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Craig's List worthless for Real Estate Advertising?

By James Downing - Metro DC Houses Team REALTORS®, CRS, GRI, ABR,MRP, MilRes

Real Estate Agent with Real Living | At Home

June 06, 2010 06:11 AM

Craig's List was the new hippie (and free) place to place your real estate listings. It seemed to work great for the condos in the city in the 200-500k range. The hipsters who knew of Craig's List and were looking for a cool home in the city.

I sold several listings where the buyers found the property first via my posts on Craig's List and then bought it. I can also recall two or three buyers whom I found via my listings on Craig's List.

But now everything seems to have changed. In the past year; I have had only 2 legitimate buyers inquire about my listings I post on Craig's List. The rest - SPAMMERS and SCAMMERS. I receive about 10-15 emails per day; responding to my listing ad and asking me to "click here"; which is just either spam, a virus or a link to sell me something.

I am just about at the point to stop using Craig's List altogether to market my listings. I wish there was a way to stop these people; but it seems they just keep coming.

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Tiffany Torgan

Harcourts Prestige Properties of La Jolla - La Jolla, CA

Featured on HGTV's New Show! How Close Can I Beach

Hi James, I am sorry to hear that. One of the top agents in our area said that is where they get the most business from the internet.

Jun 06, 2010 06:13 AM

Susan Laxson CRS

Palm Properties - La Quinta, CA

Realtor in San Diego, CA & Naples, FL

I agree, early on Craigslist was a great way to advertise our listings, rentals and furniture for sale. Now the spammers and scammers seem to have taken over - wish the Craigslist creators would do something about this! Susan

Jun 06, 2010 06:14 AM

Mark Watterson

Salt Lake City, UT

Utah Real Estate

I have had success also with craiglist in the past. Not so much now.

I did just watch a market video about how great craiglist is from a ad here in the rain. I didn't sign up for the free stuff. I guess I don't believe him and not sure I can afford to buy the free stuff.

Jun 06, 2010 06:15 AM

Jim Paulson

Progressive Realty (Boise Idaho) www.Progressive-Realty.info - Boise, ID

Owner,Broker

I get great hits on Craigslist, but agree that there are way too many people just trolling it to get emails to spam. I never use my email address on Craigslist, i have it encrypted via their service.

Margaret Goss

@Properties - Winnetka, IL

Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

You're right - it works best for lower priced properties. But the spam is ridiculous - I just received an e-mail from my office warning about another Craig's Lists scam.

Jun 06, 2010 06:23 AM

Bob Willis

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Orange, CA

Orange County & L.A. County Real Estate Agent

I have used Craigslist in the past, with little success. I am parking here to see what others have to say.

Jun 06, 2010 06:26 AM

James Downing - Metro DC Houses Team REALTORS®, CRS, GRI, ABR,MRP, MilRes

Real Living | At Home - Washington, DC

When Looking to Buy or Sell - Make the Right Move

I should ad - they work good for rentals... but thats about it

Jun 06, 2010 06:30 AM

Natalie Filbert

Boise Property - Boise, ID

Boise Property

I concur James, the amount of spam offers in response to a listing on Craig's list makes it no longer a great place to showcase listings. It's too bad that a few dirtbags ruin a good thing for the majority of us!

Jun 06, 2010 06:41 AM

Wade Kawahara

Dominion Real Estate Partners, LLC - Phoenix, AZ

There is a lot of spamming, but even a few deals a year make it worth it.

Jun 06, 2010 06:52 AM

Scott Guay

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services PenFed Realty - Ocean Pines, MD

Associate Broker. Ocean City and Ocean Pines MD

James,

I to had great success on Graig's list early on but now it is all spam and very few clicks through to my web site.

I quite posting there at the end of last year.

Jun 06, 2010 06:53 AM

Pat O'Reilly

RE/MAX..214-289-6176 Irving and all of Dallas Fort Worth - Irving, TX

All..thanks for the information and comments..looks like I will stay away from Craig's list

Jun 06, 2010 06:56 AM

Tom Braatz Waukesha County Real Estate 262-377-1459

Coldwell Banker - Oconomowoc, WI

Waukesha County Realtor Real Estate agent. SOLD!

James

I can't turn on my computer without spam from Craigslist; I think it is very over rated.

Jun 06, 2010 09:24 AM

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional

Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL

Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

I have personally given up on Craigslist because of the amount of spam that comes flooding my way!

Jun 07, 2010 07:40 AM

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

James, and it's really too bad, because when it worked, it worked really well. How embarrassing for poor Craig!

Jun 07, 2010 11:44 AM

Michel Bell

Coldwell Banker Prime Properties - East Greenbush, NY

Seasoned & Full Time Real Estate Broker

THIS WEBSITE IS COMING SOON! VERY SIMULAR TO CRAIGSLIST IN TERMS OF SIMPLICITY AND EASY UPLOADS. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS OPEN MLS!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=112365192152629&ref=mf

Aug 31, 2010 07:03 PM

Craig's List worthless for Real Estate Advertising?

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James Downing - Metro DC Houses Team REALTORS®, CRS, GRI, ABR,MRP, MilRes

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