Updated May 10th, 2019
Many homeowners looking to sell their property are trying to avoid paying huge commissions to real estate agents. They do this by listing their home as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO) on Craigslist. If you’re one of them, here’s what you should know about selling your house on Craigslist.
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How to Sell a House on Craigslist
Getting your house listed on Craigslist is almost as easy as buying something on Amazon. The first step is to go to the website and click “create a posting.” After that, just follow the prompts and fill in the information. Just make sure to select “real estate — by owner” as the category. You’ll want to be thoughtful about the ad. Keep reading for tips on how to create the best FSBO ad on Craigslist.
What Makes a Good Listing?
There are some important things to include in a Craigslist ad so that you have the best chance of selling your house. First is to write a good description. Include details about your home that make it special and let potential buyers know about any improvements you have made to the property.
Make sure that you include all the relevant details about the property that buyers may want to know. This will save you from answering a ton of questions. Tell people about the parking and laundry situation, as well as the yard. Use keywords that you think people might be searching for when looking for a home.
Next, include at least four (or more) quality photos, taken in good light, and showing different areas of the home. These photos should be clear, bright, and in focus. Be sure to show both inside and outside areas of the property. The best time to take photos is midday when the sun is not super bright. You want to make sure things don’t look dark but also don’t have a glare.
One more important thing to include in your ad is a way for potential buyers to contact you! Unless you want your phone ringing constantly, the best advice is to include your email address in the ad. This way, people can contact you whenever they want, but you won’t be bothered by midnight phone calls.
Once your ad is created, you will want to make sure to renew it as frequently as allowed so that it always appears at the top of searches.
Pros of FSBO on Craigslist
One of the biggest reasons that sellers decide to sell their home on Craigslist rather than working with a real estate agent is to save the commission. On a $300,000 house, the commission can be $15,000 or more. On a $1 million dollar house, the commission could be $50,000!
Selling your house on Craigslist also requires less of a commitment. Many real estate agents require sellers to sign an agreement committing to multiple months. With Craigslist, if you change your mind, just delete the ad!
Cons of FSBO on Craigslist
When you list your house for sale on Craigslist, you will have to do all the work an agent would normally do for you. You will have to answer all inquiries and schedule all showings and host open houses. This can take a lot of time and can be a major inconvenience.
You also won’t have the professional marketing and signage you would get when working with a real estate agent. Many agents can publish homes for sale in local papers, in property databases, and with their professional networks. Posting on Craigslist won’t get you this much exposure.
Is there a better option than selling on Craigslist?
Although trying to sell your home on Craigslist will save you from paying commission, there may be a better way that is almost as cost conscious. It allows you to work with an agent and get all the benefits, but costs far less!
Working with Clever gets you the same full-service experience that you want, but with a flat fee of $3,000 or 1% for homes over $350,000. Clever Partner Agents are top agents in their city and will list, market, and sell your home for top dollar. They are there to support you throughout the entire process and are professionals trained to answer all questions and provide the best advice.
If you’re thinking about selling your house on Craigslist but want something better, give Clever a call today!
