Here, tried-and-true tips for sourcing on Craigslist from the couple behind the Red Rose Motel in the Catskills:
1. Set your radius: "For more unusual or important pieces, we learned to broaden our reach."
2. Create a search schedule. If you only go on Craigslist from time to time, you miss things.
3. Check out moving sales (and estate sales and garage sales).
4. Stay selective. It pays to be patient.
5. Be polite with sellers and present a plan for payment and pickup.
6. Haggle. "After assuring that you mean business and will pay in cash, you can do some bargaining."
7. Don’t forget to mine the “free” section.