Buying anything on Craigslist can be risky, and purchasing furniture on the website is no exception. You can end up with a timeless piece of beautiful furniture that highlights the room or a piece of junk that clashes with your decor. In order to get the perfect piece, consider these 10 tips before buying furniture on Craigslist.
- Set a price range.
Listings on the website are set by what the owner thinks the object is worth, not the actual value. Sure, some people price things spot-on, but the majority of people selling on Craigslist are looking to make a profit. When seeking the piece of furniture you want, avoid going over your budget. If you aren’t sure of where you should set your limit, look at comparable pieces on Craigslist and eBay. If the majority of the prices for a similar piece are around $60, you’ll know a price of $150 is very high, no matter how great it is. - Be patient.
Above all, have patience. If you want something great from Craigslist, you might have to wait a few weeks to find exactly what you’re looking for. Never settle. If you aren’t looking for something specific, be sure to stay within your price range. You should find a few good candidates within a week or so. - Search effectively.
If you know the exact name of something you’re looking for, search for the term but don’t rule out other words it may be listed under. If you’re looking for a writing desk, consider searching “bureau” or “antique desk.” Different terms may yield different results. This tip is especially useful for furniture that may be referred to by an archaic name such as chaise, bedstead, or chiffonier. - Use the gallery view.
Looking through listings can be time-consuming when there is so much spam. Even worse is when you find the perfect piece of furniture only to see that the piece has been misused. Don’t waste time clicking the listing to see the picture when you can simply use gallery view. Gallery view will show the picture for each listing along with the title, price, and the area where it is located. - Always haggle.
Even if it doesn’t say “or best offer,” try to negotiate the price. Most people who are selling furniture want to get rid of it immediately. While there are some sellers looking to make real money, many are just looking to get the piece out of the house. Haggling is often expected. Start with an offer that is 25% lower than the asking price and go from there. If the seller comes back with a higher price, move to 20% off. If the owner is going down on the price a little, suggest meeting in the middle. - Look for “by owner.”
This phrase is essential when searching for home decor on Craigslist. By clicking “by owner,” you weed out all of the dealers who are selling furniture on the website. Searching by owner allows you to only view the best deals. Individuals are also more willing to negotiate. - Extend your search.
Sometimes your search parameters may be too narrow. There’s no shame in looking in just your city—if you’re looking for a large piece of furniture, it might be inconvenient to drive an hour to transport it. However, extending your search to nearby cities is a fantastic way to find unique items. It's also a great option for smaller items because you can often convince a seller to mail you the item if you pay for the shipping. - Set a $2 minimum.
Setting your price to have a $2 minimum will weed out the posts that are listed for $1. These posts are generally spammers or “service” listings. While a few postings in the $1 range are by sellers who aren’t sure of the price or are really just looking for the best offer, such listings are few and far between. You are much better off avoiding these posts. - Contact the seller.
When contacting the seller, beating around the bush will likely get your email ignored. You should send the seller an email stating what you want to buy, when you can pick it up, and that you can pay cash. Anyone with the intention of selling something will respond right away. As always, remember to be courteous. - Meet in public.
When possible, meet the seller in public. If the object is easy enough to transport, ask to meet him or her at a grocery store or somewhere with a lot of people. Meeting in public not only protects you, it also removes the awkward situation of going into a stranger’s home. If possible, get a friend to go with you or tell someone what time you are meeting the seller.
