Craig’s List is a free site where people can post things they want to sell. There are many items that you can get for free on the site. It varies from location depending on what people are posting. Typically in southwest Michigan I see building materials, fire wood, furniture, exercise equipment, toys, plants, home décor, etc. The possibilities are endless.
Accessing Craig’s List In Your State and/or City
To access the site go to: https://www.craigslist.org/about/sites . Craig’s List is found nation-wide in all 50 states including the District of Columbia. When you are on the main page, scroll down to find your state and if it is listed, click on your nearest metropolitan city.
How To Find The Free Stuff
Next you will see this screen. Scroll down to the “for sale” heading and click “free”.
Navigating The Free Section
When you click the free page, here is an example of what it will look like.
The items available will vary by the people posting them in your area, but the general set up is the same.
I currently have the screen set up in gallery view, which allows you to see the date it was posted, a large picture of the item, the title of the post, and where the item is located. This is my preferred view, but you can also view the postings by thumbnails, by list, or by a map.
On the left-hand side you can search by miles from your zip code. As a general rule I try not to go outside of 20 miles because of the time it takes to get there and back and the cost of gas. This will be different for everyone. If you aren’t finding what you are looking for, try seaching a little further outside your area.
If you are looking for something specific, you can search the free section with the search bar at the top. As an example, I typed in “table” in the search bar.
*PRO TIP: When you are searching, be general. The searching feature will only search for the words in the title or description. The more specific you are, the less posts will show up in your search.
Questions To Ask The Seller
While the item is free, you can’t always assume it will be in the best or new condition. Some sellers will put these details in their descriptions or in the pictures they post. The worst is picking up something that you thought would fit in your vehicle, but it doesn’t because you forgot to check for dimesions, or something you got was broken or missing a piece, etc. I have definitely have made these mistakes before and have learned my lesson! But it never hurts to ask the seller questions to make sure you are getting what you expected so you don’t waste your time. Below are some suggestions to ask the seller. These questions will vary depending on the item.
- Does it work?
- Does it have any stains, scratches, imperfections, etc?
- Why are you getting rid of it?
- What are the dimensions?
- Are you a smoke-free and/or pet-free home? (especially important if you or someone in your household has allergies)
- What material is it?
- What brand is it?
- Where did you buy it?
- Is it still available?
Take everything with a grain of salt. If it has scratches it is okay especially if it is a piece of furniture. Retailers sell markers or pens that look like different stains of wood so you can always touch it up if you want. Dimensions are helpful so that you know it will fit in your space and your car. My husband and I are sensitive to smoke. Therefore, getting a free couch from a smoking home is not an option for us because the material in the couch would absorb the scent. Material is important because then you know how to care for the item and the quality of an item. The same applies for the brand and where they bought it. These are also indicators for quality. Lastly, asking if the item is still available is important because some sellers forget to take down their post when the item is gone. An item could be pending if the seller has promised the item to someone else, but if the buyer changed their mind or never picked it up, then you could be next in line.
How To Search For Recently Posted Items
Some sellers do forget to take down a post after the item is gone. To make sure you are efficient in your search, you can search for the most recently posted items in two ways. The first is by clicking on the “newest” button on the far right of the screen. This will put all the posts in order of when they were posted, starting from the most recently to the latest.
Another way is to check off the box for “posted today” on the left-hand column of the screen. Then you will only get the items that were posted today. Things do go fast on the free section. While you can sort by both of these ways, sorting by the newest is the best way.
How To Contact The Seller
If you want to contact the seller, you can do it a few ways. Read the post and see if there is any contact information. Some sellers will put their phone number in the description or you will see a “show contact info” button on the bottom. See picture below.
If the seller doesn’t provide any contact information in the post or there is no “show contact info” button, then you can click the “reply” button on the top left of the post. The reply is encripted so that the seller’s email is kept private, but still goes to the email they have associated with the post.
First Come, First Serve
If you see a post that says “curb” and/or gives you their address you don’t need to conact the seller. This means it is first come, first serve. I wouldn’t bother to contact the seller because almost always they won’t take the time to respond.
Picking Up The Item
Once you have made arrangements to pick up the item, when you are there make sure it is what you want and inspect the item. If it is a couch for example, make sure it is comfortable to sit in. The item is free, so don’t expect it to be perfect. When we bought our used couch, we made the mistake by not sitting in it, only finding out when we got it home that there were some wood beams in the couch that were broken. It was fixable, but the seller never revealed it when we asked and this was an additional cost. Some people are honest and truly want their free things to go to a good home, while others just want to get rid of their junk.
Be Safe!
Most importantly be safe when you are picking up an item. If possible, bring someone with you and meet the seller during the day. If no one is available, tell people where you are going and when. Never go to places that you would normally not go to. If you arrive at a place, and it looks shady and you feel uneasy, leave immediately.
Think Outside the Box
When you are looking at the free section, think outside the box. Think about how different items can be reused or repurposed for your needs in your home. You can make small upgrades by painting, adding new knobs or handles, reupholstering, etc. You can repurpose items such as an old stool as a plant stand, etc. The possibilies are endless.
Be Brave and Patient!
If you are not seeing what you looking for, be patient. People post things everyday. Keep checking daily. If you are feeling brave, don’t hesitate to look at other catergories and contact the seller to see if they give it to you for free if they aren’t able to sell it. I wouldn’t ask for something to be given away if it is priced high, like a car, but I would try if the item is $50 or less and you might get lucky!
Be Thankful!
As always, don’t forget to thank the Lord. The Lord always provides and gives us what we need when we need it!
Thanks for your blog, nice to read. Do not stop.
Thank you for your kind words!