How To "Flip" A Craigslist Find For A Profit- Part 4- Pricing

If you are still reading this series, thank you! And since this is the last installment let recap. We chose our table and chair for a great price, cleaned it up, painted it, and distressed. Now it's time to put it up for sale on craigslist. Our goal is a quick sale, right!

1) Know your market- I live in a college town and in spring time, when all of the co-eds leave town and sell all of their worldly belongings, I go hit craigslist hard. You will probably find your fair share of particle board desks and dressers, but mixed in you will also find some great priced solid wood pieces. 

I also know that spring is not the best time to sell. 1/4 of my town has just left and won't be back until fall. I will either price my pieces very low right now or wait until fall when they all come back. Then they will need some cute furniture!

2) Pictures- We bloggers LOVE taking great pictures of our work to show off to each other. Use those photos on craigslist! Don't go crazy just the facts here. One that shows of the whole item and maybe one or two to show off the detail.

3) What information to include- A brief description, dimensions, also write that you will only deal in person and with cash (this is actually very important in protecting yourself against scams.) Last but not least...

4) Price- In order to come to a fair price for your piece we need to take into account a few things.

How much did you buy it for?  $10

How much work did you put into it? I try to pay myself an hourly wage. $25 is my current rate x hours spent 3 = $75

Materials used= This is just an estimate since I already had all of these items on hand. $7

Total: $93 

Now we need to add in our negotiating cost. A lot of people on craigslist want a bargain, I know I do! So there is usually at-least one episode of bargaining. I generally build in about $20 to my price for this. 

Now we are looking at $113, round up for good measure to $120.

Tada! Thats it. 

I am sure all of you have some great tips I have missed. PLEASE leave them in the comments so everyone can read them. After all I am just getting started. 

Lastly, please be careful when inviting people to your home to look at furniture. Make sure you have someone else with you. I try to have the piece in the garage for them to look at. That way I am always outside and never in the house with a perfect stranger. Most people are very nice but you never know. 

Don't forget to fill out my Healthy Life Survey and get your

personalized introduction to Shaklee!

Link Parties

Centsational Girl 

Tip Junky

The Stories of A to Z

Creating a House of Grace

The Lettered Cottage 

Primitive and Proper

Beyond the Picket Fence

Funky Junk Interiors

My Repurposed Life

Miss Mustard Seed



Southern Hospitality



Metamorphosis Mondays

How To "Flip" A Craigslist Find For A Profit- Part 4- Pricing

If you are still reading this series, thank you! And since this is the last installment let recap. We chose our table and chair for a great price, cleaned it up, painted it, and distressed. Now it's time to put it up for sale on craigslist. Our goal is a quick sale, right!

1) Know your market- I live in a college town and in spring time, when all of the co-eds leave town and sell all of their worldly belongings, I go hit craigslist hard. You will probably find your fair share of particle board desks and dressers, but mixed in you will also find some great priced solid wood pieces. 

I also know that spring is not the best time to sell. 1/4 of my town has just left and won't be back until fall. I will either price my pieces very low right now or wait until fall when they all come back. Then they will need some cute furniture!

2) Pictures- We bloggers LOVE taking great pictures of our work to show off to each other. Use those photos on craigslist! Don't go crazy just the facts here. One that shows of the whole item and maybe one or two to show off the detail.

3) What information to include- A brief description, dimensions, also write that you will only deal in person and with cash (this is actually very important in protecting yourself against scams.) Last but not least...

4) Price- In order to come to a fair price for your piece we need to take into account a few things.

How much did you buy it for?  $10

How much work did you put into it? I try to pay myself an hourly wage. $25 is my current rate x hours spent 3 = $75

Materials used= This is just an estimate since I already had all of these items on hand. $7

Total: $93 

Now we need to add in our negotiating cost. A lot of people on craigslist want a bargain, I know I do! So there is usually at-least one episode of bargaining. I generally build in about $20 to my price for this. 

Now we are looking at $113, round up for good measure to $120.

Tada! Thats it. 

I am sure all of you have some great tips I have missed. PLEASE leave them in the comments so everyone can read them. After all I am just getting started. 

Lastly, please be careful when inviting people to your home to look at furniture. Make sure you have someone else with you. I try to have the piece in the garage for them to look at. That way I am always outside and never in the house with a perfect stranger. Most people are very nice but you never know. 

Don't forget to fill out my Healthy Life Survey and get your

personalized introduction to Shaklee!

Link Parties

Centsational Girl 

Tip Junky

The Stories of A to Z

Creating a House of Grace

The Lettered Cottage 

Primitive and Proper

Beyond the Picket Fence

Funky Junk Interiors

My Repurposed Life

Miss Mustard Seed



Southern Hospitality



Metamorphosis Mondays

How To "Flip" A Craigslist Find For A Profit- Part 3- Distressing

We have found our pieces on craigslist, cleaned them up, and painted them white. Now it is time to give them a little personality. 

Get your sandpaper ready!

Sandpaper comes in various different grits. The lower the number the larger the little particles and the more paint you will take off. The 60-grit I have shown above is for big, tuff jobs. The 220-grit I use in-between coats of paint and poly. It really helps to get a smooth surface. 

Each piece of furniture is a little different so go with the flow when you are distressing. For these lovelies, I took a little piece of 100-grit sandpaper and just followed the lines. 

Don't worry if you take too much off and it looks a little wonky. Just paint over your oops and go back to it later. 

Did you notice that two coats didn't completely cover the original stain? I love that look. Sometimes less really is more.

 You can also use a sanding block. These are great for larger areas and you can really put some muscle behind it.

Once I was happy with the distressing I sealed them with a wipe on poly in satin.

I know, I know, too many pictures.

Ok, last one.

Next up I will talk about how I pick a price. See you next time!

~Link Parties~

Stories of A to Z

Do you have a SAFE sunblock?

 Shaklee's is designed to prevent skin cancer and premature aging

all WITHOUT PARABENS!!

How To "Flip" A Craigslist Find For A Profit- Part 3- Distressing

We have found our pieces on craigslist, cleaned them up, and painted them white. Now it is time to give them a little personality. 

Get your sandpaper ready!

Sandpaper comes in various different grits. The lower the number the larger the little particles and the more paint you will take off. The 60-grit I have shown above is for big, tuff jobs. The 220-grit I use in-between coats of paint and poly. It really helps to get a smooth surface. 

Each piece of furniture is a little different so go with the flow when you are distressing. For these lovelies, I took a little piece of 100-grit sandpaper and just followed the lines. 

Don't worry if you take too much off and it looks a little wonky. Just paint over your oops and go back to it later. 

Did you notice that two coats didn't completely cover the original stain? I love that look. Sometimes less really is more.

 You can also use a sanding block. These are great for larger areas and you can really put some muscle behind it.

Once I was happy with the distressing I sealed them with a wipe on poly in satin.

I know, I know, too many pictures.

Ok, last one.

Next up I will talk about how I pick a price. See you next time!

~Link Parties~

Stories of A to Z

Do you have a SAFE sunblock?

 Shaklee's is designed to prevent skin cancer and premature aging

all WITHOUT PARABENS!!

Craigsfriends

 Or, how I learned to stop worrying and trust the Universe when it comes to my social life. (But I thought that title was a bit long, don't you?)

The merits of Craigslist are many. So, so many. Used bikes, secondhand baby stuff, apartments you never would have heard of, jobs you never thought you had a chance at getting. But friends? Craigslist for friends? I think the answer might surprise you. 

One day, while living in Arizona, in a fit of mild desperation over the fact that I didn't have friends whose interests overlapped in all the right places, I posted an ad to Craigslist that went a little something like: "I'm looking for other homeschooling moms. Who are also kind of nerds. Who are also Pagan.  I'm kind of looking to start a whole nerdy pagan homeschool thing. Can you help me out?" I was really optimistic. I mean, there are roughly eight billion people populating the Phoenix Craigslist. How else would I be able to get rid of my IKEA stuff so fast?

But I only got one reply. It was Sarah. She was great. We got along famously. We met for coffee and playdates. Her little boy enjoyed my little girl, and it seemed like the start of something swell. Really swell. Until I found out I was moving back to New York. Pbbt. Thanks a lot, Universe.

About a year ago, after having been back in New York for one full year and realizing I'd grown out of most of the friends I'd made here before leaving, being a Mom now and knowing way too many people who just really, really don't like kids, I decided (in another one of those fits of mild desperation) to try the Craigslist tactic again. Except this time I wasn't so hopeful. Albany only has one hundred thousand people in it, give or take. Compare this to Phoenix's one and a half million and you have a recipe for sadness.

But again, I got one reply. I was starting to get the hint. The Universe was laughing right at me and saying, "Darlin', just ask and ye shall receive." This time I received Kelly, and she was great! We got along famously! We met for coffee! (Not so much playdates, as our kids are four years apart- as in, hers was newborn and mine wasn't.)

I was really starting to think I'd caught onto something. Like- could you imagine for every lost soul mom who's just moved to a new city and knows no one? While Craigslist is daunting, sometimes creepy, and not exactly a place where you can easily filter your results, I think it's something else, too. A true hub of a community, on a larger scale, and a place where, if you just trust it (and yourself, and the Universe,) you can make a friend or two.

Originally written for Kids Fun Plaza magazine on 12/31/2011. Yes, I own my content.

Craigsfriends

 Or, how I learned to stop worrying and trust the Universe when it comes to my social life. (But I thought that title was a bit long, don't you?)

The merits of Craigslist are many. So, so many. Used bikes, secondhand baby stuff, apartments you never would have heard of, jobs you never thought you had a chance at getting. But friends? Craigslist for friends? I think the answer might surprise you. 

One day, while living in Arizona, in a fit of mild desperation over the fact that I didn't have friends whose interests overlapped in all the right places, I posted an ad to Craigslist that went a little something like: "I'm looking for other homeschooling moms. Who are also kind of nerds. Who are also Pagan.  I'm kind of looking to start a whole nerdy pagan homeschool thing. Can you help me out?" I was really optimistic. I mean, there are roughly eight billion people populating the Phoenix Craigslist. How else would I be able to get rid of my IKEA stuff so fast?

But I only got one reply. It was Sarah. She was great. We got along famously. We met for coffee and playdates. Her little boy enjoyed my little girl, and it seemed like the start of something swell. Really swell. Until I found out I was moving back to New York. Pbbt. Thanks a lot, Universe.

About a year ago, after having been back in New York for one full year and realizing I'd grown out of most of the friends I'd made here before leaving, being a Mom now and knowing way too many people who just really, really don't like kids, I decided (in another one of those fits of mild desperation) to try the Craigslist tactic again. Except this time I wasn't so hopeful. Albany only has one hundred thousand people in it, give or take. Compare this to Phoenix's one and a half million and you have a recipe for sadness.

But again, I got one reply. I was starting to get the hint. The Universe was laughing right at me and saying, "Darlin', just ask and ye shall receive." This time I received Kelly, and she was great! We got along famously! We met for coffee! (Not so much playdates, as our kids are four years apart- as in, hers was newborn and mine wasn't.)

I was really starting to think I'd caught onto something. Like- could you imagine for every lost soul mom who's just moved to a new city and knows no one? While Craigslist is daunting, sometimes creepy, and not exactly a place where you can easily filter your results, I think it's something else, too. A true hub of a community, on a larger scale, and a place where, if you just trust it (and yourself, and the Universe,) you can make a friend or two.

Originally written for Kids Fun Plaza magazine on 12/31/2011. Yes, I own my content.

How To "Flip" A Craigslist Find For A Profit- Part 2

So we have picked out our sturdy, $10, wood kitchen set from craigslist. To read part 1, click here. Cleaned it up and now it's time to determine what to transform it into. I had originally planned to stain the top however the thick coat on the top stopped me in my tracks. Not to fear!







Many times you will have to re-think your plan and that is just fine. I also take into account the amount of time I am willing to spend on  a piece. For example it would be a stretch to assume I will get $500 for this set, right? So why would I spend a week of my life working on it? If it was for my house, well than yes I would. But we are talking about making money here.

So I decided to paint it Valspar's antique white with a distressed finish. This finish is quick, neutral, and very versatile. Translation, easy for me and will appeal to a large group of people. Which equals a fast sale. 

First off, I sanded lightly with 220-grit sandpaper and wiped it off with a tack cloth.

Then I wiped it down with some rubbing alcohol to remove any remaining greasy spots from my fingers.

Once it was dry I sprayed a light coat of Valspar's white primer.

And finished up with two coats of Valspar's antique white. I used a dry brush technique. Sanding with 220-grit in between each coat on the table top and chair seats. I did not sand in-between coats on the table legs or chair legs.

Already looks good!

On monday we will go over distressing! 

Pick up one of Shaklee's Get Clean Kits Today 

How To "Flip" A Craigslist Find For A Profit- Part 2

So we have picked out our sturdy, $10, wood kitchen set from craigslist. To read part 1, click here. Cleaned it up and now it's time to determine what to transform it into. I had originally planned to stain the top however the thick coat on the top stopped me in my tracks. Not to fear!







Many times you will have to re-think your plan and that is just fine. I also take into account the amount of time I am willing to spend on  a piece. For example it would be a stretch to assume I will get $500 for this set, right? So why would I spend a week of my life working on it? If it was for my house, well than yes I would. But we are talking about making money here.

So I decided to paint it Valspar's antique white with a distressed finish. This finish is quick, neutral, and very versatile. Translation, easy for me and will appeal to a large group of people. Which equals a fast sale. 

First off, I sanded lightly with 220-grit sandpaper and wiped it off with a tack cloth.

Then I wiped it down with some rubbing alcohol to remove any remaining greasy spots from my fingers.

Once it was dry I sprayed a light coat of Valspar's white primer.

And finished up with two coats of Valspar's antique white. I used a dry brush technique. Sanding with 220-grit in between each coat on the table top and chair seats. I did not sand in-between coats on the table legs or chair legs.

Already looks good!

On monday we will go over distressing! 

Pick up one of Shaklee's Get Clean Kits Today