's like anything, just be careful, take cash and enjoy.

tvguy, you're missing out listening to that crap. On that mindset, a person would never date, get married or have children just based on the stuff that is reported to the cops. If you're stupid enough to sell an iPad to a person on a street corner or to find a down low date in a hotel room... heck, that could've been advertised ANYWHERE.

 

[tvguy]

I buy and sell on CL regularly, sometimes several times a month.

I'm a 4foot 10 single mother but I do have a 21 yo BIG son so I bring him with me everywhere we go or have him there if a buy comes by.

I have only met WONDERFUL people on CL, some of the nicest people ever!

I guess it's like anything, just be careful, take cash and enjoy.

tvguy, you're missing out listening to that crap. On that mindset, a person would never date, get married or have children just based on the stuff that is reported to the cops. If you're stupid enough to sell an iPad to a person on a street corner or to find a down low date in a hotel room... heck, that could've been advertised ANYWHERE.

My only experience with CL was last year when I had a multi-day estate sale clearing out my parents house. I have no idea how many people it brought to my sale, but it certainly generated a handful of strange e-mails in advance of the sale.