Be careful when selling with Craigslist
Not so long ago, success in using Craigslist to sell real estate was limited. Today the free classified site is considered a required strategy by most sellers, especially those wanting to sell their own property. Recently, we heard of a mourning widow who, finding no use for some of her late husband's possessions offered them for free on Craigslist. Several unsavory fellows showed up for the free stuff, using the opportunity to assess the home, returning later to take expensive tools and other items she had no intention of liquidating.
There are many mistakes to avoid when listing property on Craigslist. For example, agents will often, in the private remarks section of a listing where it is hidden from public view, let other agents know that a home is "vacant and easy to show." This helps agents know, that if they are touring with clients and the clients have an interest in the home, they can probably gain immediate access and present the opportunity. This is good for sellers. Not so good, is to make such an announcement anywhere on the Internet. A vacant home is an invitation to burglars, vandals, squatters and any number of miscreants.
Also, you must remember that anyone with an Internet connection has access to information about your home whether on a free classified site or not. These people are strangers and although your parents raised you never to speak to them, when you are trying to sell a property it is necessary to engage them. It is always a good idea to involve a third party by informing them of the time you will be showing your home to people you have no knowledge of. It is not uncommon for prescription drug thieves to attend a showing or open house for the sole purpose of stealing your prescriptions.
Always make sure to accompany unfamiliar guests on their tour, never letting them out of your sight. Place drugs, jewelry and other valuables out of sight when showing the property. Be suspicious of people opening your medicine cabinet or of those who ask, "do these windows open?" Always double check after they leave to make sure all exterior access points are secure. Thieves have been known to unlatch windows or unlock doors to allow for quick and easy access when you leave or retire for the evening.
We all want you to be successful when attempting to sell your real estate. Your vigilance is just as important whether using a professional or selling it yourself. At your first opportunity after a showing, always double check your doors, windows, prescription drugs and valuables to make sure they are as you left them.
If selling personal items to declutter your home prior to selling, make sure you are safe when doing so. Craigslist's own site offers some tips for personal safety:
When meeting someone for the first time, please remember to:
* Insist on a public meeting place like a cafe.
* Do not meet in a secluded place, or invite strangers into your home.
* Be especially careful when buying/selling high value items.
* Tell a friend or family member where you're going.
* Take your cell phone along if you have one.
* Consider having a friend accompany you.
* Trust your instincts.
We do not want to alarm you or cause paranoia, but caution is increasingly important as the Internet continues to become a larger part of our lives.
Trust an expert...call a Realtor. Call your Realtor or visit www.cdarealtors.com to search properties on the Multiple Listing Service or to find a Realtor member who will represent your best interests.
Kim Cooper is a real estate broker and the spokesman for the Coeur d'Alene Association of Realtors. Kim and the association invite your feedback and input for this column. You may contact them by writing to the Coeur d'Alene Association of Realtors, 409 W. Neider, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815 or by calling (208) 667-0664.