[bobski]

before you go full tilt into it, why not turn your want room right now into an auction forum.

have it start out with someone putting up an item. the lookers get to post questions like a normal thread. sellers can post more detailed pics as asked for. at any time, a poster can post a bid in a response. have the thread have a lock time(closing date)...set by the seller i/e: 24 hrs, 3 days, 5 days. then, whoever had the last bid posted on the thread gets it.

and, seller gets to accept or reject bids based on the posters profile and seniority, so 1 post snipers cant fly in.

you wont need any other hardware. you have it already in place. right?

it might be a good field study and trial run.
just an idea.