Thinking of selling your house in New York? Looking to save on realtor fees? You might be considering listing on Craigslist. But is it a good idea? Let’s get into selling houses on Craigslist in New York and break down the do’s, and don’ts. Once an ad is submitted, it typically takes a short period for it to be live and visible in search results, which can take an hour or two.
Before we get into it, selling a house can be complicated. There are many factors to consider, including closing costs when selling a house in NY. We’ll be focusing on Craigslist in this post, but keep in mind there are other options, like working with cash home buyers, which we’ll get into later. It is important to select a location and have an anonymous email address created to protect yourself from spam. Below we’ll share everything you need to know about selling a house on Craigslist. So let’s get started!
What is Craigslist?
If you’ve never used Craigslist before you might be wondering what it is. If you have, you know. Craigslist is a website where people post ads for everything – jobs, items for sale, services, and real estate. Using your own words when creating ads helps build trust with potential buyers by being truthful about the item’s condition. It’s been around since 1995 and is a popular place to buy and sell items online.
Think of Craigslist as a giant online bulletin board. You can post for free most of the time and people in your area can see it. It’s simple and not a lot of bells and whistles which some people like.
Craigslist is in hundreds of cities across the US and around the world. Each city has its own Craigslist page so when you post an ad you’re reaching people in your local area. This can be good and bad when selling a house, we’ll get into that later.
One of the best things about Craigslist is its lack of frills. Unlike many modern websites with fancy designs and complex features, Craigslist has stuck to a simple text-based layout since day one. This makes it easy to use even for those who aren’t tech-savvy.
Real Estate on Craigslist
Now let’s talk about real estate on Craigslist. Yes, you can list houses for sale on Craigslist. You’ll find these under the “housing” section of the site. People use Craigslist to post all types of properties – houses, apartments, condos, and even land.
One thing to note is that Craigslist is mostly used by private individuals, not professional real estate agents. So when you list your house on Craigslist you’re essentially selling it yourself without a realtor.
When you browse the real estate section on Craigslist you’ll see a mix of listings. Some are from homeowners like yourself trying to sell their property directly. Others are from small-time investors or landlords. You might see some posts from real estate agents but they’re not as common.
Each city has its own Craigslist page so when you post an ad you’re reaching people in your local area. It is important to post ads in one Craigslist city only to comply with Craigslist’s Terms of Use.
Keep in mind Craigslist doesn’t offer any special tools or services for real estate listings. Your house ad will look just like an ad for an old bike or a garage sale. So you’ll need to work extra hard to make your listing stand out and provide all the info a buyer would need.
How to Sell a House On Craiglist
If you decide to try Craigslist here’s a step-by-step guide to list your house:
- Create a Craigslist account: You’ll need this to post your ad. It’s a simple process that requires an email address for verification.
- Choose the appropriate category: Look for “real estate – by owner” under the housing section. This is important because it lets buyers know they’re dealing directly with the homeowner.
- Write a good posting title: Make the posting body clear and interesting. Include key details like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms and maybe a standout feature of your home.
- Describe your house: Give as much info as you can about the property. This includes:
- Square footage
- Number of rooms
- Special features (renovated kitchen, large backyard, etc)
- Recent upgrades or renovations
- Neighborhood info
- Nearby amenities (schools, parks, shopping centers, etc.)
- Add images: Good-quality photos can make a big difference. Try to include:
- Exterior shots from different angles
- Photos of each room
- Photos of special features or recent upgrades
- Yard or outdoor spaces
Don’t forget to edit images so the pictures help show as many details in your post.
- Set your price: Be realistic about what your house is worth. Research similar properties in your area to get an idea of the market value.
- Provide contact info: Decide how you want buyers to contact you. You might use a dedicated email or phone number for this purpose. Just remember to stay safe.
Once you have an account you can create posts, edit them, and repost them when they expire. Users can easily revisit and modify both text and images of their advertisements after publication to ensure accuracy and detail.
Remember you want to make your ad stand out. You want to give buyers a reason to contact you.
When writing your description try to paint a picture of what it’s like to live in your home. Instead of just listing features describe how they impact daily life. For example instead of saying “large kitchen” you might say “spacious kitchen for family meals and entertaining friends”.
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How to Sell on Craigslist Website
Let’s get into the details:
Craigslist Account
First things first you need a Craigslist account. It’s free to create one and you’ll use this account to post and manage your ad. To create an account go to the Craigslist website and look for the “My Account” link in the top left corner of the page.
Creating an account is easy:
- Click on the “My Account” link
- Enter your email
- Click on the verification link sent to your email
- Choose a password for your account
Once you have an account you can create posts, edit them, and repost them when they expire. This is helpful because Craigslist ads expire after a certain period and you might need to edit images and repost your house listing several times before you find a buyer.
Correct Category
Choosing the right category is important. For selling a house you’ll want to use the “real estate – by owner” category. This lets people know you’re the owner selling the property, not a real estate agent.
Here’s how to find the right category:
- On the Craigslist homepage click on “Create a posting”
- Select your local area
- Choose “for sale by owner” in the first menu
- Then choose “real estate – by owner” in the next menu
Using the correct category will help your ad reach the right people. People looking for houses will be browsing other items in this category so you’ll have a better chance of finding interested buyers.
Craigslist City
Make sure you’re always posting information in the correct city on Craigslist. You want your ad to show up when people are looking for houses in your area. If you’re in New York City for example you want to post in the New York City section not somewhere else.
Craigslist breaks down New York into several areas:
- New York City
- Long Island
- Hudson Valley
- Bronx
- Brooklyn
- Queens
- Staten Island
Choose the area that best fits your property’s location. If you’re not sure you can always check where similar properties in your neighborhood are listed.
Remember, unlike a real estate website you can’t list in multiple cities at once. If your property is in an area that might appeal to people in different Craigslist cities (for example on the border of two counties) you might need to choose the city you think will reach the most potential buyers.
Is It Worth Listing Your House On Craigslist?
Now let’s get to the million-dollar question: Is it worth listing your house on Craigslist? The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. It depends on many factors including your local market, how quickly you need to sell, and how much time and effort you’re willing to put into the process.
Craigslist is a way to reach potential buyers without paying for advertising. But it comes with challenges. You’ll be responsible for all aspects of the sale from showing the house to negotiating the price. This can be time-consuming and stressful. It is crucial to meet potential buyers in a public location to mitigate risks associated with scams and theft.
Here are some things to consider:
- Time and Effort: Selling a house on Craigslist requires a lot of time. You’ll need to create and manage your listing, respond to inquiries (which will be a lot of spam or non-serious buyers), schedule and show the house, and negotiate.
- Market Exposure: While Craigslist has a large user base it’s not designed for real estate. Your listing won’t reach as many potential buyers as it would on a real estate website or through a realtor’s network.
- Security Concerns: When you list on Craigslist you’re opening yourself up to direct contact with strangers. This can be a security risk especially when you let people into your home for showings.
- Lack of Professional Support: Without a realtor, you’ll have to handle everything yourself. This includes pricing your home, understanding and preparing the necessary paperwork, and navigating legal requirements.
- Undervaluing: Without professional guidance, you risk underpricing your home especially if you need to sell fast.
- Scams and Fraud: Craigslist is unfortunately a hotbed for scams. You’ll have to be on the lookout for fraud which can be stressful and time-consuming.
While listing on Craigslist is free it’s important to consider if the savings in realtor fees are worth the time, effort, and potential risks of managing the sale yourself.
Pros and Cons of Listing a House on Craigslist
Let’s break it down:
Pros:
- It’s free to list: Unlike some real estate websites or services, Craigslist doesn’t charge to post your ad.
- You can reach a large audience: Craigslist has millions of users so your ad will be seen by many people. Clear images and effective ad descriptions are crucial to maximize visibility and appeal to potential buyers.
- You have control over everything: You decide how to present your home, who to show it to, and how to negotiate.
- No realtor commissions to pay: By selling yourself you avoid paying the 5-6% commission to real estate agents.
- Quick and easy to post: You can have your ad up in minutes.
- Flexible: You can update your listing, change your price, or add new info whenever you want.
Cons:
- You do all the work: This includes creating the listing, taking photos, responding to inquiries, showing the house, and handling paperwork.
- Scams: Craigslist is a hotbed for scams and you’ll need to be on the lookout for fraudulent offers or requests.
- Your ad gets lost in the noise: Craigslist has a high volume of posts so your ad won’t be visible for long.
- Not serious buyers: Many people browsing Craigslist aren’t in a position to buy a house.
- Paperwork and legal requirements: Without a realtor, you’ll be responsible for ensuring all legal requirements are met.
- Security risks: You’ll be communicating directly with strangers and potentially letting them into your home.
- No professional guidance: You won’t have an expert to help you price your home or navigate complex negotiations.
- Time-consuming: Managing inquiries, scheduling viewings, and negotiating can take up a lot of your time.
- Limited tools: Craigslist doesn’t have specialized real estate tools like virtual tours or neighborhood info.
- Undervaluing your home: Without professional advice, you’ll set your price too low.
Do’s and Don’ts When Listing a House on Craigslist
To help you sell on Craigslist here are some detailed do’s and don’ts:
Do:
- Use clear, high-quality photos: Good photos make a big difference. Take photos in good lighting and show your home at its best.
- Provide detailed and accurate information about your home: Include all relevant details like square footage, number of rooms, recent upgrades, and unique features.
- Respond quickly to inquiries: Quick responses show you’re serious about selling and can keep potential buyers interested.
- Be honest about any issues with the property: Disclosure is key. Be upfront about any problems to avoid issues later in the process.
- Meet potential buyers in public places for initial meetings: This is safer than inviting strangers into your home right away.
- Price your home competitively: Research similar properties in your area to ensure your asking price is reasonable.
- Highlight your home’s best features: What makes your home special? A great view? A newly renovated kitchen? Make sure to mention these.
- Be prepared to negotiate: Most buyers will expect some room for negotiation. Know your bottom line before you start.
- Have all necessary documents ready: This includes property surveys, recent tax assessments, and disclosure statements.
- Consider getting a professional inspection: This will help you identify and address any issues before buyers do.
Don’t:
- Give out too much personal information: Protect yourself and your security by being careful about the personal details you share.
- Agree to unusual payment methods: Stick to standard, secure payment methods. Be wary of requests for wire transfers or other non-traditional payment forms.
- Let strangers into your home without precautions: If possible have someone else present during viewings. Always verify the identity of potential buyers.
- Ignore red flags or your gut feeling about a potential buyer: Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is.
- Skip important legal steps in the selling process: Make sure you understand and follow all legal requirements for selling a home in your area.
- Use poor quality or misleading photos: Bad photos will turn buyers away and misleading ones will waste everyone’s time.
- Overprice your home: An unrealistic price will deter buyers and may leave your listing sitting unsold for a long time.
- Neglect to stage your home: A clean, well-presented home will attract serious buyers.
- Forget to renew your listing: Craigslist posts expire after a certain period. Set reminders to repost your ad regularly.
- Rush the process: While you may want to sell fast, taking your time will save you headaches in the long run.
House Buying Scams on Craigslist
Wherever there’s money involved, there’s a risk of scams. Here are some to watch out for:
- Overseas buyers offering more than the asking price: This is often accompanied by a complicated story about why they can’t see the house in person. They may offer to send a cashier’s check for more than the purchase price and ask you to wire back the difference. The check will bounce but not before you’ve sent them real money.
- People asking for personal financial information: Legitimate buyers don’t need your bank account or social security number. Anyone asking for this kind of information is trying to steal your identity.
- Requests to wire money or use unusual payment methods: Real estate transactions involve bank transfers or checks, not wire transfers or gift cards. Be very wary of any unusual payment requests.
- “Investors” wanting to buy your house sight unseen: While this does happen with legitimate investors, it’s also a common scam. They may send fake proof of funds and try to get you to sign over the deed before any real money changes hands.
- Fake real estate agents or lawyers: Some scammers pose as professionals to gain your trust. Always verify the credentials of anyone claiming to be a licensed professional.
- Phishing emails: After posting your ad, you may get emails that look like they’re from Craigslist asking you to verify your account by clicking a link. These are often attempts to steal your login information.
- Rental scams: Some scammers copy your house sale ad and post it as a rental at a too-good-to-be-true price. They then try to collect deposits from unsuspecting renters. While this doesn’t directly affect you as a seller, it’s something to be aware of as your ad might be used in this way.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always trust your gut and be wary. If you’re unsure about a buyer, ask for proof of funds or a pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender before moving forward.
Here are some extra tips to protect yourself:
- Use a dedicated email: Create a new email address just for Craigslist. This will help protect your personal email from spam and phishing.
- Be wary of phone numbers: Consider using a Google Voice number or another virtual phone number instead of your personal number.
- Never share personal info: Legitimate buyers don’t need your social security number, bank account, or other personal info.
- Meet in safe places: For initial meetings, choose busy, well-lit public areas. If you’re showing your house, have a friend or family member with you.
- Trust your instincts: If something feels off, it probably is. Don’t be afraid to walk away from a deal that doesn’t feel right.
Here’s a true story: Scott, a Brooklyn homeowner, decided to sell his house on Craigslist. He thought it would be easy to avoid realtor fees. But he soon was overwhelmed with responses, many of which seemed shady. He was worried about strangers in his house and didn’t know how to tell if the offers were legit.
Scott got an email from someone claiming to be an overseas investor who would pay cash for the house sight unseen. They would send a cashier’s check for more than the asking price and claim the extra was for transfer fees. They asked Scott to wire back the difference once he deposited the check. Lucky for Scott, he knew this was a scam and didn’t fall for it.
In another case, Scott showed the house to a buyer who seemed very interested. But when the person arrived, they spent more time asking about Scott’s work schedule and looking in closets than talking about the house itself. Scott felt uncomfortable and ended the showing early, thinking the person was more interested in casing the house for burglary than buying it.
These experiences made Scott realize it wasn’t worth the stress. He decided to look for ways to sell your house fast in Brooklyn and that led him to look into cash home buyers.
Alternatives to Selling a House on Craigslist
If you’re having second thoughts about using Craigslist or you tried it and it didn’t work out, there are other options:
- Cash Home Buyers: Companies that buy houses for cash can be a good option if you need to sell fast. For example, we buy houses on Long Island and other parts of New York. Cash buyers offer:
- Quick sales, often closing in a week or two
- No need for repairs or renovations before selling
- No real estate agent fees
- Simplified process with less paperwork
- For Sale By Owner (FSBO): You can list your house on specific FSBO websites or put a sign in your yard. This is similar to using Craigslist in that you’re handling the sale yourself but FSBO sites are specifically for real estate which can make the process easier. Some popular FSBO sites include:
- ForSaleByOwner.com
- FSBO.com
- Zillow’s “Make Me Move” feature
- Real Estate Agents: Yes, you’ll pay a commission but they handle most of the process for you. A good agent will:
- Help price your house correctly
- Market your property effectively
- Handle negotiations with buyers
- Guide you through the legal aspects of the sale
- Screen potential buyers to make sure they’re serious and qualified
- Online Real Estate Platforms: Sites like Zillow or Redfin give you more exposure than Craigslist. These platforms offer:
- A large audience of people looking for homes
- Tools to help you price your home correctly
- Option to list as FSBO or connect with a local agent
- Neighborhood information and comparable sales data
- Auction Houses: While less common for residential properties, auctions can be an option, especially for unique or high-value homes. They offer:
- Quick sale
- Competitive bidding that can drive up the price
- Set the sale date so you have certainty
- Rent-to-Own: If you can’t sell outright, you might consider a rent-to-own. This allows a tenant to rent your property with the option to buy it later. It can be a good option if:
- You’re not in a rush to get all your equity out of the house
- You want to take advantage of the tax benefits of being a landlord
- Do you think your property value will increase over time
If you’re considering a cash offer it’s worth understanding the cash offer process in New York. Cash buyers can close faster and with less hassle than traditional buyers. Here’s how it works:
- Initial Contact: You contact a cash-buying company with info about your property.
- Preliminary Offer: Based on the info you provide the company makes an offer.
- Property Assessment: If you’re interested in moving forward the company will want to see the property in person.
- Firm Offer: After seeing the property the company will make a firm cash offer.
- Acceptance: If you accept the offer the company will draw up the paperwork.
- Closing: Cash buyers can close very quickly, sometimes in as little as a week.
When looking at cash buyers it’s important to work with reputable cash home buyers in NY. Companies like Leave The Key Homebuyers have helped hundreds of homeowners in unique selling situations. They buy houses in as-is condition so you don’t have to worry about repairs or renovations before selling.
Here are some benefits of working with a cash home buyer:
- Speed: Traditional home sales can take months. Cash sales often close in weeks or even days.
- Certainty: Cash buyers don’t need to get mortgage approval which is a common reason for sales to fall through.
- Simplicity: Cash buyers handle all the paperwork and make the process as easy as possible for you.
- No Repairs Needed: Most cash buyers buy homes “as-is” so you don’t have to spend time and money on pre-sale repairs.
- No Commissions or Fees: Unlike a traditional sale you don’t pay any real estate commissions or fees.
- Flexible Terms: Cash buyers can be more flexible on terms like closing or move-out date.
But keep in mind cash offers are usually lower than what you’d get on the open market. The trade-off is the speed, certainty, retail value, and convenience of the sale.
Conclusion
Selling a house on Craigslist in New York can be an option, especially if you want to save on realtor fees. But it comes with its own set of challenges and risks. It works for some but for many the stress and danger outweigh the benefits.
Here’s a summary:
- Craigslist is free to advertise your home to a big audience.
- However, it requires a lot of time and effort to manage the listing and buyers.
- There are serious security risks and scams when using Craigslist for high-value transactions like home sales.
- You have to handle everything yourself from pricing to paperwork.
- Cash home buyers, real estate agents, or FSBO websites, might be a better balance of convenience and security.
If you’re in a situation where you need to sell fast or don’t want to deal with the hassle of listing and showing your home, consider other options. Cash home buyers for example can offer a simpler and faster process.
Remember the most important thing is to choose what works best for your situation. Whether that’s Craigslist, or a cash home buyer make sure you understand the process and feel good about your choice. Your home is likely your biggest asset so take the time to explore all your options and make an informed decision.
If selling to a cash home buyer sounds like the best option for you contact Leave The Key Homebuyers for a no-obligation all-cash offer on your house today and skip the hassle of a traditional home sale and real estate agent commissions.
