apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I'm surprised you find much at all on Craigslist in and around DC. The offerings here seem poor and anything decent is priced much higher than it would be in other parts of the country (like AP in SF).

I agree with denise1. I'm on CL DC all the time - the pickings are very poor. I'm lucky to find ONE good thing and most of the time, it's overpriced.

The pickings are also pretty slim here in NYC- it's all pretty well picked over. I am envious of all of the cool, cheap cast-offs to be found in the other CL communities!

Uhhh...how about renting a small U-haul? Or enlist a friend that has a larger car. My friends would all be happy to help me out for a dinner or a nice bottle of wine.

CL DC can be pretty great, if you are willing to expand the search to include greater DC, MD and VA. I have gotten half of our furniture by doing this - and when picking up an oversize find, Zipcar always comes to the rescue. (Well, Zipcar comes to the rescue for all my finds, seeing as we don't have a car at all.)

Please please PLEASE use caution when trying to find delivery service or a mover on craigslist. I had two experiences, both very different, but neither ideal for me. The first movers we hired were AWFUL. We gave them specific details of what we were moving, the dimenions, and how it would have to be moved (a large couch on the second floor that could not fit in the elevator). I don't even think they read any of the info, because when they first tried to move the couch, they tried to force it in the elevator. Then, when we explained to them that it doesn't fit (as they were clearly demonstration) and that they would have to lower over the balcony and into the courtyard, they apparently took that to mean "just drop it off the balcony." Luckily we stopped them before they let it fall. We eventually got the couch where we wanted it, but not without a bunch of rip, tears and dirt stains. Oh, and their 8 year old kid jumping all over it in the truck! Tip, DON'T BRING YOUR CHILD TO WORK IF YOU'RE A MOVER!

My second experience wasn't quite so bad, but he was late/never showed up the first time I was supposed to move the bed. Luckily the person selling it was flexible and was ok with rescheduling. The guy was also nice enough to only charge my half of what I was originally going to pay him since it was his mistake for missing the first appointment. After we moved everything and he left, he then came and knocked on my door about a minute later giving me my payment back saying that he felt bad and couldn't take my money. It was a little weird and off-putting (you just used your resources to move a large bed, you deserve to get paid!) and definitely not professional.

I'd say you'd be better off renting a pick-up truck and doing the moving yourself. It's not quite as convenient, but craigslist can be extremely unreliable in the convenience department.

U-Haul cargo van. $30. Worth every penny.

I've hired moving services off CL here in SF and have been fortunate both times - no damage or kids jumping on the furniture...
...I think you can tell alot by the way that the ad is written - I won't respond to an add with typos, one-line-adds, etc, and if I'm not comfortable with the way that the individual answers the phone, etc. I won't hire them.

I found the best couch on CL-Baltimore for only $50! But I drive a two door civic! After I scoured the earth for a truck and a helper, the seller (who agreed to wait for me, btw) sold it to another woman :-(. I'm still mourning my loss, clearly.

I've learned to be particular about transportation when I'm selling something on craigslist. Well, actually I was giving a table and chairs set away for free, and got flooded with calls as soon as I put the listing up. I told the first caller they could have it, on principle, but I should have backed out when they seemed to hem and haw about transportation. Something about calling a friend, and borrowing a truck, or maybe an uncle. It was all really vague, but I went with it. The next day when they were supposed to come pick it up, they called me and asked if I could meet them halfway. I told them it was out of the question--I was packing up my apartment in order to move in two days. For heaven's sake, I'm giving away a dinette set and all I ask is that you arrange transportation!

So I called back the people who had called after them and left a number 'just in case' (smart lady). They assured me they had a minivan and could be over in a few hours. And when I was helping the guy load it into his minivan he told me his wife had cancer and they didn't have insurance and she really needed the dinette set and didn't have money, so I ended up feeling really good about the whole thing.

So if you're a buyer, be confident about transportation. Even if you planning on calling all your friends when you hang up with the seller and begging someone to let you borrow their car/truck be clear that you'll do whatever it takes to have a means of transportation available at the right time and place, even if you have to rent something.

Beware of pirates! I have had both good and bad experiences with craigslist movers. I recently bought something in Vancouver (Canada) and the mover demanded double the agreed payment upon arrival. I didn't budge, but it was upsetting to have the confrontation.

I've furnished my apt. & transported all thanks to CL DC. With my mattress and dining set, the sellers both agreed to transport since I lived close by. Three times, I used rent-a-mover services posted, and all went really well. I did, however, call about five different places for quotes and then went with the nicest sounding person. (Not a very scientific way to choose, but it worked!) The guys who moved my entire apt. across town did such a quick, thorough job that I bought them pizzas.

Some other good movers listed--who weren't available during my times off--are groups like Georgetown's crew team, military guys (no shortage around here!), and a couple of dudes who do moving as a side gig to fund their bookstore.

Before commiting to buy an item off of Craigslist, you should always measure your space and your vehicle. Renting a van or SUV from a car rental company and getting a friend or two to help is prudent. If you're really desperate, ask the seller to help you move the item to your vehicle.

Been there done that.

I was buying a small bar-height table and four chairs off of CL, but when my friend and I came to pick it up, we realized that the table wouldn't fit into the friend's Wrangler. The woman selling the table then proceeded to give us the keys to her Jeep, much to my astonishment. I guess she really wanted that table gone!