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What does Craigslist do for you?

By Nancy Kent

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Hill & Valley

March 27, 2008 02:40 PM

Hi All,

Besides market our listings, what does Craigslist do for you? I am curious as to how others are using it and how successful it is for them.

Just recently my best friend's 20 year old brother bought a beautiful condo and his mortgage with taxes is only $715. If he was to rent something similar, he would be paying at least $850. Which got me thinking...why would anyone rent when they can own? (provided they have credit good enough to get a mortgage) Why would anyone pay more money into somebody else's mortgage, when they could be paying their own mortgage while saving money at the same time?

The only answer I can come up with is simply that people do not realize it is possible.

And then there was Craigslist...

I started using Craigslist just recently to meet more buyers. I put an ad in offering to help people find homes they can purchase that the mortgage would be less than they would pay to rent. I had a really good response the first time. The second time did not have as many responses. Yes you do get some odd responses/requests, but the majority have really been receptive and what really suprised me, they were appreciative! I have met some really great people who would love to own their own home, but just never thought was an option. I love the idea of helping people build toward their future. What better way to do it than own your own home?!

Okay Rain, I've showed you mine... will you show me yours?

Wishing you happiness, health and wealth,

Nancy Kent

RE/MAX Hill & Valley

Comments(40)

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JL Boney, III

Coldwell Banker - Columbia, SC

Columbia, SC Real Estate

I have only used Craig's List to advertise properties, and I have gotten a decent response out of it. Best of luck out their.

Apr 18, 2008 03:11 AM

Lisa Ryan

Callaway Henderson Sotheby's International Realty - Montgomery, NJ

Selling Princeton,West Windsor and Montgomery Town

Thanks Nancy, that's a great tip for another way to use craig's list. I've only used it to post V-flyer listings.

Apr 20, 2008 02:20 PM

Jennifer Kladny

Premier Servicing Company, LLC - Kittanning, PA

I use CL to get the word out there about the Rural Development Loan program. I have found, after posting many, many times, the more specific, the better the quality of calls.

I have also gotten more leads putting ads under houses for sale vs real estate services.

I usually post ad at least 3 times a week in all areas of PA.

Apr 21, 2008 08:01 AM

Arina Hanciulescu

RealtyPros - Las Vegas, NV

RealtyPros

I've been using Craig's List for long time, both for renting and selling... Sometimes I am surprised by responses other times nothing comes out from it. I think that lately Craig's List became to crowded... to many advertisings (on the Real Estate section) and the listings gets lost in to many more of the same... etc.

Apr 21, 2008 05:04 PM

Todd Clark - Retired

eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR

Principle Broker Oregon

I use Craigslist as a great way to find buyers and sellers! It has done wonders for me in the last year, but I’m still getting 90% of my business from Activerain and referrals that send people to my blog! Todd

Apr 23, 2008 02:54 AM

Margaret Woda

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD

Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

I do use Craig's list, but haven't had much response with it yet. I am concerned about the threatened "ban" of v-flyer and postlets - Without them, not sure I would take the time to keep up Craig's list.

Apr 25, 2008 10:37 PM

Bart Whitmore

Keller Williams- Louisville - Louisville, KY

Real Estate Agent

I havent tried C L yet, but i am going to look into it very soon---Bart

May 03, 2008 02:11 AM

Josh Beckman

Millennium 3 Real Estate - Buena Park, CA

I use Craigslist and have had mixed results. I am looking for sellers and the trick is to write something that gets attention but is not too wordy because that usually gets flagged.

May 07, 2008 05:53 AM

Bryan Flynn

Regency Mortgage Corporation - Worcester, MA

Central Mass and Worcester Mortgages

sounds like an excellent idea and it is free even better

May 28, 2008 03:28 AM

Mirela Monte

Buyers' Choice Realty - North Myrtle Beach, SC

Myrtle Beach Real Estate

Nancy, this would be a good one to post to our Optimit group.

Hope all is well!

Mirela

Jun 01, 2008 06:14 AM

Bridget Bergeron

North Port Notary Services - North Port, FL

There is also www.backpage.com which is like Craigslist and the listings are free. It is not as popular as CL as a lot of people don't know about it.

Bridget

Aug 13, 2008 12:35 AM

Dan Weis

Comey & Shepherd Realtors - Cincinnati, OH

Cincy Real Estate Advisor

Hi Nancy,

What type of buyer ad are you using on CL?

I'd like to post my Home Buyer Class on there.

Please share what's working and I'll gladly do the same back to you.

Thanks,

dan@danweis.com

Oct 07, 2008 06:46 PM

Ryan Shaughnessy

PREA Signature Realty - www.preasignaturerealty.com - Saint Louis, MO

Broker/Attorney - Your Lafayette Square Real Estate Partner

Admittedly, I have never understood the allure of Craigslist. The basic ads are atrocious looking. The search engine is restrictive. Prospects are forced into a time consuming task of sorting through irrelevant and sometimes misleading description headers.

However, I must admit that we put listings on Craigslist and it generates both visits to our website and actual showings. So we use it. However, we have found that html postings in a standard format generate more traffic than the direct Craigslist postings.

Oct 08, 2008 06:57 AM

Kerry Lucasse

eXp Realty - Urban Nest Real Estate Group - Atlanta, GA

Your Urban Nest Atlanta Real Estate Consultant

I've had some great success with Craigslist over the years -- lots of web traffic to my listings and many leads. I've also tried the subject line "Need a Realtor this weekend?" and in the post highlight my services and my specialty areas. I haven't done it in a long time, but I did get a few sales.

Oct 14, 2008 03:03 PM

Eileen Begley

Coldwell Banker, DelMonte - Carmel, CA

Monterey Real Estate

Yes, I agree that the html (small web page) ads generate more traffic. It also seems to work better for the lower price listings.

Oct 14, 2008 05:18 PM

Kat Bent

Keller Williams - Raynham, MA

Our Team does very basic ads for each of our listings, and we do our best to rotate the areas a few times a week so that more people see the ads. It's a new process for us but we have received a few calls from it. It's not time consumin as we have all the pictures ready to go in a folder - and our sellers seem to like the fact that it's another place to list their home. Any positive exposure is good - certainly any free exposure.

Oct 15, 2008 03:29 AM

Jamie Dumaine-Russell

RE/MAX Alliance - Branford, CT

Nancy - I have not had a lot of success with inquiries from Craigslist on my listings but did get a great response from a couple of rentals I had posted.

I got a little creative one day and created an ad in Publisher that I saved as a jpeg. I then uploaded the file to photobucket.com. When I posted the ad to Craigslist I was able to imbed the url to my website. This particular ad brought me so many leads I couldn't keep up with them. The good news is that I got 3 closings this past year from it. So think out of the box and get a little creative with what you can do with Craigslist.

Oct 20, 2008 04:36 PM

Michael Wayne Jackson

Luxe Places International Realty - Novato, CA

Broker - Seniors Real Estate Specialist Novato

Craigslist is great because everytime I repost my listings I get about 10 extra calls than I normally would.

Jan 07, 2009 06:11 AM

Charles Perkins

Charles G. Perkins, CPA - Burien, WA

I have had very good results with Craigslist. I have found though it something you have to be diligent with. Sporadic ads don't seem to work as well as consistently letting people see you on there. At least that's my experience.

Welcome to Active Rain.

Sep 14, 2009 05:31 PM

Bridget Bergeron

North Port Notary Services - North Port, FL

My neighbor had put out a brand new vacuum for the garbage so I asked her what was wrong with it and she said absolutely nothing,I asked her why was she moving? She said her ex was stalking her and she was moving out of state as soon as the house sold.I asked her what she wanteed for it and the price was right.So now we own the house neext door to us alsoall because she put out a new vacuum..She had 2 other houses but they needed a lot of work.The one we bought just hasd been painted inside and out.New rugs,AC Stove,Fridge and washer.The only thing we are putting into it is new windows to be done on Wednesday and all new electric which will be done on Monday and the house will be rented on the 15th.

So things are looking up.

The house across the street from me went for 20,000 cash 2 doors down 30,000 so cash speaks and it only took one week to close.

Happy New year every one.

Jan 01, 2010 02:01 PM