How to sell your stuff on Craigslist

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By mingtor
User-Submitted Video

sell your stuff on Craigslist

What kind of stuff can you sell on Craigslist? In most urban areas, you can sell almost anything on Craigslist, from cars to furniture to baby gear to house plants. Craigslist is far more popular than newspaper classified ads, and you can create a listing for free. You can sell stuff for better prices than at a garage sale, and it is less of a hassle than selling things on eBay, especially for larger items (no need to ship an item or use PayPal). The following guide will show you how to effectively compose a Craigslist listing to sell your stuff quickly and for the best possible price.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

computer
internet connection
working phone number
item(s) to sell

Step 1

Research the market. Chances are, you aren't the only person trying to offload a nearly new panini press on Craigslist. Search past listings to get an idea of realistic pricing in your area for similar items.
Step 2

Craigslist Sale Categories

Choose the correct category. Listing an item in the inappropriate category may get your listing flagged and deleted, and almost certainly will not result in any sales.
Step 3

Set a price. When in doubt, ask for a price on the higher end of the spectrum - you may receive a lower offer, but you may also get your asking price.
Step 4

Take a picture. No one likes to buy a pig in a poke! The Craigslist interface allows users to optionally search for only listings which have images, and you don't want to be excluded from those searches. Take a picture of your item in good lighting, with an uncluttered background. You can then either upload the image with your Craigslist ad (in which case the image will be small and low resolution), or use a free photo hosting service in order to present a larger, higher quality image.
Step 5

Write a description. This should include:

- the name of the item
- the product description and a list of features (which you can often copy from a manufacturer's or retailer's website)
- what the item originally retailed for
- the item's condition (especially emphasize, if true, that the item is like new, in brand new condition, lightly used, still has original packaging, etc.)
- any potentially deal breaking flaws in the item (better to disclose them now then have a sale fall through later)
- that the item is from a smoke free, pet free environment (if applicable)
- how heavy the item is, how much help (if any) they need to pick it up, and what kind of vehicle they will need to transport it
Step 6

Indicate your availability to show the item. If you are able to show the item only on weekends, say so!
Step 7

Specify your terms. In almost all cases, these would be cash only, local buyers only, and buyers pick up.
Step 8

Once you post the listing, be responsive. You should respond to emailed inquiries within a few hours. Even a day's delay could lose you a sale.