What started 25 years ago as a small email chain amongst friends, has now become one of the most popular spots on the web people turn to for traditional classifieds. Browsers can find anything from a hand-me-down bookshelf to their next hot date on Craigslist. However, one of the most frequented categories is the craigslist apartment for rent section. No one can deny it’s ease of use and accessibility from the poster’s standpoint; however, landlords are right to wonder if the classifieds juggernaut is still the right place to go for apartment advertising.

Beware of Scam

While usability and convenience are great benefits, they come at a price. When you leave the door open for just about anyone to use your site, just about anyone can walk through it. And sometimes those guests are uninvited. Scammers take advantage of the lack of security screening and low barrier to entry to manipulate unsuspecting renters.

A common tactic is for scammers to take an existing listing and repost it as their own. Money is exchanged somewhere in between and before renters know it, their seemingly too-good-too-be-true dream apartment is just that.

On the flip side, landlords should also beware. With increasing frequency, property managers are finding themselves on the receiving end of spam, dead-end communications, and all-around tomfoolery on the site. There’s a lot of nonsense to sort through, and it’s just one added headache to the pressures of turning your listing.

The Alternatives

While Craigslist might seem like the easiest choice out there in terms of real estate marketing platforms, it’s not the only option. There are loads of listing sites available to you for little to no cost that provide much more peace of mind as far as safety and security are concerned.

One of our top recommendations is Zillow. This online real estate marketplace recently acquired its biggest competitor, Trulia, making it one of the largest property listing sites in the country. It allows landlords to create beautiful and detailed listings of their properties, and even makes it easy for tenants to create lists and compare their favorites. Not to mention the verification process is top notch and sure to weed out any of the potential fraudulent activity you might find elsewhere.

In addition to Zillow, there are plenty of alternatives that offer similar features with their own unique twist. For example, Realtor.com is run by the National Association of Realtors, and as such carries a lot of weight in terms of up-to-date information and credibility. Redfin.com, on the other hand, allows renters to rate real estate agents, a feature you won’t find anywhere else.

Go Local

But a national online marketplace shouldn’t be your last stop, and maybe not even your first. Our recommendation is that going local is always the best option. Most major metropolitan areas have localized websites designed specifically for their region. In Chicago you will find Domu. In New York City CityRealty, where, much like Zillow or Realtor.com, users can compare listings in a given area. The difference is that personal touch. These sites can offer specialized services and real human beings with local knowledge to help guide potential tenants in their process.

So, is Craigslist legit? The answer – it can be. With ease of use and a low barrier to entry, it’s a quick and convenient way to get your listings out there. However, that convenience comes at the price of your time and security. These days the safest and most effective way to market your property is to use the slick and sophisticated real estate marketplace sites available. And who knows? The best option could be right in your backyard.