Sorry if this is covered elsewhere, but here goes.

Hi. I am looking to start a classifieds-style site online. Regular forum software (phpbb, e.g.) doesn't cut it for me, since

(a) I want users to be able to pay (paypal, etc) for posting an ad, and

(b) I want to display the items list in a more uniform, formulaic way (such as item name-price-date posted, with little or no personalized composition of the subject).

I don't have merchandise to sell, it's simply to be a classifieds board. I like the sort of style seen in craigslist. It is especially important that
(a)the search functions be very good and specific, craigslist also being an example, and
(b) layout be attractive and simple (sooo many classifieds forums are grating on the eyes and are hard to navigate)


As I am a beginner, I have no idea where to start here. Does one need to hire a professional e-commerce website designer? Are there software packages (open source or commercial) that anyone could recommend to look at? Also, what exactly is what i'm looking for called? I don't think it's exactly "e-commerce", and it's not a mesage board or bulletin board, I am not really familiar with the terminology here. Anyone know what software/design style craigslist itself uses, for example?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.