Do You Have Art At Home That Just Sits In A Room?

I think that success with this would depend on where you live. My area isn't that affluent so I doubt I'd find any expensive furniture on our CL. Also, art isn't all that appreciated here.

It doesn't have to be expensive, but if no one likes art in your area, it wont work.

I sold a heavy wood stove through Craigslist, then the buyer found something wrong with it (it was priced for its age) and tried to hassle me for refund. Sold a couple of other things. It works well if you don't mind strangers showing up at your house.

Kevin, I keep everything I done and never worry if they gathering dust. Recently, I was cleaning my studio and discovered some old paintings which I completely forgot about,they are at least 25 years old.. I post one on my facebook and right away someone wanted to buy it. I sold it to this person ( someone I don't know) with the current price not the price I had 25 years ago. .

I have a rather large inventory - larger when I have no gallery shows, smaller when I have them.

IMO, Craig's List is a terrible place to sell anything. Too many scams and crooks. I don't trust it.

If my inventory gets too big, I get great joy in donating the art - it also gets me recognition in the community which can lead to sales.

Eventually, the paintings all sell...some were painted long before their time.
I don't like people I don't know coming to my home for any reason.

I don't date my paintings any more, even paintings I done 40 years ago if someone see it for the first time they are new to them.

I have some paintings on the floor and in a closet that are old. I could easily find wall space for them . . . I just don't. Maybe I'll sell them one day.
I don't like strangers coming to my home for any reason either - which is why we moved into a guarded/gated community.
That said, my son sold Xboxes on CL and he needed to give the guards the name of the person before being allowed in.
The buyer's license plate was on video and also written down before being allowed to enter.
So, for us, not so bad when the occasional stranger is invited to comes by.
They will never be allowed back in on whim.

Thanks for the helpful hints, Kevin. I have some leftovers too but would never allow a stranger to come to my house. Too many creepy things have happened.

I have never had anyone come to my home as well. I'm not sure they would be okay with coming here to show me a livingroom set I asked to trade for my art. I find the items I like and send them the email about the trade. Then I go meet and make sure its pristine. I have a website, so they don't even need to see my pics until its time for the trade. I then go there to make it. Not for everyone, but I funished a 3 bedroom house twice over and would do it again with leftovers.

Kevin, furniture is hard to sell even to give it away for free. I live in Toronto and many are worry of bed bugs from used furniture and most like I live in downtown don't own a car, sometimes I see beautiful furniture discarded on the street but no one wanted to take a chance to pick it up. I think the people traded with you are more than happy to have their used furniture move out without sending any money.

Alfred it sounds like your town may need an evacuation if you have exquisite furniture all over the streets with bed bugs. I'm sorry to hear that. I was very happy to trade two of my pictures that cost me under 100 dollars for a buffet designed by R.B Gorman from Chicago, valued at $15,000.
Like I said this isn't for everyone, and the person you want to trade with also has to think your art is worth it.
I wouldn't recommend anyone trade or buy a used mattress.
Best

The beauty of it is Alfred, that if you know how to do it, you can sell the furniture or whatever you bartered for like I do when I want something else. I make good money doing this and its fun as well. Antiques work well with this too. I bantered for a George Zee piece of furniture a while back and after two years sold it for $2,500. it cost me a $70.00 pic of Chicago

Barter was here long before money
A barter system is an old method of exchange. Th is system has been used for centuries and long before money was invented. People exchanged services and goods for other services and goods in return. Today, bartering has made a comeback using techniques that are more sophisticated to aid in trading; for instance, the Internet. In ancient times, this system involved people in the same area, however today bartering is global. The value of bartering items can be negotiated with the other party. Bartering doesn't involve money which is one of the advantages. You can buy items by exchanging an item you have but no longer want or need. Generally, trading in this manner is done through Online auctions and swap markets.

You've obviously found something that works well for you Kevin - I'm surprised by all of the naysayers. Personally, I've had good luck with selling things on Craigslist. During a particularly tough spell, I sold a guitar for $3,000 (a good price). I agreed to meet the buyer at an outdoor retail outlet and let him look it over. You can use anonymous Craigslist email to make contact. Just be wise and careful.

Thanks Mark, I'm just here with another way that some artists might be able to make money or find a way to get rid of unsold pieces of art. I'm very happy to help anyone that wanted to try it. Some just go into the threads with elitist attitudes to ruin them. If no one is interested, that's cool as well.

I never let anyone I don't know onto my property, let alone into my home. A few years ago I wanted to sell some (portable) things and found a buyer in southern Oregon. He agreed to come and meet me in the nearest town to do the deal. Big problem for both of us because he was carrying a lot of cash and I was carrying valuable items and neither of us had a reason to trust each other. I thought about it for a while then came up with a crazy idea. I called a credit union in that town and asked to speak to the manager. Told her exactly what I wanted to do and asked if they had space in their building where we could do the transaction. I told her I'd rather deposit the cash there than walk out the door with it. She was wonderful! They had a conference room that was glassed in like a fish bowl. The deal took a couple hours and every once in awhile the guard would walk by to make sure all was well. Now that wouldn't work if you had to haul in a suite of furniture to trade but it was perfect for what we needed. Turned out the buyer was a sweet kid with a wad of cash who was going to turn the items to fund missionary work!

Yes, I do have several framed prints around the house.
I have also sold several things and bought or got free on craigslist. Even had people come to my home several times. Never had an issue.
Never thought about this barter idea, I think it's really a good idea. I have tried to sell my photos on craigslist, but people in my area are not really into framed prints. Maybe the barter will work.

Okay, this is not a Craigslist thread, or about the Craigslist killer, its about art barter. I do understand the ladies concerns with letting anyone come to their homes that they don't know, but this isn't about that either, its about art barter. Can we keep the, "I'm scared to let someone into my home for a different thread"
If your not into art barter that's okay, but lets keep to the actual topic.

Okay, now to answer Crystal's question.
I would not try to sell art on Craigslist because it is a place that people go to try and steal everything. Its also not a good place for selling art in general.
That's why I have found it to be great for bartering my art. People who have quality furniture and antiques would rather sell on Craigslist than eBay, because its local and they don't have to pay fees to sell.

People that have very nice things move just like everyone else. they need to sell their tables, sofas, buffets, antiques, and so on.

Again, this is not something I'm thinking of doing, its something I do and works.
Here is a typical sale on Craigslist with a person including single women.
They will sell a kitchen set that cost them $800.00 to $1,200 that is between 1 to 2 years old. they need to sell because they are moving. they put an ad on Craigslist for lets say 400 to 500 because they want it gone fast. They find out that buyers don't care and want to steal everything on Craigslist, so they get offers for 200 to 250 if they are lucky.
Then we come in and offer them something unique that they do get intrigued with. If they like or love art, they will look at your offer and your art.
50% will send you an email back with a no thank you, I need the cash, or I have to much art at this time, or I don't want to take anything with me on the move. 50% of those will say they love your art, and will keep your info for future art.
You now have new clients to ad to your mailers

It might not happen in a day, but it will happen. their is always someone that appreciates art and will want to work a deal out with you.

After everything is negotiated, and you met this person at their home and inspected the item, you make a deal.
If you get the item home and it just doesn't seem to fit or match, you sell it for a profit and do it again.

If you want to know in depth details, send me an email and I would be happy to show you what i do.

Awesome new avatar Kevin!!!

Thanks Donna