How to Set Up Deal Alerts That Actually Find Deals

Caleb Foster

Jul 1

2 min read

Updated: 3 hours ago

Automating your deal search is the best way to stop being late. The app hunts for you and sends a push notification the second something matching your search gets listed near you. (If you’re not sure whether to automate yet, read Three Ways to Find Deals first.)

But alerts only work if you set them up right.

Pick the right app

Freebie Alerts: free, unlimited search terms, huge user base. Only finds free items.
DealScout: finds free items and underpriced paid items using price filters. Most deals on Facebook aren’t free, so this is the one that has made me the most money.

Plenty of people run both.

Keywords: simple and vague

Both apps use exact match, so wordy searches pull in almost nothing. Say you’re looking for patio furniture:

Bad: “wrought iron patio set.” Too wordy, won’t pull in many listings.
Better: “patio.” Vague, but you’ll see every patio set, patio table, patio chairs, and patio furniture set.
Sometimes better: “outdoor furniture.” “Outdoor” alone shows too much junk and so does “furniture.” Together they’re useful.

Other good one-word searches: “sectional,” “couch,” “Xbox,” “bike,” “MacBook,” “tires,” “mower.”

Set smart filters

Radius: start as wide as you’re willing to drive, then tighten later
Price: keep it realistic for your niche, but down in the lower range where you know you’ll make a profit

When you’re still learning prices, go wide on both. You’re not buying yet, you’re learning the market. That method is in How to Choose What to Flip (With Zero Risk).

Fix annoying alerts

If notifications are driving you crazy:

Shrink your radius
Lower (or raise) your price cap
Make your keyword slightly more specific (“lawn mower” instead of just “lawn”)

Your goal is to get it to where most notifications are worth clicking. If every alert is junk, your setup is wrong.

When an alert hits, move

Click it and message immediately if it has any chance of being profitable. Don’t zoom in on the photos for 45 seconds first. Message, then do your due diligence. If you decide to pass, just say “I’m going to pass, thanks.”

Being first and backing out costs nothing. Being second costs you the deal. What to say is in Facebook Marketplace Messaging: How to Get Sellers to Reply.

Set alerts for the season

Swap your searches as the year goes on: “patio” and “AC” in spring, “fireplace” and “snowblower” in fall. Seasonal Flipping has the full calendar.

If you want help narrowing down your search terms, email me. Happy to help.