What does this say about real estate?
Since before blogs and Twitter and Facebook, many Realtors used Craigslist as a means of promoting listings and services. The site has never undergone any major design changes, but user culture has shifted a bit to be more mainstream. Broker listings are now separated from homeowner listings and the site is no longer just popular in tech centers across America but has become common even in the Midwest.
All that said, there remains a culture of haggling, a culture that doesn’t trust a seller (just try posting a listing in any category, in any genre to see what kind of crazy insane spam emails you get), a culture that is looking for the best deal, and most importantly, a culture that is focused on doing their own research and verifying all information via Google.
Recently, AGBeat video columnist Herman Chan shared with us a listing on Craigslist in which a home buyer was seeking a real estate professional and although it has since been pulled, we’ll show it to you in full before we add our thoughts (click to enlarge):
Herman interpreted the ad in the most hilarious fashion:
Need some extra gas money? Sell a home!
Being a realtor is as easy as 1-2-3! Just troll craigslist for cheapo clients, put your name & license on the line, slave away, do ALL the work, and get paid pennies. There’s nothing to it! So this is what its come to, eh?
Our services, our knowledge, our expertise boils down to a measly 500 clams.
He has a good point though when he asks, “On the other hand, times are indeed tough. Agents are starving out there…at what point would you respond to this ad?”
What does this say about Craigslist and our industry? Not as much as you would think. There are many people who feel empowered by the internet and sincerely believe they only need a Realtor to sign a paper or to open a door. That isn’t anything new, so there is no rising trend to point out here, but it is worth remembering that if you’re not the type to be second guessed with every move, Craigslist may not be the website for you to use. On the other hand, many people have found incredible success in listing homes on Craigslist.
Tell us in the comments what the strangest encounter in Craigslist’s real estate section you have witnessed or been subjected to!
