Craigslisting Swing Sets: A Good Idea?
Can I just get a swing set from Craigslist?
Yes, of course, you can. With a bit of time and some know-how, you can even find vinyl swing sets on Craigslist.
If you are in the market for a used swing set, a good starting point would be our bargain corner. If you go there, you don’t have to worry about the rest of this post, so cheers to you!
This is the part of the blog post that you expect me to say, “Sure, you can, but it’s a horrible, terrible idea!”
I won’t say that because, for some people, that is simply not true. Yes, there are a few things to consider when getting a set off of Craigslist, but if you are one of those guys or gals who are good with tools, have a truck, and have time to burn, it may not be a bad option.
Here is some advice I have for you if you are thinking about getting a swing set from Craigslist
Do Your Due Diligence!
Be sure to look at it before getting too excited or telling your kids. The owners may be showing an earlier picture, and you should always test out the pieces. You don’t want to get the play set home and set up just to notice the slide is heavily cracked.
Get the name of the swing set and the manufacturer, and look up that model online. Read some reviews on the product and try to gauge where you are in this swing set’s lifetime. In general, the less expensive the swing set, the shorter the life span.
Are You Willing to Do the TLC?
Evaluate how much work you are willing to get this thing looking good in your yard. If you are not worried about appearances, just get it and forget it. However, if you got a whole vibe going in your backyard, make sure you actually are willing to commit the time to washing, staining, fixing, and painting to get it looking nice.
The last thing you want to do is get some ugly thing that bothers you to no end while you are outside grilling.
Do You have a Moving Plan?
How will you get the swing set home? Little sets are not a problem, but what if you wanted something spectacular? How are you going to get that home?
There are individuals on Craigslist or FB Marketplace who offer swing set moves. I don’t have any recommendations, but as always, with that sort of work, check out their reviews and get things in writing to keep everyone being friends.
If you are going to disassemble on site and move it part by part, make sure you take pictures of each part BEFORE you take it off. You will thank me for this.
The Warranty Is Generally Voided
Be aware that the warranty will likely only apply to the original purchase. Depending on how old the set is, you may not be able to get replacement parts as well. These are things to look into before you dedicate a ton of time and effort to a swing set.
Uneven Yard?
The last thing to think about is how sloped is the yard the swing set is sitting on. If the slope is pretty drastic, high-end swing sets will often have their swing beams cut to level. This means if your land is not sloped and the land the set was on is, you may have a swing beam that is not quite level.
If you are still waiting for me to say, “But you really should get a new swing set from King Swings,” you will have to keep waiting because, for some people, a swing set from Craigslist is a great idea, and I won’t besmirch them.
If you have questions regarding our new swing sets, please reach out to our design team. We would love to help you out!
