In the world we live in, technology has become one of the most important ways to market a rental property. It allows the rental property to become increasingly visible to any tenants that may be interested, whether or not they live locally.
However, you may be wondering:
- What are some of the most effective ways to market a rental?
- Where should I list my rental?
- What should I include in the listing?
Whether you’re a property owner beginner or are an experienced landlord, take some time to review these best practices when promoting your rental vacancy online.
Include your Listing on Popular Real Estate Listing Sites
The first, and arguably the most important step, is to list your rental online. Tenants are often scouring the web for properties near them, using filters and categories to find rentals that match their specific needs.
To get the most for your money, skip the listing sites that ask for you to purchase packages to list your property. Several straightforward sites allow you to list your property for free.
Our article, “Top Free Rental Property Listing Sites” gives a list of free sites as well as the best way to utilize each one.
How to Create an Attention-Grabbing Headline
Once you’ve chosen sites to list your rental, the next step is to create an attractive headline. You want a headline that will grab possible tenants’ attention straight away.
In our article “How to Write an Attractive Rental Listing Headline”, we mentioned that a general rule of thumb when creating a headline is to include:
- Price
- Number of Bedrooms/Bathrooms
- Location
When preparing for your property tour, efficiency is key. Small mishaps throughout the day may ruin chances with a prospective renter.
A good real estate agent should be knowledgeable about the surrounding area and what it has to offer prospective tenants. Or better yet, find out what aspects of a neighborhood are important to them beforehand and include that on the tour.
Be sure to have contact information for the landlord or their representative. If there is sincere interest, they’ll need this information once they sign the lease.
Some examples of this would be titles like:
“3 Bedroom, 2 Bath House in Lombard with Spacious Kitchen, $2,550”
Or
“2 Bedroom, 1 Bath Home in Pleasanton with wood flooring, $2,140”
Think about your audience and who you are trying to attract to your property. If you want to appeal to pet owners, including information about a spacious backyard or park near the property could go a long way. On the other hand, if you want to appeal to families, information about the area, schools, or daycare could pique their interest.
Although it may be tempting to try and include more information in your title to attract potential tenants, a direct title will get you much farther. By supplying all the pertinent information in your listing, you save time by avoiding unnecessary questions in the future.
The Importance of Photos
Photos are vital to the success of your rental property. For younger tenants, the lack of photos will have them scroll past your listing without a second thought.
Growing up with applications like Instagram and Twitter has changed the way Millenials look at the world. Simply having a captivating description isn’t enough. You’ll need eye-catching photos to go along with it.
While using a DSLR or high-quality camera to capture the best angles of your property may be ideal, don’t underestimate the power of your smartphone.
We further discuss how to use your smartphone to highlight features of your property in “3 Tips to Vamp up Your Rental Listing’s Photos.” We also discuss the importance of natural light and some do’s and don’ts when it comes to photographing your rental property.
What practices have you found most effective when marketing a rental property online?
Let us know in the comments!
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