So you’ve spruced up your rental property, touched up the walls, wiped down the windows, and performed all necessary maintenance. Now all you need to do is find the perfect renters: tenants who will pay their rent on time, respect the terms of their lease, and treat your property with the love and care it deserves. Should be easy, right? Unfortunately, finding the right tenants is one of the most formidable challenges in the rental business. Before your dream renters sign a lease, you have to make sure that potential tenants apply to your property in the first place. And of course, the best way to get people interested in your vacant rental is by advertising it. However, rental property marketing is challenging for many DIY managers.
In the technological wonderland we live in today, it might seem easy to throw together a decent ad and start raking in the tenant applications. However, writing an eye-catching listing that reaches your target audience and convinces them that your property is their future home is another matter entirely. At Rent Portland Homes by Darla Andrew, we have years of experience in rental advertisement and securing star tenants for our Portland rental properties. Here are some of our best tips to help you get on your way to connecting with renters and putting your property’s best foot forward.
Start With A Rental Property Marketing Plan
As with any undertaking, the best place to start your Rental Property Marketing journey is by making a roadmap of your goals and resources. The two most important questions to articulate to yourself are, what do you want your advertising to accomplish, and how much do you want to spend? Finding the meeting point between those two factors will help you get the most bang for your buck.
For the cost-conscious, there are many options to post free listings on property sites like Zillow and Craigslist. However, these sites also have some drawbacks.Because of how easy it is for independent parties to post listings, there is a higher chance that a listing on these sites will be fraudulent. As a result, prospective tenants can hold listings on these sites to a higher standard of professionalism. If your listing isn’t polished, comprehensive, and easy to verify, renters may pass your listing over for something they feel is more legitimate. To counteract that possibility, you must put extra work into your listing to make sure it is free of typos, bad photos, and other potential red flags.
Paid advertising is also an option. Your budget will determine your ad’s frequency, size, and location. Consider your target audience when deciding where and how to advertise your property. While targeting as many people as possible might seem like a good strategy, in the end, you want to focus on attracting qualified applicants. Your listings are doing no good if most of your respondents don’t meet the lease requirements. Processing a high volume of applications squanders your time and effort. When you direct your efforts to your target market, you can accomplish more with less work.
How to Craft An Eye-Catching Property Listing
A good rental property marketing should capture your viewer’s attention, draw them in with attractive photos up front, and cinch their interest with the finer details in the text. Here’s our step by step guide for creating an effective advertisement from the ground up:
Snap Some Good Photos
The very first thing any renter will see is a photo of your property. A lot can ride on that first impression, so make sure the images you take are clean, sharp, attractive, and well-lit. Take at least one photo of each room as well as any relevant exterior spaces.
Describe the Space for Lease
Your description should be both informative and evocative. Don’t waste a potential tenant’s time by waxing poetic about how wonderful your property is, but don’t skimp on the appealing details either. Make sure it contains the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the square footage, and any other general information about the space, such as the number of floors or whether there’s a balcony or patio.
List the Special Features
How will you make your property stand out? What’s unique and most appealing about your rental? Maybe it has a lovely view, beautiful granite countertops, brand new appliances, or a cozy gas fireplace. Be sure to showcase those elements in the listing, both in the text and photographs.
Include Information About the Neighborhood
The school district, local food and shopping opportunities, and public transportation are all factors renters consider when looking for their next home. Make sure to identify your property’s location clearly; you may even want to include a map with a few of the area’s best amenities outlined in relation to the rental.
Clearly Identify the Pricing
Don’t make it difficult for a prospective tenant to figure out how much you’re charging in rent. If you have several units available, include a rent scale from low to high. Offering a special promotion can be a great way to get people’s attention; if you’re offering a deal on the first month’s rent, a free parking space, or any other bargains, be sure to put that information front and center.
Post Your Contact Information
Lastly, you want to make sure that a renter interested in touring your property can get ahold of you. Include an email address, phone, and fax number, as well as the hours the number is operational. Ensure they’re easy to find in the listing.
Once you’ve taken your photos, written up your text, and decided where you want to advertise, your listing is good to go! From there, all you ideally have to do is sit back and wait for your hard work to pay off.
Professional Expertise Makes All The Difference
If you’re still struggling to put together a professional property listing or not getting the kind of engagement you hoped for, there are other options. At Rent Portland Homes by Darla Andrew, we start with our free rental evaluation to lock down the best market price for your rental. By pricing your rental competitively, we make sure you collect the most profit with the least amount of vacancies.
When you work with us, we take a comprehensive series of photos and videos to guarantee your rental looks its absolute best. We even provide video walkthroughs on YouTube for renters who can’t visit in person. Our team handles all the marketing, all the listings, all the tenant screenings, and all the details. When you sign with us, you can feel confident in the years of experience we bring to the table in the Portland rental market. If you’d like to learn more, send us a message on our website’s contact page, or call or text us any time at (503) 515-3170.