Real Estate/Real Dumb

My best, "Flash of Danger" face

While you've probably used Craigslist more than once and never had a problem, you most likely still have a flash of "danger" pass through your sub-conscious when you think about it.  Yes, that Milwaukee girl was tied up and tortured, and there are a shocking number of people who have used Craigslist to torture cats. 



But generally speaking, Craigslist represents the best parts of our society.  On the whole, we are delighted with the connections we make through the site.  We sell our stuff, find long lost loves, adventure and make the world a smaller, more sustainable place in our ever-more isolated society.


Throughout the lifetime of this project I've been asked several times if I've ever taken a "sketchy job". 

In retrospect, yes.

I WISH I had that pantsuit 

One of the first Craig-ployment jobs I took in 2007 was as an apartment rental manager.  Submitting only a brief cover letter and resume, I was invited over to the property-owner's home and promptly given a large box of keys to the apartments she owned.  Now let me be clear, there was no interview, and the keys she gave me? Keys to people's apartments! Real people! 


The Gig: Advertise (on Craigslist), book showings and show the apartments as often as possible to rent them out.  Every time I leased an apartment, I'd be paid $100. 

Let's think about this again.  
- No interview.
- No training.
- No background check.
- Real keys to real people's apartments. (with real pets)
- Give out my number to strangers.
- Meet said strangers from Craigslist in apartments... often alone.

What was I thinking?!

Thankfully, nothing bad happened. I had the pleasure of meeting some genuinely nice people as well as every FREAK who was apartment hunting.  It was as if all of the weirdos that you see at the DMV decided to look for a new apartment... at the same time.

I tolerated this gig for abouuuuut, 2 weeks.  In the end, I had spent about 50 hours trying to lease these overpriced, mediocre apartments and didn't. lease. a. single. one.
When I quit, the property owner felt bad for me and gave me $200, making my hourly wage a cool, $4.00. 

Did I survive, unharmed?  Yes. Ta da!
Was it worth it? Nope.


Dear Craig-ployment readers, whether you're out for a Craig-ployment gig, or selling your couch, be smart.  




While these connections could change your life for the better, tell a friend where you are, who you're with and check in when its over.


Craig-ployment, out.