Selling Your House on Craiglist: Is it Really a Good Idea?

Selling a house without a realtor on Craigslist is an option some sellers consider, but it's not suitable for everyone.

Craigslist may work for sellers who:

• Want to avoid real estate agent commission on the listing agent side, which average 2.74% nationwide.
• Have distressed or fixer-upper properties appealing to investors or bargain hunters.
• Are familiar with and comfortable navigating the FSBO process.
• Don't mind vetting buyers and dealing with spam or non-serious inquiries.
• Prefer a quick sale over maximizing sale price.

 Craigslist might not be the best choice for sellers who:

• Aren't familiar with the process of selling without a realtor.
• Struggle to sell their property on traditional platforms and could benefit from professional assistance.
• Seek to save on commission fees while still achieving a good sales price (consider alternative options like flat fee MLS packages or discount brokerages).

If the FSBO process doesn't seem suitable, but you still aim to save on commission fees, consider partnering with a low commission real estate company like Real Estate Witch. Sellers can save thousands on their home sale while benefiting from the expertise and assistance of a top local agent. Find a top agent in your area today and keep more money in your pocket!

Pros and cons of selling your house on Craigslist

Craigslist is a simple and free way to list your property. It offers quick posting and full control over your listing without broker involvement. You can adjust or remove your listing at your discretion, potentially connecting with cash buyers and investors, which could save on agent commissions.

However, Craigslist's visibility is limited compared to more comprehensive real estate sites that draw from MLS databases. The platform requires sellers to sift through inquiries to find serious buyers, which can expose them to scams and spam. Additionally, Craigslist's outdated interface and appeal to bargain hunters may result in lower offers, necessitating vigilance from sellers.

Alternatives to selling real estate on Craigslist

Flat fee MLS companies

You need an agent to access the MLS, significantly enhancing your chances of finding a buyer. It's the top choice for listing homes, with 86% of all sellers utilizing it, far surpassing methods like yard signs.[1] Also, an industry study found that homes listed on it sold for 17.5% more than comparable homes sold off MLS during the same period.[2]

Flat fee MLS companies facilitate this by having a licensed broker post your home on the local MLS for a fee ranging from $299 to $399, ensuring exposure on major sites like Zillow and realtor.com.

While some may offer additional services like assistance with closing paperwork, these often incur extra costs. With basic packages, however, support is typically limited, requiring sellers to take on most of the FSBO workload.

» LEARN: What you need to know about flat fee MLS services

Discount brokers

A trustworthy discount real estate brokerage offers sellers a complete agent service while reducing commission expenses. However, fee structures and service quality can vary significantly among discount brokers, so it's essential to carefully assess to find the best match.

» MORE: The best discount real estate brokers

"We Buy Houses" companies

These companies specialize in purchasing distressed properties swiftly for cash, typically offering only 50–70% of the home’s after-repair value (ARV), or what the home is likely worth after getting fixed up.

While numerous companies operate under this model, it’s crucial to vet them thoroughly for legitimacy and always have any contracts reviewed by legal professionals.

"Sellers should ensure they're dealing with reputable investors by checking reviews, BBB profiles, and listening to testimonials," advises Charles H. Chandler III, CEO and Co-Founder, My Tennessee Home Solution. "It’s crucial to understand all contract terms, verify proof of funds, and clarify the inspection process to avoid bait-and-switch tactics."

» MORE: Our rankings of the best cash home buyers

Other FSBO websites

While Craigslist remains a popular choice, several FSBO websites offer improved services, albeit sometimes with associated costs or regional restrictions. In our research, we ranked these platforms, with Craigslist placing second-to-last. Check out our best FSBO website rankings.

How to sell a house on Craigslist: Step-by-step guide 

Click "Get Started" to see how to post a home on Craigslist

1. Select "create a posting" on the main page.
2. Select "housing offered" (not "for sale by owner").
3. Select "real estate - by owner"
4. Write your listing (get tips here).
   • Use the dropdown menus to include the property type, number of beds and bathrooms, etc.
   • You can set dates for an open house or a future date when the home will officially be on the market. Neither are required.
5. Check the location
   • If you don't input an exact address, you'll be shown a general zone.
6. Upload your pictures.
   • You can upload up to 24 images (pro tip: use PNG or JPEG files). Large images will be automatically resized to 600 by 450 pixels.
   • The first image is the featured one; you can drag and drop their order. 
7. Review your listing and publish.
   • You can make changes at any time, even after it's published.
   • The post will stay live for 45 days, and you can repost your listing every 48 hours.
   • Don't spam your post, but refresh it when it drops off the first few pages.
8. Check your email and confirm
   • This is important — if you don't confirm, your listing won't post!

Tips for selling a house on Craigslist

» JUMP TO: Pricing your home | What investors pay | Taking photos | Writing a home listing | Writing an investment listing | Scams and safety | Vetting buyers | Disclosure laws

Know what your house is worth

Knowing your home's value as a FSBO seller is one of the biggest challenges you'll face. Price too high, and you won't find a buyer. Price too low, and you may cheat yourself out of a good deal (and, let's face it, Craigslist is full of buyers looking for a steal.)

Here's how to accurately price your house without an agent:

• Use a home value estimator. You'll get a ballpark price for your house, but it's not accurate — you'll need to do additional work. 
• Run your own comparative market analysis (CMA) report. Find recently sold (within a few months), comparable properties in similar conditions and with similar features. If your home is in disrepair, it could be more difficult to accurately price the property. 
• Pay for an appraisal. This is the easiest and most accurate method, although it will cost $200–500 or more depending on the property, and it may take a few weeks to complete.

Take honest photos

It costs an average of $165 to have your home professionally photographed — and it can help your house sell faster and for more money.[3] But if you don't want to spend the cash, just try to do better than what's already on Craigslist. Follow these tips:

• Take photos on a sunny day.
• Declutter and clean.
• Open all the blinds and drapes.
• Take wide-angle shots of the front of the house, the bedrooms, kitchen, and living room.

Take lots of photos and select the best ones — you can feature up to 24 photos on Craigslist when selling your house.

Write a listing that speaks to your buyers

Tailor your listing to the type of buyer interested in your property. Investors are looking for different information than traditional home buyers. 

Here are some tips for writing a listing on Craigslist:

• Don't lie or exaggerate. If there are any hidden surprises, like a shared driveway, include that information. 
• Check for spelling and grammar. You can use a free online tool like Grammarly. 
• Write "no real estate agents" to avoid working with a buyer's agent. It should cut down on unsolicited calls from agents looking to represent you and buyers who have an agent. 
• Use the "available on" section to set a future date for when you're taking offers. The idea here is to accumulate enough interest, get many offers at once, and encourage a bidding war. However, this will only work if the market is hot and the property is desirable.

Traditional listings

Traditional buyers are would-be homeowners who probably don't want to do serious rehab work. Here are some tips for attracting their attention:

• For the title, you'll want to write something specific that stands out. Don't just write "house for sale." Instead, write "Historic Craftsman with amazing kitchen near Mid City." There's a 70-character limit in titles, but the price, number of bedrooms, and square footage will automatically be included no matter what.
• Highlight any updates, renovations, and features you love.
• Is the home close to good schools? Great food? A local attraction? Include it. 

One of the disadvantages of listing on Craigslist is its lackluster search feature, so make a point to include everything notable. You can list highlights: "Has covered porch, big windows, home office, garage, built-in bookshelves," etc. 

Here's an example of a good listing to attract traditional buyers:

Also, remember that Craigslist is rife with scams, so make your listing look authentic so you don't scare off potential buyers. 

• Don't ask people to text you a code word.
• Post lots of photos.
• Include a walk-through video. You can post a plaintext link (meaning non-clickable) in your Craigslist ad, redirecting buyers to a place like YouTube or Google Drive.

Investor listings

One of the advantages of selling a house on Craigslist is the large pool of investors.

In the title, make it clear what kind of property it is — use words like "fix and flip," "distressed," "short sale," "investment opportunity," etc., as well as a general location. 

Don't shy away from any issues the home has. Include major problems in the listing, as well as its highlights — "has a solid foundation and good roof but needs a new HVAC and flooded last year." 

For searchers, include words like "as-is," "condemned," "buy and hold," "repairs," "fast" "equity" "handyman" and "rental." Here's a good example:

Check out the "housing wanted" section 

Some people post "wanted" ads for houses, which can be an opportunity to find buyers. 

Go to your local Craigslist, and on the front page, click "housing wanted" under the "housing" section. Select "house" from the "housing type" drop-down menu on the left-hand side and look for potential buyers. 

If you find multiple investors or "we buy houses" companies, meet with them individually and compare offers.

How to sell your house safely on Craigslist

Craigslist is notorious for being a scammer's playground. There are also many window shoppers, so it's important to be able to spot real offers. 

Avoid "buyers" who:

• Won't give their full name or number.
• Ask for a deposit of any kind.
• Insist on using a particular online escrow company (fake escrow companies are a real issue)
• Give you a check without a good reason — it could be fake.
• Send messages from odd-looking email addresses or international numbers.
• Query you with vague messages full of spelling errors.
• Include links in their email or texts — they're probably phishing.
• Try to get you to send them your mortgage payment at a "reduced" rate. They're mortgage relief scammers.

Protect your identity

• Use the proxy Craigslist email address provided and remove identifying information from your email signature.
• Don't give out any financial information, like your bank account number.
• Never sign a contract without reading it thoroughly. We highly recommend paying a real estate attorney to review and draft the contracts.  
• You don't need to plug in your home's exact address on Craigslist. You can provide it once the buyer is vetted. 

🚨 Be safe! Don't show your home alone. Bring a friend or family member when meeting buyers and keep your phone close.

Ask for proof of financing and earnest money

Traditional buyers using a mortgage should show you pre-approval letters, or at the very least, proof of prequalification. 

For cash buyers, you'll want a proof of funds letter — a signed statement from the bank saying they have the money to close the deal. 

Serious buyers will offer earnest money. This is typically 1–3% of the purchase price, but it can be as high as 10% in some markets. If the buyer backs out of the sale without the proper contingencies, they forfeit the earnest money.

❗ Don't hold the deposit yourself! Use a third party like an escrow agent or title company to handle the funds. If the deal falls through, you don't want to get into a legal quagmire.

Know your state's disclosure laws and legal requirements

In many states, you must have a real estate lawyer present at closing, so budget for that if you'll need or want an attorney. But if you choose to forgo legal help, you must understand your state's disclosure laws and legal requirements.

Disclosure laws vary by state, with some being more stringent than others. However, most states require sellers to disclose known and significant problems, like prior flooding events, boundary disputes, or foundational defects. 

If you're selling a house built before 1978, you have to comply with the federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992. That applies to all sellers, regardless of state. 

Check your state's disclosure laws and consult with an attorney if you have questions. Remember, failure to comply with disclosure laws can be grounds for serious legal trouble — don't try to wing it!

» MORE: How to Sell a House by Owner: Necessary Paperwork

Rethinking listing your home on Craigslist?

If listing your home on Craigslist — or selling without an agent in general — is feeling overwhelming, you can always turn to a professional. The FSBO route takes up a lot of time, can be incredibly stressful, and often is less profitable. 

Since a Craigslist post is free and can be removed whenever it's easy to change course if listing on the site is a bad fit for your situation. You have other options that will provide professional support and still save you money on listing commissions.

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