5. Stand by your word.
Craigslist functions on the old-fashioned honor system. If you change your mind on an item, let the seller know ASAP, so they can contact the next interested party. It's in the seller's best interest to seal the deal during the initial buying frenzy, but sellers should stand by their word, too. It saves everyone time and aggravation when both parties honor their agreements.6. Set a distance limit.
If it sounds too good to be true, don't go to Timbuktu to find out. Sometimes that $35 "like new, bleached pine" bathroom vanity looks great in the photo, but turns out having cheap veneer, peeling at the edges. A limit of 30-40 minutes drive time is a good starter.
7. Have transport ready and mark out your route.
A truck or SUV is handy for larger items, but not always necessary. A simple set of roof racks can hold a lot of treasures. Ann Logue was promised a free file cabinet from a Craigslist poster, provided she could haul it away. "Believe it or not," she says, "you can haul a file cabinet in a Volkswagen Passat."
Some sellers will deliver if you offer a cash incentive. Thilmany was able to get her stove and furniture delivered in St. Paul by offering $20 extra each time. "Around here, people live more scattered around," she says. "Sellers are often 40 minutes away, so they can't always expect people to make the drive."
8. Play it safe.
Using Craigslist requires more personal interaction than eBay, and that involves some risk. But by the time an actual transaction occurs, buyer and seller have exchanged e-mails and phone calls, giving each a chance to assess the other. "As I use Craigslist more, I get more savvy about reading people," says Havens. She always uses "we" instead of "I" in her ads to "give the impression there are two people at home, not just me."
Many female buyers bring someone along when they pick up an item and some refuse to enter her downtown Philadelphia apartment, requesting she bring the goods outside. She has also agreed to meet female buyers on the street or a public place before a transaction. "I totally understand their caution and always cooperate," Havens says.
9. Beware of disassembled furniture.
Some Ikea furniture is challenging to build, even with instructions. Expect a headache if you have to piece it together by intuition — especially if it's missing a cog or two. If the seller no longer has printed instructions for furniture pieces, he or she should be able to explain it to your satisfaction.
10. Post refuse before you dump it.
Don't know what to do with the byproducts of renovation? Instead of renting a dumpster, post your "trash" on Craigslist. Thilmany and her husband, Dan Leary, found takers for their roofing materials and chain link fence. Even dirt, broken concrete and discarded flooring can be picked up curbside by someone who needs them. It's an eco-friendly alternative to a landfill.
Cathleen McCarthy has written for Country Living, Elle Decor and The Washington Post, among others.
