For my regular readers, I am writing about another venue for my antique and collectible habit.  I have written about yard sales as well as the Brimfield Sale.  Today I am writing about Craig's List. 

Craig's List is easy and free. Both very good characteristics!  Craig's List is an online bulletin board.  No posting is listed longer than one week.  It is an act fast environment, but one that can be fruitful.

I have not bought anything on Craig's List.  Not because I wouldn't, but because I am using it to sell some antiques that I brought back from my parents' last summer.  Two years ago my parents closed their antique store in Santa Fe, NM and they were left with a lot of inventory.   Many of these items are dear and I will keep them.  But, others I took expressly to sell.

Recently I posted a "For Sale" item under For Sale - Collectibles.  It read," Vintage Whites - dresses, robes, nightgowns. Other Antiques and Collectibles including embroidered pillowcases, hat stands, pillows,sheet music and more." I  checked off the box that said that interested persons should email me through Craig's List.  This means that noone knows my identity, home address, phone number or email address.  With a couple of clicks my ad was up and running.

I received about 6 emails from my post.  Some were deadends like the antique dealer who emailed to ask if I had any gold jewelry for sale. No. 

I sent 150 late 1800 and early 1900 music sheets to a man in Georgia who paid me $100.00 plus shipping by money order. The entire transaction was completed by email.

I had a small antique trader from Littleton come by and look at the stuff but he decided not to buy anything.  He was a lovely man and I would have loved to do business with him, but it was not meant to be.

I had a delightful man come from western Mass who was a costume designer and he bought 5 lace dresses to the tune of $130.00

Two women who had just opened an antique store, "Hope & Glory" in Somerville came last weekend.  They stayed for over an hour as we got along so well and had so much in common.  They bought many of my collectibles, pillows and embroidered pillow case sets to the tune of $166.00.  I have included their blog as they are delightful and I plan to visit their store and you might want to too!


www.hopeandglory.blogspot.com


Craig's List  - www.craigslist.com
*Easy to sell items
*Easy to write a post
*Pictures tell a thousand words!
*There are Craig's List particular to cities and areas. I use Boston/metrowest
*Posts only stay online for one week, but they can be relisted as often as you wish
*Posts are private; noone needs to know your name, address,phone or email
*Once you have established contact with a buyer, you may need to give them more information ie your address if they need to pick up their purchase or your phone number if you need to discuss the transaction
*Do not accept checks if at all possible - cash or money orders are safer
* You don't have to join Craig's list to post an advertisement, but joining makes it easier to keep track of your posts and reload them.
*Be aware of scams - Craig's List solicits reports of scams


Real Estate Tip #22 - The real estate industry is forever moving forward.  I like that about the job.  Realtors are continually provided with new technology, legal updates, introductions to new gadgets, and on and on.  A good realtor never knows it all, but is constantly taking courses and learning new ways to improve her knowledge of the real estate market and how to provide better customer service.