How to Sell Used Furniture On Craigslist

Ready to refresh your home? Buying new furniture is a great way to add comfort and style to your home. However, you will first need to get rid of your old furniture. One of the easiest ways to get rid of your old furniture and make some extra money to afford the new furniture is sell it on an online marketplace like Craigslist.

Whether your piece of furniture is a sofa, an easy chair, a bed, or a dining room table, Craigslist has a large audience of potential buyers interested in gently-used furniture. But before you throw together a listing, there are some right and wrong ways to sell furniture.

Here we provide an easy-to-follow guide to help you successfully and smoothly sell your furniture on Craigslist. Read on to find the top tips to sell furniture on Craigslist.

Key Benefits of Selling Furniture on Craigslist

There are some key benefits to selling your furniture on Craigslist you will want to take advantage of.

Convenience. Craigslist lets you create a listing and start receiving offers from potential buyers without ever leaving your home.

• Large audience. Craigslist has one of the largest audience of potential buyers interested in purchasing furniture so you have a good chance of making a sale.

• Flexible pricing. Craigslist gives you the ability to set your own price and negotiate with potential buyers so you can get a fair price.

• Local sales. Craigslist is a great platform for selling furniture locally so you can avoid the hassle and expense of shipping the furniture to the buyer.

1. Preparing Your Furniture

Before you list the item on Craigslist, you will want to first prepare your furniture for sale to increase your chances of a successful sale. Here we show you how to prepare your furniture for sale on Craigslist:

• Clean and repair. By cleaning and repairing your furniture, you can make sure it is in good condition and ready for the buyer. Wipe down the exterior of the furniture, fix any loose or broken parts, and make any necessary repairs.

• Take high-quality photos. Potential buyers will use the photos to determine whether they are interested in your furniture so be sure to take high-quality photos that accurately represent the furniture. Include different angels of the exterior, any important features or details of the furniture, and any included accessories. Use natural lighting and a clean background, and avoid using filters or editing the photos too heavily.

• Take measurements. Providing the measurements of your furniture will help potential buyers determine whether the furniture will fit in their space and make it easier for them to compare your furniture to other options. Be sure to measure the length, width, and height of the furniture, and include these measurements in your listing.

• Determine the materials it's made from. Potential buyers will want to know what material your furniture is made out of so be sure include this in your listing. This could include the type of wood, fabric, or other materials. This can help potential buyers understand the quality and durability of the furniture, and will make it easier for them to decide whether your furniture is what they want.

2. Creating a Craigslist Listing For Your Furniture

A well-written and informative listing will help potential buyers understand the features and benefits of your furniture, and encourage them to contact you about purchasing your furniture. Here are some tips for creating a listing for your furniture on Craigslist:

• Write a compelling title. Potential buyers won't see your listing unless they click on the title so you will want to make it compelling. The title should be short, descriptive, and include important information about the furniture, such as its type, style, and condition.

• Include a complete description. Your description is then your opportunity to persuade your potential buyers to buy your furniture. The description should provide more detailed information about the furniture, including the materials, style, measurements and condition of the furniture, as well as any included accessories.

• Add good photos. Here is where you will add those high-quality photos you took earlier. Include as many as you you can that will be helpful to potential buyers.

• Set a fair and competitive price. Your price should be both fair and competitive to make a successful sale. Research similar furniture on Craigslist and Facebook marketplace to get an idea of the going rate for your type of furniture. Keep in mind that buyers on Craigslist are often looking for deals so you may need to negotiate your price in order to make a sale.

If you need additional help creating your listing, see our step-by-step instructions in Step-By-Step Instructions to Creating Your First Craigslist Listing.

3. Responding to Potential Buyers on Craigslist

Once your listing has been published to Craigslist, interested buyers will begin to contact you through Craigslist's messaging system. It's important to respond to potential buyers in a timely and professional manner, in order to keep the conversation moving and hopefully close the sale. Here are some tips for responding to potential buyers on Craigslist:

• Communicate through Craigslist's messaging system. Craigslist's messaging system provides a safe and secure way to communicate with potential buyers. Never give out personal information, such as your email or phone number, until you are comfortable with the potential buyer and ready to move forward with the sale.

• Provide additional information and photos. Potential buyers will often have questions about your furniture, and it's important to provide them with the information they need in order to make a decision. By providing potential buyers with all the information they need, you can make it easier for them to decide whether your furniture is a good fit for them.

• Schedule meetings with potential buyers. Once you have established a rapport with a potential buyer, you can schedule a meeting to show them the furniture in person. Choose a safe and public location for the meeting and bring a friend along for added security. Meeting with potential buyers in person provides them with a detailed look at your furniture and move closer to completing the sale.

4. Negotiating & Completing the sale

Negotiating and completing the sale involves reaching a mutually acceptable price, providing the buyer with important documents, and completing a payment transaction.

If you are not comfortable negotiating prices with potential buyers, consider using a service like OfferTrackr. OfferTrackr can automatically track the availability of your items, negotiate prices, schedule pickups, and send out reminders on your behalf. See our blog post Using OfferTrackr to Make Selling Items Locally So Much Easier for more details.

Here are some tips for negotiating and completing the sale of your furniture on Craigslist:

• Negotiate to reach a price. When selling furniture on Craigslist, it's important to be prepared to negotiate with potential buyers. This means being willing to listen to their offers and counteroffers, and working towards a mutually acceptable price. Be prepared to compromise and be flexible, and remember that your goal is to complete the sale and move on to your next project.

• Provide relevant documents. Be sure to provide the buyer with any relevant documents and information about the furniture. This could include the user manual, warranty information, and any relevant receipts or service records.

• Complete payment. Complete the transaction by receiving payment of the agreed upon price from the buyer. We recommend using a third-party payment processor like Venmo or Paypal to have a paper trail and be able to dispute any fraudulent charges.

Selling furniture on Craigslist is a great way to make extra money to both afford and make room for new furniture. By taking a few thoughtful steps, you can increase your chances of successfully selling your furniture at a fair price.

Take a little time to properly prepare your furniture, create a compelling listing, respond to your interested buyers, and be prepared to negotiate the price to complete the sale.

Start selling today!