The Investor’s Guide to Qualifying Buyers From Social Marketplaces
The goal: to help you separate the serious cash-ready buyers from the keyboard warriors and pretenders.
Austin Beverigde
Tennessee
, Goliath Teammate
Social media and classified platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are magnets for activity in the real estate space. Deals get posted, buyers respond, and contacts get exchanged. The problem? These platforms are also magnets for time-wasters, daisy-chainers, and straight-up scammers. If you don’t know how to filter quickly, you’ll end up chasing shadows instead of closing deals.
This article will break down how to vet buyers who found you through Facebook or Craigslist, step by step. The goal: to help you separate the serious cash-ready buyers from the keyboard warriors and pretenders.
Why Facebook and Craigslist Are Buyer Goldmines (and Minefields)
The Goldmine Side
Local exposure: Both platforms are free and local by design. The people responding are often genuinely interested in your area.
Speed: Deals posted on Facebook or Craigslist can draw responses in minutes, faster than email blasts.
Broad net: You’re reaching landlords, flippers, agents, and even retail buyers who may not be on your curated list.
The Minefield Side
Scammers: Fake proof-of-funds, fraudulent checks, phishing attempts.
Daisy-chain wholesalers: People trying to re-market your deal without any capacity to close.
Lowballers: Tire-kickers who respond to every post with insulting offers.
Ghosters: They ask for every detail… and then vanish.
That’s why you need a system to qualify fast.
Step 1: Initial Message Filter
The way someone first reaches out tells you a lot. Watch for:
Serious buyer signs: Specific references to the property, short questions about access, timeline, or price.
Tire-kicker signs: Generic messages like “Still available?” or “What’s your best price?”
Wholesaler signs: “Can I JV?” or “What’s your assignment fee?”
The first message is often the first red flag, or green light.
Step 2: Ask the Three Core Questions
Whenever someone reaches out through Facebook or Craigslist, immediately qualify with three simple questions:
Liquidity: “How do you plan to close, cash, hard money, or something else?”
Timeline: “If this one fits your numbers, how soon could you close?”
Decision Power: “Are you the final decision-maker, or do you have a partner?”
These three questions expose 90% of tire-kickers instantly. A serious buyer answers quickly and clearly. A fake one dodges or disappears.
Step 3: Proof of Funds (POF) Requirement
Don’t be afraid to request proof of funds, especially for larger deals.
Serious buyers: Will have a recent bank statement, lender letter, or private money verification.
Pretenders: Will argue, delay, or send outdated, cropped screenshots.
Pro tip: Always verify documents. Call the bank or lender directly if something feels off.
Step 4: Track Their Questions
The type and number of questions buyers ask tells you a lot.
High-intent questions: “Is title clean?” “When is access available?” “What’s the deadline for EMD?”
Low-intent questions: “What’s the carpet color?” “Why is the seller moving?” “Can you send me 100 more photos?”
Focused questions = serious intent. Random or endless questions = wasted time.
Step 5: Look at Their Online Footprint
If they contacted you through Facebook, check:
Profile age and activity: Brand-new accounts with no history are red flags.
Friends, groups, and posts: Do they actually look like a real investor, or is it all random spam?
Mutual connections: If you share real estate contacts, that’s a trust boost.
For Craigslist, Google their name, email, or phone. See if they’ve been flagged elsewhere.
Step 6: Test Their Commitment With EMD
The ultimate filter is earnest money. No matter how convincing they seem online, until money hits escrow, it’s just talk.
Ask directly: “To lock this up, we’ll need $1,000 EMD today. Are you ready to wire?”
Watch behavior: A real buyer wires fast. A faker ghosts or makes excuses.
No EMD = no trust. Period.
Step 7: Watch for Daisy-Chain Behavior
If someone keeps asking for more photos, marketing packages, or “permission to show the deal to a partner,” they’re probably trying to re-market your property.
Counter it by saying:
“We only work directly with end buyers. If you’re interested, submit proof of funds and EMD.”
That simple line flushes out daisy-chainers fast.
Step 8: Protect Yourself With Clear Communication
Always move conversations off Facebook or Craigslist as soon as possible (phone or email).
Send everything through a written trail (text/email), not just Messenger.
Use professional language, don’t get dragged into casual chatter that undermines your authority.
Share details in stages, never dump full contracts, addresses, and photos until you know they’re real.
Case Studies: Common Facebook & Craigslist Buyer Types
The Cash Landlord
Usually local, quick to show proof of funds, and focused on rental potential. Often serious and reliable if vetted.
The Out-of-State Flipper
Often comes through Facebook groups. Needs more hand-holding but can be serious if they show funding and partner connections.
The “JV Hustler”
Wants to co-market your deal. Rarely brings value unless you have a prior relationship. Filter fast.
The Ghoster
Excited in the first message, asks for details, then disappears. Don’t chase.
The Scammer
Sends fake POFs, asks for sensitive data, or tries to push unusual payment methods. Block and report.
Conclusion: Trust, But Verify, Always
Facebook and Craigslist can connect you with real, cash-ready buyers, but they’re also full of noise. The key is having a system:
Filter initial messages
Ask the three core questions
Require proof of funds
Demand earnest money
Track online credibility
If you stick to these steps, you’ll waste less time on fake buyers and build a stronger list of serious investors who actually close.
