I`m not here to bash, but if you had a local cash offer, why not take it?
Thats going to be your best bet, since escrow isnt an option and most here are seeking for escrow.
The larger amount of money is involved there needs to be a escrow. So buyers like myself and others posted above, can prevent fraud.
I`d recommend on closing this thread as most are experiencing.
As for reputation in trades, these are actually placed within your profile eg: +1 "trust".
I'm working with local cash offers, and will report back once they are executed and units are no longer available; however, I have 4 more units en route, and only cash offers for 4-8 units and still negotiating prices.
My reputation trades were made last year prior to the new system in place; so I need to get some new history now that we have the new system.
Can I solicit those people before to document the trades that are in the list of honest traders in the new system? I just assumed I would get new good feedback rather than filling the new system with old info and dates from long ago...