Bed & Office

Running a B&B requires that the home is completely functional. It seems there’s always things that need fixing, and when you open your homes to others those things need maintenance … now. Getting a little creative in sourcing can be interesting to say the least.

I have to admit that looking for used toilets on Craigslist can be quite entertaining. It’s not something I often think about, after all, don’t toilets usually just work? But living here in Vegas seems to take a toll on them so I now frequent the toilet section as much as anything else. I have 7 crappers (named after Thomas Crapper) that have to work, so out of sheer necessity I had to learn the secrets of keeping my crappers happy.

After watching the plumber replace and fix a few, I decided this simply wasn’t rocket-science, and certainly not worth the time of negotiating with the home warrantee company as to when they should or should not be changed out. I had too many guests in this house, all of whom need to use the facilities, and little time to waste (no pun intended). Having spent a few hundred dollars on these discussions and I was ready to take a new direction, with my newly acquired knowledge. I hoped onto Craigslist looking for deals on used toilets.

By now some of you are thinking I’m crazy, since we all know that anyone can just go and purchase these things at home improvement stores. And it’s true to a certain extent unless you need the smaller, older models that fit into tight spaces.

On Craigslist you can find almost anything- usually being sold by non-sales people. Some ask full retail price thinking their toilets are valuable, while others are just happy not to have to throw these things into the land fill. Almost all are surprised at the volume of activity they quickly receive – apparently I’m not the only one who’s doing this.

Using the word Toilet as a search on the list, I quickly learn everything about them. There’s some guy selling repair kits for $15.00 – like I’m going to drive across town to save a whopping $5.00 on the kit that I can get in any hardware store. Others love to sell toilet seats, usually at full retail price – for some reason they also think I’m going to drive all over town to buy a toilet seat at full retail pop. Not likely – it would have to be 5 seats for $1.00, and then I’d only consider them if they showed a picture.

Then there’s the full spectrum of toilet activities from training little ones how to use one, to the hospital adapters that lift the seat higher. Apparently the Princess Potty toilets are colorfully decorated with flowers, while the hospital toilet adapters come in just one color.

I cannot believe my eyes when I see people selling bathroom hardware such as towel racks, and tp holders. Have these sellers never been into a Home Depot? I’m curious as to what part of a shower curtail, contour rug, and toothbrush holder is “contemporary.” One seller’s been listing this one for eight weeks. I clicked onto this listing hoping to find some really high-end edgy designer stuff – but unfortunately it was Chez Target quality. Still for $20.00 the seller would deliver!

With a depressed Real Estate market here in Vegas people who are leaving town apparently for good, have decided to sell everything out of their homes before vacating them. Along with drum sets, tables, and sofas, heck why not sell the kitchen sink, toilets, and dishwasher – take the cabinetry too if you want? Usually the seller insists that you bring your own tools to take the stuff out, with the final request that you leave just one toilet behind – maybe they were feeling guilty.

Then there are the roadside bargains – free and come and get them now. The picture says it all, but the ad reads: Have 1 white toilet in decent condition. Hmmm – I think not.