Craigslist Tutorial!

The moment you have all been waiting for is here!  The Craigslist Guru is sharing her secrets!  LOL!
The majority of the furniture in my home is from Craigslist. I have been lucky to find original pieces that no one else has, although there are myriad options for every last thing you can think of!
I have had many inquiries from my blog friends as to how I come upon so many interesting finds on Craigslist.  Today, I am going to tell you what I know!
If you are patient and knowledgeable you can find anything.  I promise!
Let's start with the basics, for those of you who have never used Craigslist.  Most large cities have a very active Craigslist.
Click on all the highlighted links in the preceding paragraphs to see just a few of my unique Craigslist finds!

Here, you will find a typical page layout.  Note that the United States states and cities, as well as Craigslist Worldwide are available options.  I am not sure if all the pages are similar.  They most likely are.
Click on the state in which you live, then the closest nearby city.

On the left you will see a search box above the calendar.  Enter the item you are looking for then press search.

Click on "Show Images".  That way you don't have to click on each post to see the item. If you hover your mouse over the photo it will become a bit larger. This photo was found on pinterest.

Lots of options!  I will tell you how I use it.  I put the item I am looking for in the search box from the first page then I click on "title only" and "has image", otherwise you will be looking at posts that have your search word in their details and it rarely turns out to be what you are looking for.  I also look in "all for sale/wanted".  You have the option of looking in separate categories such as "furniture" or "antiques", "farm and garden", etc.

Sometimes I merely scroll through the "antique" section" or the "farm and garden".  If you do this every morning and evening it will only take about ten minutes.  You will only be looking at the newest posts.

Searching

Once you are familiar with the layout you can begin searching for items that may interest you.

Here are the search terms I use regularly, along with the various spellings I have seen!  Unlike ebay, Craigslist does not automatically search for multiples unless you specifically request. Nor does it suggest correct spellings.  If you want chairs, do not search for chair. However, sometimes people post it as "chair set".  Many people simply do not know what they have, so it pays to browse.  Remember my Duck Chairs? Or Gracie's Dollhouse (doll house)?

French

Provincial 

Italian

Italianate

Tapestry

Toile

Velvet

Neoclassical

Neo Classical

Neo Classic

Mirror

Mirrors

Mirrow

Ornate

Fancy

Scrolly

Angel

Angels

Cherub

Cherubs

Cupid

Cupids

Dining

Dinning

Bed

Bedroom Set

Headboard

Canopy

Poster

Post

Louis Chair

Louis Chairs

Daybed

Day Bed

Chaise

Chase

Settee

Setee

Love Seat

Loveseat

Statue

Statues

Urn

Urns

Planter

Planters

Vase

Vases

Garden Ornament

Flowerpot

Concrete

Cement

Wrought Iron

Rod Iron

Fence

Fencing

Gate

Gates

Gazebo

Pergola

Pavillion

Arbor

Trellis

Trellises

Armoire

Amoire

Amore

Armoir

Cabinet

Bombe

Bombay

Dresser

Bureau

Chest of Drawers

Chester Drawers

Commode

Library Table

Entry Table

Empire

Gold

Gilt

Guilt

Gilded

Gilding

Shelves

Shelving

Shelf

Shelf

Wall Unit

Bookshelf

Bookshelves

Book Shelves

Vintage

Antique

Old

Olden

Mantel

Mantle

Fireplace

Fire place

Hearth

Familiar names too...

Habersham

Horchow

Nieman Marcus

Wisteria

Ballard

Restoration Hardware

Pottery Barn

Ralph Lauren

Calvin Klein

Be aware of colloquialisms, as well.  One man's commode is another man's toilet!

If you want a mirror but don't want to see, say, a bar mirror you can type in  a minus sign before the word bar, it deletes it from the search!

For example:

Mirror  -bar

Or a gate, but not a child safety gate?

Gate -child

Get it?

If you know precisely what you want, surround the words in quotation marks:

"English Revival Secretary"

You will get results only for those terms only in that order.

Either/or... For example, you want a chair either Regency or Empire style, you would post is thusly:

Chair Regency | Empire

The "| "symbol is shift backslash. It is called the pipe key.

 Have new listings sent to your RSS feed every time they’re posted. Just type in your search, and on the search results page, click on the orange “RSS” button on the bottom and add it to your RSS feed.

You get the idea!  I have been very successful with these search terms!  I even found a free leather sofa, which I stripped the upholstery off in a Chicago alley to use for my louis chairs in the Breakfast Room! Have you seen the cost of leather?  Environmentally friendly too! (Unless you were the cow).

I swear to Santa I have seen this one more than once...

Chip and Dale Furniture

Chippendale

Once you find an item you like, click on the link and it will take you to a page that looks like this.  If you are still interested, click on the "reply to this post" link.  It will give you several options to send an email.

I usually write:

Hello!

If the side table is still available could you please call me at (888)777)6666?  I am interested in the table and can come immediately!

Thank you!

Andie

I always identify the piece I am interested in so they don't assume it is spam.  There are a horrendous amount of scammers on Craigslist!

When they respond I discuss the different aspects of the piece and, if I deem appropriate, I ask them if they would be willing to take X amount?  Normally, I do not dicker.  Most of the time I know I am getting a deal and I just don't want to insult anyone. Please be sure to discuss the price in advance.  People have told me stories about how buyers tried to give them $20 for a $200 item as they were carrying it to their car!

Most of the furniture I bought fit into my Toyota Matrix!  I have not been paid for this endorsement!

Don't be afraid to go on an adventure!  I also look at the Craigslist listings in Wisconsin (two hours away), the Quad Cities (two hours away) and St. Louis (four hours away)! St. Louis always seems to have more authentic French items, whereas Chicago has a lot of Mid Century Modern and Wisconsin has lots of architectural salvage. I found my Christ Corpus Statue, from an old Catholic church there!

Since we home school we can incorporate the trip into our curriculum!

Important

If you decide you want the item, set a time to meet the seller.  Always bring exact change and be on time.  Since I am located about an hour from the city or the Northern Suburbs, where my treasures are usually found, I offer to call them as I am leaving.  That way, they know I am really coming and do not sell the item to someone else.  Even so, I called a man after I rented a van for a large piece and told him I was on the way.  He sold the furniture to someone else in the 45 minutes it took me to get there!

Make sure someone knows where you are going, if you are going alone!  Leave the address on the table at home. Mention to the seller that you are leaving as soon as you tell your husband (bodyguard, Russian Strongman, etc.) where you are going.  That way they know they will be caught if they are up to no good!  I have never had a problem but safety can sometimes be an issue on Craigslist. All transactions are cash only.  That can attract the criminal element.  Don't take chances.  There is no bargain in the world that is worth your life!  I always slip the fact that my husband is a police officer into casual conversation! Then I might mention that my husband joked I should bring my gun, just in case!  *nyuk nyuk* Not awkward at all!  But, hey!  I'm still kickin'!

Also check to see if there will be someone there to help lift if the item is heavy.  If the item is small you can suggest meeting at a public place such as a gas station.  Why a gas station as opposed to, say, the mall?  Because the attendants are usually paying attention to the parking lot, unlike a large mall parking lot where people generally do not "see" you.

If I am interested in a piece I have several rules.  First, I have to sell some of my own things to pay for it.  That way I stay married and I don't have way more than I need.  Not to say I don't have too much!  LOL!

The neighborhood kids all think we are rich!  LOL!  I have saved thousands upon thousands of dollars shopping on Craigslist!  I will wager that I spent less on a my antiques and one -of -a -kinds than people typically spend at  Ikea on disposable furniture! 

Don't forget to look in the "free" section.  You will be amazed by what people give away!

Soon you will be Craigslisting like a professional!  It has all the convenience of online shopping with zero shipping charges and no wait! 

Selling on Craigslist will be another tutorial for another day!

I have met so many wonderful people on Craigslist!  Some have even become friends!

If you have questions, I would be happy to answer in the reply section!  I am sure I missed something or other!

xo

Andie

I am participating in
From My Front Porch to Yours,  Treasure Hunt Thursday
No Minimalist Here, Open House Party
The Thrifty Groove, Thrifty Things Friday