Tips for shopping on Craigslist

After moving as much as I have, which means outfitting a new house with different needs every time, and sharing all my finds here, I’ve finally gotten around to listening to those of you who have asked for my best tips for shopping on Craigslist. I’ve learned that it is a skill, and I’m here to share my hard won wisdom.

1. Area matters, but not as much as you’d think.
I’ve found amazing things in New Hampshire, San Diego, Modesto, and now here. Each of those places were wildly different in their socio-economic level, style, climate, and everything else. But each time I found INCREDIBLE stuff. So if you live in a place that isn’t a bustling metropolis or super rich, you can still find gems. Rich places have high quality stuff, but they usually expect you to pay through the nose. Poorer places will usually cost less, but be in worse condition. No matter where you live you can find diamonds in the rough, but there is always going to be one downside or another to overcome. That’s the price you pay for a bargain.

2. Practice.
I have been thrifting my entire life. Like, I don’t know that I had anything that wasn’t pre-owned until I started paying for things myself. And that has given me a trained eye. With one glance I can tell if there’s anything on a rack that will work for me. It really is a skill that needs to be honed, and you’ll get better at it. Even if you’re not in the market for anything, give the listings a look while you’re watching TV at night. The more furniture you look at the faster you’ll be able to spot something great or unique, the more you’ll know your own personal style, the more you’ll know how much is a real bargain. It takes diligence.

3. Be prepared to pounce.
Bear gets so frustrated with me about this because I am regularly blowing our budget on my finds. But then I’ll go a few months without spending anything, he’ll start to get comfortable, and then POW! Shopping spree that empties the account. When you find something that fits your needs, or is super cheap, or you’re totally in love with, you have to act fast. No time for second guessing because somebody else will snap it up while you’re hemming and hawing. I’ve made a few purchases I regretted, but there are far far more I regret for letting slip through my fingers.

4. Learn to spot quality.
Look at lines. It all comes down to lines. Everything else can be changed. And whether or not it’s real wood. Real wood can always be sanded, upholstery with good bones can be recovered, spray paint is a miracle product. This goes back to rule #2 – practicing gives you a feel for what’s garbage (any second hand Ikea, most oak furniture) and what’s great.

5. Use the tools.
Craigslist has a favorite function to help you keep track of items you’re watching. Star those babies while you’re looking to narrow down your search. But even better are the view options. When you’re on one of the subject pages there are four purple boxes on the top left of the page. The one you want is Grid View. With that one you can see all of the pictures at once without clicking through each item. I can get through the days listings in minutes this way, instead of waiting for item after item to load.

6. Know what you’re looking for.
Keep a list of pieces you need, along with the measurements. Don’t be afraid to deviate for a perfect piece of serendipity, but if you’re looking for a few specific things you’ll save yourself a ton of time and frustration by having a plan.

7. Know your limits…
I am all about buying project furniture. Nearly everything I buy is project furniture. But it’s not a deal if it sits in your garage, so be realistic about your time and abilities. You don’t want your first reupholstery project to be a couch with piping and tufting. You want to set yourself up for success so don’t bite off more than you can chew.

8. But don’t be afraid to push them.
I started refinishing furniture when I was 16. I painted my dresser bright blue and used model airplane paint to doodle accents all over it. It was ugly as sin, but I loved it. Through a lot of mistakes (don’t ever try and paint veneer – it will break your heart) I got better and better until now I’m actually good at. Same with upholstery. I started by replacing seats and now I can do pretty much whatever I have the energy for. But it takes a willingness to fail and learn from mistakes, and to take one step at a time.

I must love you all an awful lot if I’m willing to give up my secrets. Shop in good health, I just ask that if any of you find something midcentury on the Craigslist in my area, you leave it for me.