CraigsList -When Was Last Time ?

Yes, in 2008.

i would say it worked until 2009. since then, complete crap. i would've hoped that they start charging at least $1 per add. that would make it the go to place once again.

yes, early 2012 for apt, last week for "other needs"...

curious to those who dont use CL anymore for real estate, what over venues you use?

I thin kit was 2001

In 2009 I got an apt through it, and also in 2007. About half the places I looked at in total. I only looked at "by owner" though.

I post my rentals there and here. I have been since 2002. Quality of tenants has gone down too.

Much better tenants from advertising here on SE and word of mouth

Posted summer rentals there. 7/8 were basically ok.

If you are looking fora rental, don't bother

Yes, it really has gone downhill since at least '09.
I use it for other things as well but even things like furniture listings are just so full of scams.
But jeez - the RE is so dreadful! Takes up so much time simply going through the listings to find anything that is even a "maybe" then the further nonsense of screening out - or worse, actually going to see things that turn out to be scams, dumps and bait-n- switches.

$1 to list there? I dunno; doesn't seem like that would be enough of a deterrent. Maybe $10 ?

I used it three years ago to find a 1 bedroom apartment.

The place was advertised as a no-fee carriage house. In reality there was a full fee and its a walk up tenement.

Still rented it though, but won't use CL ever again for rentals.

Too much spam on CL, I feel.

You still rented it? Guess thats why they do these scams anyway.

Craigslist is still pretty useful in my opinion. I found a great apartment on SE in the last year, but noticed it was also listed on CL by the mgmt co.
Here are some ways to still use craigslist:
1. If you want a fee broker apartment, look for ones with specific pics, call the broker, and ask to see it. If they try to show you any other apartment, decline.
2. Search no-fee listings using the keyword "no fee".
3. If you want a doorman apartment, search your target area under fee and find one that looks to your liking in the pics. Then search by the price to the dollar and chances are if it's hot there will be 10+ brokers advertising it, one who will include a pic of the front of the building. DO NOT contact any of the brokers. Go to the building and talk to the doorman. 75% of the time you will find the mgmt co will work with you directly. This works best if you know the neighborhood well.
4. For any apartment you like, search by some unique info and see for how long it's been listed.This will tip you off to how long it's been advertised. This will also help sniff out fraudulent posts. Cross-reference from CL to Streeteasy, for instance a $2450 apartment on "45th" st, search 45th here and see if the building list shows a rental for $2450.
5. Owner's ads will usually state the words "no fee" but sometimes they forget. However they will usually be specific and forthright with the info after "posted by" and "fee disclosure", where a broker fraudulently masquerading as owner will write things like "owner's representative" and "application fee, fee" "negotiable" "call me now". Real owners often write the actual dollar amount of the app. fee.
6. If it is a co-op or condo, the broker is likely exclusive. They will likely start with a demand of a full 15% but chances are it and the rent are very negotiable because few people are willing to pay the broker fee + building fees to live there for two years or less.

Now that we are in the age of smartphones, make sure you check streeteasy forums and the city's records (HPD) before you sign into anything.

pier45th, i agree with all the reasons.. there has been spam on CL since its invention and there are certain workarounds (pretty obvi) that have made CL useful to us, so never bought the "span" argument....

still waiting on some of the nay-CL users above what they replaced it with (besides SE obvi)... did they hire a full broker outright?

..me thinks they still are secretly lurking on CL