How to Write an Attention-Grabbing House Listing on Craigslist

When you want to sell your house fast and don’t want to deal with a real estate agent, you can use Craigslist. 

This online advertising platform has become increasingly popular over the years and has one of the largest user bases in the world.

Cost Effective: The good thing about using this site to sell your house is that you won’t have to pay a realtor. This could save you up to 6% in commissions.

Targeted Audience: Another reason why people love using Craigslist is because there are millions of users who actively search for homes in different categories every day.

What’s even better is that these potential buyers are already looking for houses like yours in your local area!

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 fairly simple and doesn’t require any special technical skills.

With just a little bit of effort, you can have your listing up and running in no time, allowing you to tap into the massive pool of interested buyers.

Tips for Posting on Craigslist

Include Good, Clear and Detailed Information About Your Home

Provide sufficient and transparent information about your property. 

The more detailed and transparent you are the better the chance that you will have serious inquiries.

Upload Good Photos:  Good photos are a very big part in catching the eye of potential buyers. 

Your pictures 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 enticing Craigslist ad by gathering information on all the details of your house. 

This includes the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, features, upgrades, and any special selling features.

Write a Great Description: Try to emphasize the most desirable features and selling points, highlighting what makes your property unique in the neighborhood. 

Try to paint 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 a Great Title: The Craigslist ad’s title will play a huge role in grabbing the attention of potential buyers. 

Choose a catchy and short title that features the most desired features of your property. 

Include important features or benefits such as an expansive yard, preferred location, or recent improvements, to interest potential buyers as they go through the listings.

Other Considerations: Include contact information such as your name, phone number and email address, so that potential buyers can contact you directly. 

Study the rules and guidelines for posting on Craigslist, so that your ad will fit within their rules of service. 

Use the Craigslist map feature to properly show where your home is located.

Creating a Good Description for Your Ad

Well-written and exciting description will draw attention and curiosity. 

Grabbing the reader’s attention with a headline: Begin your description with a headline that clearly identifies the special features of your property.

Use special words such as “gorgeous,” “stunning,” or “must-see” that will draw the attention of potential buyers.

Remember that the headline is your one chance to make a first impression, so make it a good one.

Emphasize your special selling points: In the body of your description, highlight special features and benefits of your property.

Include information about new renovations, upgraded appliances, or architectural features.

Paint a picture with descriptive words: Use descriptive and dynamic words to explain what living and experiencing your property is like.

Be as specific and detailed as possible so potential buyers will be able to place themselves in the space.

Provide contact information: Make it easy for interested buyers to reach out to you by including contact information in your description.

That may be your cell phone or email address so interested parties will be able to follow up with additional questions or to set up a tour.  

Setting the Right Price

If you price your home too high, potential buyers will not even come out to see it. If you price it too low, you will lose money.

Compare recent sales: We mentioned this earlier.  Find recent sales of comparable homes in your area to find more information to price your property.

Look for homes that sold quickly and those that sat on the market for a time, as this will give you an idea about demand of buyers in your market and the proper price range.

Compare Active Listings: Compare the active listings on Craigslist and other real estate sites.

Compare it 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 Cautious in Your Responses: As you reach out to potential buyers, be cautious and lay out clear boundaries of communication.

Avoid sharing personal information such as your full name, address, or phone number until you have established a level of trust. 
Meeting in a Public Place: When meeting with prospective buyers, opt for a public location such as a coffee shop or a busy park.

Avoid inviting strangers directly to your home until you are comfortable and have a sense of their intentions. 
Share Information Selectively:  Avoid sharing sensitive information, such as access codes or alarm system details, until you have thoroughly vetted the potential buyer.

Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off or suspicious during your interactions, trust your gut instinct. 
If a potential buyer is making you uncomfortable or exhibiting red flags, consider ending the communication and moving on to the next inquiry.

Managing Inquiries and Negotiations 

Respond promptly: When a potential buyer reaches out to inquire about your property, make sure to respond promptly.

Prompt responses show your professionalism and commitment to providing excellent customer service. 

Provide accurate information: When answering inquiries, be thorough and provide accurate information about your property.  The more specific and detailed you are, the more likely buyers will be to consider your property.

Arrange property viewings: If a potential buyer expresses serious interest in your property, arrange a viewing. 
Schedule appointments at convenient times for both parties and ensure that the property is clean and presentable.

Showcase the property’s strengths: During property viewings, highlight the unique selling points of your property. 
Emphasize its location, layout, and any additional perks that set it apart from other listings. 

Be prepared for negotiations: As offers start coming in, be prepared to negotiate the sale price.  Determine your bottom-line price and stick to it, but also remain open to reasonable offers.

Remember, negotiations are a normal part of the selling process and can help you reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

Verify the buyer credentials: Ask for proof of funds or a pre-approval letter from their mortgage lender to verify their ability to finance the purchase.

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!