Tips For Using Craigslist To Source Motivated Sellers

Craigslist is a great tool for real estate investors, as it offers effective marketing capabilities for free. Sometimes investors will fail to use Craigslist mainly because they don’t quite understand how it works. Or they’ve tried it once or twice and didn’t get the results they were after, so they quit using it.

The truth is that Craigslist is a tool that can be quite effective to find motivated sellers. Surely, you’ve got a marketing plan that targets your niche – those that need to sell their homes fast at a reduced price. Now target your ads on Craigslist toward that niche, appealing to their immediate needs, and you’ll be much more apt to reel them in.

Gain Attention

To get the attention of motivated sellers on Craigslist, you’ve got to come up with a catchy headline for your ad. They’ve got to know that you are potential solution to their problem right off the bat. Of course, there’s always the “We buy houses and close within XX days!” This does get their attention, but feel free to use other creative and catchy headlines as well.

Narrow Your Niche

To get to those motivated sellers, you’ve got to narrow your niche down to those specifically ready to wheel and deal now.  Those that are motivated to hear how you can come in and save their housing distress issues. Are you focusing on the foreclosure niche? Short sale niche? If you’re using my Niche2Wealth strategy, then you are indeed. Therefore, cater to that niche in your ads – headline, copy, and call to action – and watch what happens.

Ad Copy

When you write your ad copy, be catchy and descriptive. You want your ad to stand well above the others. Don’t be afraid to be unique. Get them curious. Feel free to paint them a picture of just what you can do for them to solve their housing problem. At the same time, extend compassion and empathy in your copy. Remember that motivated sellers are most likely dealing with some tough stuff on their plate at the moment. If you can’t write worth a lick, then hire a freelance writer or ask that friend/family member who is good at writing to help you out.

Call to Action

Don’t leave your ad there without a compelling call to action (CTA). You want the motivated seller to have no choice but to call you now. Don’t end with a question. (Are you ready to….?) Rather, end with a command. (Call Joe at XXX.)

The more you use Craigslist, the better you’ll get at it. You’ll learn when the best time to post is, how to avoid getting flagged, and you’ll even learn how to spot motivated sellers within a minute or two of talking to those that call you. Just don’t give up on Craigslist, as it is a marketing tool you can ad to your marketing plan that can work for you.