by Victoria Tiegert

Created on: July 23, 2008

Trying to sell your own home? A realtor looking for free advertising? Craigslist may be the place for you! Myself, I am a realtor and have found that people actually call on homes that are listed on Craigslist! What an amazing advertising venue they have provided.

More and more, people are opting to research and make their purchases online, including their new homes. Cybershopping has made it possible to save money on gas, to save time, and to shop from the comfort of home. One of leading online shopping websites is Craiglist.

With over ten billion hits per month at last tally, Craiglist is one of the top ten online buying and selling sites currently available. Another great aspect of Craiglist is that it is most often free of charge, both for buying and selling. People can also find virtually anything they are looking for!

The first thing you will need to do, if you haven't already, is to sign up for an account. They have made the process extremely pain-free. Just go their website, www.craigslist.org, and fill in the information requested and you are on your way to making a little (or a lot) of extra money!

After you are all signed up, you will gain access to everything you need to sell your item! On their home page, you will see a big box filled with the names of major cities around the world. Click the one that is closest to where you live. If you don't find a city within fifty miles or so of your hometown, there is also a spot where you can find additional cities.

Once you are in the right location, you will need to click on "post to classifieds." The instructions that will follow are simple and step-by-step. You are going to first type in a title for your ad. Make it something eye-catching for consumers as there are usually many homes for sale. You need to come up with something to make them want to see yours! For example, is the home updated? What is the size, bedrooms, bathrooms? Offering it at a fantastic price? Put that in your title. That alone may be what motivates people to view your ad.

Then you are on to the description that people will see once they have clicked on the title to see your advertised item. Put as much detail as possible in. Include the year built, the size, the color of the house, room sizes, any exterior buildings or landscaping features, etc. All of these are things that may influence a buyer to give your home a closer look.

People love ads that include pictures. They are simple to download onto your ad, so include as many as possible. Take photos of the home, both inside and out. You may also want to put in a picture of the neighborhood.

Your ad complete, simply push submit and wait mere minutes to take a look! Be sure to check on how long the ad will run. This varies from town to town and you may need to repost if your home does not sell in the alotted time.

People will respond to your ad via email, so check it often! "Craigslisters" can be an intense crowd. They are ready and excited to purchase and there are many options available to them. They do not need to wait around for days for you to respond. Quick responses to their inquiries are essential.

When potential buyers come to view your home, be sure to have someone with you for safety purposes. It is also a good idea to put away valuables. Have the home and the yard in showcase condition. Consider baking some cookies to give their sense of smell a homey memory. Craigslist has made the process of advertising easy for you the seller, as well as for the buyer. An item priced right, advertised effectively, and in top condition has a great chance of selling. Good luck to you!

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