An adult male should know better than to ask a woman if he can use her bathroom, so that would definitely be a sign to be wary!

Do you have someone that could run over while the guy is there? Probably everything is a-ok but it never hurts to be careful. You should be admonished for putting yourself in that predicament, but..... :)

If you can't have anyone with you, please have your car keys on your person and also your cellphone. Don't let on that you're home alone. Maybe even holler into the house that you'll be right back in so that the guy won't know you're alone. Listen to what your instincts say about this guy.

Exactly what time is he suppose to arrive? Can you touch base here at the KT so everyone knows you're ok? I won't be home but I'm sure others will be wondering about you.

It's about time to start thinking DOG. :)

Yes, BIG dog! Somehow I don't think Pogo the cat would do the job (much as he'd like to protect his mommy).

Good idea about the car keys, thanks! I'll take the cell, too, although it's pretty useless around here. I wish I'd saved a pair of my late husband's old muddy boots to leave on the porch.

He's supposed to arrive some time between 10:00 and noon. All the people I know on my road are either employed or infirm, so I don't think I can import anyone for the morning.

Yeah, I figured when I posted someone would admonish me. Thanks for the restraint, Moonie. :-)

Most anyone can have a legit email address, but can be a dangerous. Personally, I would NOT be at home alone. Any one can drive 2 hours + or - for any reason. Yes I am suspicious after living in a big city with many strange people. To some people 2 hours is a big deal, and to others nothing. I use to drive to go shopping and it was about 2 hours each way. Please do not be by yourself.

Say no Husband says it's off limits. Follow qabove advice and do all transactions outdoors and be on your way to go some place get in the car and go and drive to a nearby police station then check out your place before going back in .
this is one reason I don't do craigs list dont want strangers coming arouns rather throw out the stuff

I think I'll make some calls tomorrow morning and see if I one of the farmers on my road wouldn't mind showing up for a bit. I could arrange to give him a ring as soon as the guy shows up, and then he could run down.

I wish this guy had responded to my email with directions. I know not everyone has their computer on 24/7, but you'd think a simple acknowledgment would be in order.

Just make sure you are up and dressed long before he is expected to arrive and be redy even waiting outside with the front door (and others) locked.

Calling one of the farmers is a good idea. The guy already has your address so it's not like you can back out. And since he -does- have your address, you need to get "a feel" for him. Yep, it would probably give you a bit more peace of mind if he would return your email. Not to increase your anxiety but this is giving me the creeps.

Bet this situation won't happen again. :)

LOL You got that right, Moonie!

Assume the item is outside. You would not want him in the house.

Could you take the other items off Craig's? Or if they are small, meet in a public place to make the transaction?

Susan, more than likely it's not a problem. But you are wise to be careful. Could you let your son know you are going to call him when the guy arrives and again when he leaves? Getting a neighbor there would be best.

Good luck! Be careful!

Yes, it's outside. The other items are small, and I would meet any buyers in my usual place: a supermarket. I've sold stuff on Craigslist before, and once had a positive experience selling a pick-up item on eBay. The man and his wife drove all the way up from Maryland to get it.

I just remembered that my friend Bill and I have been talking about meeting for lunch for about two years. Maybe tea at 10:00 a.m. at my house would do it. LOL

Absolutely,positively have someone there. Better safe than sorry. Keeps us posted.

I agree you should have someone at the house when he shows up. That said I have had numerous men and women who answered my sale ads come to my home when I am alone. 80% of the time the item was outside in the garage. I can't say I wasn't sometimes scared a little... but once the people arrived I was always surprised that they all were so very nice. I'm sure your 'buyer' is a nice guy too (but have a strong male friend at your house just to be safe).

When I had something up for sale and if a man wanted to come over I would have it in the garage, lock the house door and leave the garage door open. You have good reason to be worry about a man even coming to your house when you are alone. A friend of mine's daughter had a car for sale. When she went in to get the title, he followed her in and was trying to rape her when her husband come home unexpectedly. Just keep your doors locked and don't let any stranger in. I wouldn't worry about him having your name and address.

The chances of anything 'bad' happening are very slim, so try not to worry. I usually have people come to the house, but I live in a subdivision and I have an 82 lb big black dog, and don't let anyone in. He may come with someone else if its a heavy item. Did you try calling Bill? If not, when the guy comes be sure when you leave the house to call to someone inside, "he's here-I'll be back in a few minutes".

I have had very good luck with people I met from Craigslist but do understand your feelings, I had the same ones a few times.

My elderly neighbor who does live alone told me she always tells any one coming over that she is not familiar with that her son who is a police officer and works at night is living with her and is asleep inside since he works at night. I thought that was a great idea. You might say that right off and that would let him know right off no going in the house and making noise plus the whole police officer thing.

Also one thing you can do as a kind of alarm is have your keys with you and if anything happens set off the car alarm with the key fob, it will be loud and surprise him and also draw attention.

I wouldn't be alone, but that said I sold every item in my house piece by piece with ads in the newspaper. This was years ago before I had a computer. I was almost always alone and the nicest people showed up. I got interested in antiques so when I bought an antique chest, I'd sell one. I even broke up sets. All were nice people. But I wouldn't do it today even IF my husband and dogs were here.

If it were a woman who didn't answer your email, would you be as worried? Just wondering if it's the lack of response or the gender that is stressing you out more.

It's smart to be cautious but I'm sure it'll be fine! It's sad that in this day, all men are pretty much viewed as potential rapists/thieves unless proven otherwise.

I'm sort of in the same position where I have a male potential roommate from Craigslist coming to look at my place tonight. But I'm not worried about it because I think stress is more damaging than the slim risk of anything bad happening.

Good luck!

If it were a woman who didn't answer your email, would you be as worried? Just wondering if it's the lack of response or the gender that is stressing you out more.

If a woman didn't answer my email, I'd still be concerned that she wasn't a real buyer, but I wouldn't be worried about losing my virginity. :-)

However, my buyer emailed me back this morning! He gave me his phone number, and said he'll be here around 10:00. I think that's an optimistic estimate, though, and I'll be looking for him between 10:00 and 11:00.

Even before he wrote, I woke up feeling much less anxious about this. Things always seem less threatening in the daylight--even though the sun isn't exactly shining this morning. So I'm taking myself out of "damsel in distress" mode and doing this without involving busy farmers I don't know very well (Bill lives too far away, I decided). But I am carrying my keys in one pocket and my cell phone in another, and locking the door behind me.

I sure hope I sell this thing. I'd like to make enough to pay for a snow thrower.

Thanks so much for your help! I'll report back......

You could place a radio near a front window that's slightly open and turn the volume up high so that it can be heard from outside and park your other car in front of the house. Then you could casually mention that your son is there. That's fairly simple.

Yes, fairly simple until he asks if my son can come out and help him load his purchase onto his truck. (It's a piece of commercial equipment, and weighs a lot.) Of course, I could always tell him my son is asleep with the radio on. LOL

Can you tell I'm feeling better? :-)

The guy just called to say he'd be a little later than his original estimate. He has a bit of an accent; I think he's Dutch. I can tell him my son has been to Holland twice. (Of course, if I'm wrong and he's not Dutch, this revelation will make no sense.)

Actually, Maire, thanks to my son's ubiquitous ham radio equipment and towers, I have zero radio reception in this house. Hard to believe, I know.....

And forward all that email info to someone, to be safe, Susan. Also, when he gets there, you could phone his license plate number to your son, right in front of him, telling him that your son insisted on it. If he's on the up-and-up, he won't mind a bit and will admire your safety measures. If he's evil, he'll drive off fast, I'm sure.

You cannot tell from looking at someone if they are good or evil. Ted Bundy fooled a LOT of women.

Be safe!

Ok, it's noon. Susan, are you ok? Waiting to hear from you.

Linda

I've been watching for an update as well, Linda.

I'm still alive!!! I just came in the house after spending 2.5 hours outside in the cold wind trying to help my buyer load his purchase into his truck. He turned out to be a very nice guy--from the Netherlands, like I thought. The equipment he bought was very heavy and awkward, and he had to take some of it apart. That's what took so much time.

I'm frozen and hungry, but otherwise fine. It was a good transaction. Thanks for your concern!! It's good to know we care about each other. Now I can take my keys and phone out of my pockets. :-)

Leave it outside your door so he can get it. Lock your door and don't answer it. When I list things to give away on Craigslist I list them as "Curb Alerts" and give directions to my next door neighbors house. But I leave the stuff in front of my own house. Never had a problem.

Thank goodnes you are ok. Best to be cautious. Now still be aware of anything strnge and when leaving the house for any reason lock the door and keep your phone in your pocket even it it is to get the mail !!!

Minnie, my cell phone has no signal whatsoever here. It's useless!

Flamey, I hear you about Ted Bundy. I'll always remember a crime write telling how she used to work with Bundy, and even thought about introducing him to her daughter......)

Glad we won't be hearing about you on the news tonight..lol...99% of all people looking to buy are fine, it's the 1% that scares me. Remember the doctor who killed the girl he found on Craigs list? He hanged himself, I think.

Jannie, why do you give directions to your next door neighbors house? I don't really understand. Do people really take stuff in front of your house if it doesn't match the address? Does your neighbor care that you give out his/her address on Craigslist? lol Just curious.

I'm curious about that myself, Jannie. In my own case, it was an expensive item, definitely not a giveaway.

YOU GO LITTLE WOMAN!! I'm proud of you and thrilled and relieved your safe!

I understand what you are feeling. But unless you can get the item into a truck and meet him, your pretty much stuck selling it at home. I usually meet a person somewhere, but my stuff is usually smaller. I sell tons on craigslist and love it.

Glad to read that you sold the item and are warm and safe inside again! That's ONE thing sold and off your list!

yea!!!!! I wasn't worried at all! lol

Great news!

Daisy was on her way over there. lol