Last updated on June 17th, 2024 at 05:30 am
If you need to sell a house instantly and really don’t want to use a real estate agent, Craigslist will work wonders as a tool for selling.
This online advertising platform has been in business for several years and has one of the world’s largest user bases.
Cost Effective: One reason so many sellers flock to this site is you do not have to pay a realtor. That will keep you in pocket up to 6% in commissions.
Targeted Market: The other reason people sell through Craigslist is because it has millions of users who actively look for homes in different categories every day.
Have it your way: You can add pictures, write descriptions, and include everything else needed to entice someone into buying it from you.
You’re given complete control over how much information gets out about your property, which lets buyers see more than just what everybody else does on similar listings.
Quick & Easy: Making an ad on Craigslist is quite easy and does not require any special technical skills.
With a bit of effort, you can get your listing up and running to help you tap this huge potential of interested buyers within no time.
Tips for Posting on Craigslist
Include Good, Clear and Detailed Information About Your Home.
When you have placed your ad, provide sufficient and clear information on the property.
More details and transparency in your ad increase the chances of getting serious enquiries.
Good Photos: Good photos resonate with potential buyers.
Photos should be brightly lighted, clear, and inviting.
The more photos you have taken from different angles of your home, the better the chance that it will give your buyer the best sense of the property.
Research and Preparation
Know the Real Estate Market: Research recent sales in the area to know how much houses like yours were sold for.
Real estate agents refer to this a CMA.
Gather all the information: Make a very detailed and attractive Craigslist ad by including information about all the details of your home.
That includes the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, features, upgrades, and special selling features.
Write a Great Description: Try to focus on the major desirable features and selling points.
Highlight what would make your property stand out in the neighborhood.
Try describing a picture in your reader’s mind of what it’s like to live in and enjoy your house.
Be upfront and honest about all of the less attractive features or conditions as well.
Choose an Excellent Title: The Craigslist ad’s title will play a huge role in catching the attention of all the potential buyers out there.
Choose a catchy and short title featuring the most desirable features of your property.
Add in some of the important features or benefits such as expansive yard, preferred location, or recent improvements to help spike the interest of potential buyers as they go through the listings.
Other Considerations:
Present your contact information like your name, a fake phone number and email address so potential buyers can contact you directly.
Study the rules and guidelines for posting on Craigslist so that your ad will not violate their rules of service.
Use the Craigslist map feature to correctly denote the location of your home.
How to Create a Good Description for Your Ad
How well-written and exciting is your description going to be?
This will highly determine the attention it garners and curiosity wrought in the eyes of potential buyers.
Catching the reader’s attention with a headline: Start your description off with a headline that will clearly identify what’s special about your property.
Use “gorgeous,” “stunning,” or “must-see” special words that ring in the ears of potential buyers.
Remember that the headline is your one chance to make a first impression, so make it a good one.
Highlight special selling points: In the body of your description, highlight especial features and advantages of your property.
Include information about new renovations, upgraded appliances, or architectural features.
Setting the Right Price
If you overprice it, no buyer will even come out to look at your home. If you under-price it you lose money.
Compare recent sales: This, as aforementioned compares the recent selling prices of other homes in your area with similar amenities and square footage to that of the property being sold.
Look for homes that have sold quickly, and those that remained on the market for some time, as that will give you an idea of the demand of buyers in your market and what the proper price range is.
Compare Active Listings: Compare active listings on Craigslist and other real estate sites.
Compare that with the properties similar in size, features, and amenities with yours.
Consider Your Property’s Unique Features: Consider what makes your property unique from others. The beauty of the garden, modern kitchen, or the oversize backyard of your property would increase your value.
Seek Advice from a Real Estate Pro: Even though you are selling your home and do not need a real estate agent, it is still wise to see a top-seller’s real estate agent or another renowned expert in the field.
They may provide you with some useful insight on the local market and pricing strategies and can help you fine-tune your asking price.
Use Online Tools: Avail of online valuation tools and calculators to get an estimate of your home’s value.
These tools take into account the location, property size, recent sales data, and market trends to give you an estimated range of sale prices.
Consider Your Selling Objectives: Consider your personal circumstances, your need to sell by a certain date, and your financial goals.
If you have to sell fast, then you have to prepare to offer your property competitively.
Otherwise, you may be able to hang around and see how much you are able to ask.
Get Feedback: Now you have an estimate of your selling price, call your friends, family, or trusted individuals who have, in the past, transacted in real estate.
Ask for their opinion and feedback on your price. How to Respond to Inquiries
Safety Precautions
Use a Dedicated Email Address: Instead of using your personal email to correspond with Craigslist respondents, make a dedicated email address especially for your home listing.
This keeps your email private and the amount of unsolicited email out of your primary inbox.
Be Careful with Responses: As you contact buyers, be careful and set definite boundaries for communication.
Never give away personal information, such as your real name, address, or phone number, unless you have gained some level of trust.
Meet in a Public Place: When meeting buyers, prefer a public place like a coffee shop or a busy park.
Avoid inviting strangers directly to your home until you become comfortable and have a feel for their intentions.
Share Information Selectively: Do not give away sensitive information, such as access codes or any details of alarm systems, until you have thoroughly screened the prospect.
Trust Instincts: If something inside of you feels odd about the interactions, trust that gut instinct.
If the potential buyer is making you uncomfortable or causing a red flag to come up, then it’s time to cut your losses and end the communication where it is so you can focus on the next inquiry.
Managing Inquiries and Negotiations
Answer right away: When a potential buyer contacts you to inquire about your property, respond promptly to their call.
Prompt responses will reflect most professionally on you and show you are committed to customer service.
Inform: When answering the questions of individuals, provide them with complete and truthful information about your property.
The more precise and detailed you will be, the higher chance you have that buyers will seriously consider viewing your property.
Arrange viewings of your property: Should there be a very serious interest towards your property from a buyer’s point, arrange viewing.
Make appointments at times which are convenient to both parties. Give the house a good cleaning and make it presentable.
Bring out the strengths: When the buyers come to view, highlight the selling features of the property. Comment on its location, layout, and other dead Ανeatures that will make it stand out against others.
Be ready to negotiate: After a few offers come through, be prepared to negotiate on the price. Set your walkaway price in mind but be flexible enough for some offers.
Be prepared to negotiate; it could be an extremely normal part of the selling process and help you arrive at a mutually beneficial agreement.
Verify buyer credentials by asking for proof of funds or a pre-approval letter from their mortgage lender.
Having enough information on a buyer’s financial capability is going to work magic in keeping your transactions smooth.
Attorney in real estate: In complicated negotiations, or just not sure about the legality of the transaction, you may want to hire a real estate attorney.
Closing of the Sale
Arrange Property Inspections: Before closing the sale, the buyer will wish to inspect the property.
Scheduling the Inspections: Respond to the potential buyer to schedule inspections at a time convenient for you.
Paperwork and the Closing: Closing a sale is about the paperwork and legality.
Title Company or Escrow Agent: Title companies and escrow agents specialize in ensuring a smooth transfer of ownership and handling the financial aspects of the transaction.
Date and Location of Closing: Contact the buyer, title company, and any other parties involved to establish when and where the closing will take place.
The closing can take place at a title company’s office, a real estate attorney’s office, or even remotely in some cases.
Plan accordingly and ensure all parties are aware of the logistics.
Closing Documents Review and Sign: There will be closing documents that outline the terms and conditions of the sale transaction.
Review the documents carefully and get explanations of any questions and concerns you may have about the documents before signing.
Last Thoughts
Craigslist can be an excellent means of selling your home without the need for a real estate agent.
The important thing is that you must spend some time studying how to post in the housing category and what requirements your advertisement needs to meet.
It will take a little effort and care to produce an effective Craigslist advertisement.
Remember, creating a successful Craigslist ad requires a little bit of effort and attention to detail.
If you want to skip the listing process and get a cash offer on your home, contact us now!