It sounds like a dilemma to me. My grandsons have sold several items on CL, but they always meet the buyers in a public place. The police department in a nearby suburb has set up a special area in their parking lot that is observed by video camera especially for CL buyers and sellers to use. All of this tells me that it may not be safe to have strangers come to your home, whether you are selling a sewing machine or baseball bats. I buy things on the internet frequently and so far, no problems. I use a credit card or Paypal, never cash or check. But how to sell a treadle machine that you probably can't transport to a public location, I don't know.