Zoocasa
Real Estate Sold Prices
Calculator
Map
Property Trends & Insights
  • Blog Home
  • For Buyers
  • For Sellers
  • Real Estate News
  • Mortgage News in Canada
  • Free Guides (PDF)
  • Real Estate Infographics
  • Real Estate News
Zoocasa
Home Buying a Home

Craigslist: Real Estate Friend or Foe?

Zoocasa by Zoocasa
February 25, 2011
in Buying a Home, Selling Your Home
2 min read
Share
Tweet
Share
0 Shares
I recently had dinner to catch up with some friends and part of the conversation turned to how more than one mutual acquaintance had recently found and bought their homes off of Craigslist.com. Of course I know many people who swear by getting their furniture or finding apartment rentals via the site but was surprised you could find homes for sale too. What I was even more surprised to discover was the rampant gall of homes for sale schemers!
I’m sure you have seen that perfect rental ad for a listing that sounds almost too good to be true. Some missionary needs to leave right away and is looking for you to take over his four bedroom house lease for $1000 a month. All he asks is that you wire him the deposit and you’ll get the key in the mail. Yeah right.
Well, guess what? Agents are getting similar replies to their listings in which supposed high rollers who are ready to buy without question (or a showing) but they happen to be abroad so could you please give them your bank account # so they wire you the money? Yeah right!
It’s not just Craigslist however. Many phishing scam artists try similar cons on many real estate sites which offer online listings (hey, maybe it’s a measure of the site’s success/high traffic). On popular US site Trulia.com, many agents have posted in forums the names and “contact” info of suspicious buyers who have approached them. Scams can also target renters and buyers by getting personal information through falsified ads using details of other listings that are legit. There are also some instances of listings that claim to be “for sale by owner” that are actually posted by agents. Basically when you have a venue that allows anonymity, it can be ripe for rampant dishonesty.
So what’s the verdict? Should agents and buyers avoid sites like Craigslist altogether? Probably not. As the online marketplace is only expanding and will probably be the preferred mode of transaction for the next generation and cutting off an avenue of free marketing / majorly discounted goods is probably not the best option. So, what are some of the ways you protect your business and your hard-earned money?
Here are some of my own common sense tips to safeguard from scammers:
  • 1. Never blindly give our your personal information, even if you think giving our your email or phone number is harmless.
  • 2. Listen to your gut. If you’re not sure, why not take a step back and get someone else’s opinion that you trust to help you made that decision?
  • 3. If it sounds too good to be true, it is!

If you have any stories to share from the agent side of the buyer side, we’d love to hear about them! Please comment below.

Previous Post

How do I find out what a house sold for?

Next Post

Getting Your Home Ready For The Spring Market

Zoocasa

Zoocasa

Zoocasa.com is a full-service brokerage that offers advanced online search tools to empower Canadians with the data and expertise they need to make more successful real estate decisions. View real estate listings on zoocasa.com or download our free iOS app.

Related Posts

Now is the Time to Sell: Durham Cities Currently Have the Shortest Average Property Days on Market
Real Estate News

Now is the Time to Sell: Durham Cities Currently Have the Shortest Average Property Days on Market

May 12, 2022
Great News for Buyers – Home Prices are Dropping in the GTA: TRREB
Affordability

Great News for Buyers – Home Prices are Dropping in the GTA: TRREB

May 4, 2022
suburban house for sale
Canada

Why This Might Be the Best Time in 2022 to Sell Your Home

January 14, 2022

Blog Search

No Result
View All Result

Recent Articles

Entering A Balanced Market Spells Relief for Many Buyers: CREA

Entering A Balanced Market Spells Relief for Many Buyers: CREA

May 16, 2022
New Owner of the Cheapest Home in GTA has Big Plans for Her “250 Square Feet of Paradise”

New Owner of the Cheapest Home in GTA has Big Plans for Her “250 Square Feet of Paradise”

May 13, 2022
Now is the Time to Sell: Durham Cities Currently Have the Shortest Average Property Days on Market

Now is the Time to Sell: Durham Cities Currently Have the Shortest Average Property Days on Market

May 12, 2022
Updated: 7 Houses Under $900,000 For Sale in Mississauga

Updated: 7 Houses Under $900,000 For Sale in Mississauga

May 11, 2022
first-time home buyer programs and rebates

Featured Listings (Updated Weekly)

Updated: 7 Houses Under $900,000 For Sale in Mississauga

Updated: 7 Houses Under $900,000 For Sale in Mississauga

May 11, 2022
Hidden Gems in London, ON Currently Listed for Sale Under $540,000

Hidden Gems in London, ON Currently Listed for Sale Under $540,000

May 6, 2022
Updated: Cheapest Toronto Homes Currently Listed for Sale Under $1,000,000

Updated: Cheapest Toronto Homes Currently Listed for Sale Under $1,000,000

May 3, 2022
The Cheapest Toronto Condos Currently Listed for Sale Under $600,000

The Cheapest Toronto Condos Currently Listed for Sale Under $600,000

May 2, 2022

Social Media

Newsletter Sign-up

Join a community of 130,000+ subscribers. Don't miss important real estate news, market data, and buying and selling tips.

About Zoocasa

Zoocasa.com is a full-service brokerage that offers advanced online search tools to empower Canadians with the data and expertise they need to make more successful real estate decisions.

Newsletter Sign-up

Join 130,000+ weekly subscribers. Don’t miss important real estate news, market data, and buying and selling tips: sign-up here.

Social Media

Zoocasa Tools

MLS Listings Canada
Search Sold Listings
iOS App
Android App
Find an Agent
Contact Us

  • Homes & Real Estate Properties
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2015 - 2022 Zoocasa Realty Inc., Brokerage

  • Blog Home
  • For Buyers
  • For Sellers
  • Real Estate News
  • Mortgage News in Canada
  • Free Guides (PDF)
  • Real Estate Infographics
  • Real Estate News
No Result
View All Result

© 2015 - 2022 Zoocasa Realty Inc., Brokerage