Anyone who’s searched for a Chicago apartment within the past year knows that the apartment locator servicees have trashed Craigslist with many thousands of bait-and-switch and misleading ads.
We’ve previously suggested an easy way for landlords and reputable brokers to make it easy for renters to find actual apartment ads on Craigslist and skip the come-ons for locator services.
The first landlord has taken us up on our suggestion, and posted Craigslist ads that include the address, a floor plan and photos – and the easy-to-search phrase “Advertiser owned.”
Kudos to JAB Real Estate for taking a leadership role in making life a bit easier for renters. YoChicago will continue to encourage landlords to help clean up Craigslist, and will help promote those who make the effort.
This is out of concern for my current tenants, is anyone else hesitant to put an exact address of the unit when we post current pictures of the apartments?
small guy,
Have you noticed that millions of home sellers around the country don’t share your concern?
A number of management companies do this, and have for a while. Some examples:
Group Fox:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/apa/2311262293.html
Lakeview Associates:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/apa/2306759156.html
Reside:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/apa/2305348438.html
boiztwn,
There’s a key and critical difference – the use of the phrase “advertiser owned” which makes the ads searchable in a way that eliminates the finders. The JAB ads also encourage renters to search on that phrase.
We are also suggesting that landlords include the property address in the Craigslist headline. Renters scanning headlines will quickly be able to differentiate landlord ads from finder ads. Finders will not include the exact address in their ads.
Just after I posted that, I noticed that I missed that point (and that you’d ding me for it)! Mea culpa, Joe. 😉
Craig’s List has just become a pit, though. I do hope this catches on, because there are a lot of up-front, transparent, and informative ads out there. I wish like no other Craig’s List would charge for RE postings; it would make things so much easier.
They may not be current, even if furnished — they may be old stock, brokered between a former tenant and the landlord.
Even if current, there may have been a deal brokered between the landlord and renter to use current pictures to help facilitate a rental.
The difference being that those are their homes with their goods whereas, the apartments are ours but the tenant’s good are in the them. Maybe this is an old fashion concern. Joe, I like your drive to clear/ minimize the impact that bedbugs are having on CL. I look forward to contributing not only with my postings on CL but also in the way I deal with them.
to boiztwn, I seek permission before using current pictures online for my adverts. I also compose street flyers for mine using only older photos, if the apartment is occupied. I’ve also had tenants express concern about the photos and their use and one of the ways to assuage their concerns is by noting I don’t use the exact address in my adverts, online and offline.
small guy,
You’re doing the right thing by asking permission of your tenants.
What size buildings do you have? The exact address doesn’t need to include a unit number / floor to be useful to prospective renters.
Are you concerned about security issues as well as the legal rights of your tenants to images of their apartment as furnished by them? I was addressing only security issues in my earlier response – owner / sellers haven’t found it to be much of an issue over the years.
As my handle states, a small guy in this game. I have a few units in Lincoln Park and Lakeview, no high/midrises. Joe, I’m concerned about security more than anything else. I’m glad to read it hasn’t been a concern over the years. I’ve also started using Domu and as of now, I’m really happy with the # of leads generated. (feel free to check my IP, I don’t work for them) It is interesting, I do ride along with my friends when they are looking for apartments and when they use the bedbugs for the experience. I’ve also seen it from my side, I don’t issue the bedbugs keys to occupied units, so when they have brought people through, you get an idea of their competency (or lack there of as is often the case). I often want to ask their clients what made them choose that service.