How to Craig's List

Yep, I just used Craig's List (CL) as a verb.  That's because it is a lot simpler than saying..."How to buy things on CL" or "How to sell things on CL" and I bet you knew exactly what I meant. : )  Anyway, I've had quite a few people ask how to find what you are looking for on CL and get a good a deal in the process.  Now, I can't guarantee your safety (although I hope you use common sense) or that you are getting a quality product, but I can let you know how I do it and how it's worked for me so far.

1)  Narrow down your search.  CL can be a bit daunting if you just go to your local area and click on "household" or "furniture".  You'll get pages and pages of 100 listings.  So, for example, when I was looking for chairs, I typed in chairs and then used the option to only include the ones by owner.  If I wanted to by from a dealer, I'd go to the store and look for myself.  That's just my opinion though. : )

I looked for a couple months before I finally found these...$30/both.  I hadn't seen anything under $100 for one!

2) Do your research.  Whether this means figuring out an exact model to what you need (like a microwave we purchased on CL), or having measurements of a room or piece of furniture, or figuring out what your price point should be...make yourself be a knowledgeable customer!  This isn't like a store where you can take it back if you got overcharged or just got the wrong model or size, you've got to get it right the first time.

New microwave with receipt in box for 1/2 its selling price

3)  Check often.  Like as much as you can.  You never know when that perfect listing is going to come up and you want to be the first to pounce on it.  If you can, just keep it up on your screen and refresh it whenever you walk by...it will just take a second to glance and see if there's anything you're interested in.

4)  Keep an open mind in your search.  We were looking for a king sized bad frame (which ran about $100 new), and instead of just checking for that, I would search "king headboard".  I ended up getting not only the frame, but a headboard and two bed side tables made of solid wood for $50!

The bedroom furniture I picked up for $50...not a great pic, but it had another finial in the middle of the headboard I removed and then painted it all black and added crystal knobs to the tables.

5)  Also, keep an open mind about the possibilities of what your looking for.  If you can look at an item to see if it has good bones, then, in many cases you can customize it yourself with paint or fabric.  Back to the example of the bed set...that particular bed wasn't my favorite.  After taking it apart some and good paint job, I love it!

6)  Without, being completely insulting, low-ball on the price.  I've never had someone be so offended that they didn't respond back.  And while I don't always get my low-ball price, I usually get the price reduced in some way.  The bed set actually was listed for $100, I thought they might meet me at $75, but they ended up taking my offer of $50.

7)  Be PATIENT!  Although, you can have good luck finding what you need or want right away, sometimes it takes time, and if you wait long enough, you will probably find that special piece right at your price!


I've also sold quite a few things on Craig's List. My advice would be the same as it is for having a garage sale...price to sell and not make people think that this might be your only income. (Have y'all been to one of those garage sales where they price their junk so high that you know they are selling nothing???)  If you truly want it out of your house, then, figure out what the going rate it is (through ebay or CL), price it, and be willing to budge if needed.

So, what treasures have you found on Craig's List?

It was like Christmas morning...

So yesterday morning, I got up and took the kids to school and on the way home I drove through this neighborhood I had heard had some well-kept older homes, which I love to look at & dream about their potential.  As I drove through, something caught my eye and I tried not to get too excited, but I did...and it was SO worth it!  What did I find?? This fabulous ugly chair. ; )

I love a good wing back chair.  Oh the possibilities have been flooding my mind since I got in the car.  I'm so excited at it's potential.  Here are some possibilities...

via House Beautiful

via Pink and Polka Dot

via House Beautiful

via House Beautiful...love the nailhead trim

via Caitlin Creer Interiors...gorgeous fabric

via Caitlin Creer Interiors...more gorgeous fabric!

So many beautiful designs to choose from...I LOVE those bold prints but the idea of a white/neutral slipcover seems so family friendly and versatile.  I can't wait to get started on this project...think I need to brush up on my sewing skills because I don't think my hot glue gun will take me the distance this time!  : )

FURNITURE FACELIFT : : Chairs

Last fall I went on the search for some occasional chairs for our living room.  I knew that like my TV console, in order to get what I wanted I was going to have to look for a fixer-upper with some good bones.  We have so many neutrals in our living room...tan walls, brown leather sofa, cream colored rocker.  So, these chairs not only had to provide seating when we had guests, but they also had to add the punch of color that this room needed.

 Since this was "pre-blogging" days for me, I don't have an exact before pic of my chairs, but they were something ugly like this....



 

Mine started with a basic wood finish and some hideous 80's blue floral upholstery.  I'm sure we can all visualize something like that from maybe a grandma's house or something. ; )  Here are the steps I took for my transformation.

1. I checked thrift stores and CL (Craig's List) every chance I got for a couple of weeks.  I kept either finding things I liked but were too expensive for the work they needed (some people really think a lot of their junk, don't they?? ; )) or they just weren't quite right.  When I found this set on CL, I jumped immediately.  I usually try to talk a price down, but $30 for both was too good to mess with.
2. Found some fabric I loved at Hobby Lobby in the upholstery fabrics....love the color it brings and I'm hoping to add some reds and oranges and maybe a bit of green.

3. Got them home, sanded all the wood parts down...just enough to get the sheen off.
4. Spray-painted them with primer and then a satin black (about 2-3 coats).
5. Took off all the upholstery and watched carefully as I did it.  Reupholstering was new to me so I wanted to see how they were constructed.
6. The chair without fabric on the back was first since there was no piping, I just cut the fabric to size and began stretching and stapling the fabric underneath the chair.  I did it side by side starting with the front, going from the middle to the ends.  The other chair was a bit more complex. I cut the fabric to exact size, stapled it, and then added the piping with a hot glue gun.  I was able to salvage the piping insert from the previous chair and I cut a long strip to hot glue around it.  

7. Ready to use.  : )

 Finished results:



So, for under $50, I have my extra seating I needed and a bit more color added to my neutral living room...and although professional upholsterers maybe cringing at my methods right now, they look great and have held up so well!

What do y'all think??