Rent By-owner Ad on Craig’s List
(post by BT) This ad appeared on New York Craig’s List in July (we noticed it on July 22, 2008):
“THIS 2 BEDROOM APT. OFFERS A BRAND NEW BATHROOM EQUIPPED WITH ULTRA MODERN CORNER SPA TUB, AND SEPARATE SHOWER. BRAND NEW KITCHEN WITH GRANITE COUNTERS AND BACKSPLASH. LAMINATE FLOORING THROUGHOUT. EXCELLENT LOCATION, WALKING DISTANCE TO SHOPS AT ATLAS PARK, SCHOOLS, PLACES OF WORSHIP, AND OTHER SHOPPING. PLUS, BACKYARD ACCESS, PERFECT FOR A SMALL FAMILY. REFERENCES NECESSARY…NEED NICE PEOPLE FOR NICE NEIGHBORHOOD.”
Nice people? Is that a requirement? “Hi I am calling for the apartment. Yes, we’re nice. We have bankruptcy, eviction, foreclosure and no income to afford this place. Yes, we have 2 pets and we smoke. But, we’re nice.”
This is an example of a landlord who needs to use a Realtor to rent their place. Because the calls he’s going to receive will be from all sorts of bums. What does “nice people” mean? Craig’s List is a good source of leads for us brokers… when you see someone with an ad like this one, it is our DUTY to help them 
You think your driver’s license photo is scary? Look at this Realtor’s official photo from a website ad.. Would you hire him?
