Articles on: Selling

Requiring buyer applications and building a form

Turn on Require buyer approval on a listing, then choose the questions buyers must answer under Buyer Application Form. Buyers then see Apply to Buy (or Apply to Bid on an auction). They can buy, bid or make an offer only after you approve them.


Applying is free for the buyer. It doesn't hold the animal or take any money.


Turn it on for a listing


  1. Start a new listing, or select Edit Listing on one you already have.
  2. Turn on Require buyer approval.
  3. Scroll down past Activity feed to Buyer Application Form. Choose one of your saved forms, or choose + Create new form to write one now.
  4. Finish the listing and save it as usual.


Require buyer approval turned on, with a saved form chosen as the Buyer Application Form


If you leave Buyer Application Form set to None, buyers still apply. They can write you a short message instead.


Forms belong to the seller. If you sell for an organization, pick it under Sell on behalf of first. The list then shows that organization's forms. Archived forms don't show up.


Build or change a form


Select Manage application forms under the form list to open the Application forms page. Use the buttons near the top (Personal and each of your organizations) to see each seller's forms.


  1. Select Create form, or Edit on a form you have.
  2. Give it a Form title. Buyers see it above your questions.
  3. A new form starts with three sample questions: the buyer's experience, where the animal will live, and when they hope to bring it home. Change them, select the X on one to remove it, or type your own Question. Add Help text if an example would help.
  4. Leave Answer required ticked if buyers must answer it.
  5. Pick an Answer type. New questions start as Short answer:
    • Short answer: the buyer types a reply.
    • Checkboxes: the buyer can pick more than one option.
    • One choice: the buyer picks one option.
  7. For Checkboxes or One choice, type each option. Use Add option for more.
  8. Select Add question for the next one. When you're done, select Create form (or Save changes).


A form question with the answer type One choice and three pickup options


On the Application forms page you can also Make a copy of a form, or Archive one you no longer use. Archived forms wait under Archived forms, where Restore brings them back.


When you change a form, new applications use the new questions. Applications already sent keep the questions the buyer answered.


What buyers see


On your listing, buyers select Apply to Buy. They can add a short message, then answer your questions and select Submit application. People without a Creatures account can apply too. They add their name and email, and Creatures sends a code to confirm it.


A buyer's application with the seller's two questions and the Submit application button


You get a notification when someone applies. To decide, see Reviewing and approving buyer applications.


Approval covers one listing


Approving a buyer unlocks only the listing they applied for. If you have another listing that needs approval, they apply there too.


Approval doesn't hold the animal for anyone. If you approve more than one buyer for a fixed-price listing, the first one to check out gets it.


Programs and litters work differently


A listing application is about one animal you have listed now. To collect interest before animals are ready, see Opening your program to applications and running a waitlist. For a litter, buyers apply on the litter's own page. See Offer a litter or group to buyers.



Updated on: 29/10/2026

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