You’ve worked hard to build your properties and your business into something great, and now it’s time to put them on the market and bring in renters. Awesome! However, you still have to create a compelling ad that will bring in your target tenants. This is easier said than done. An ad that misses the mark will likely be passed over by good tenants, and you don’t want that. How do you create a better rental ad that will bring strong candidates to your door? We have a few tips.
1) Choose your online outlets wisely.
Some outlets, like Craigslist, have a huge audience, so they’re perfect if you want your ad seen by more people. The tradeoff is that you may be inundated with applications from people who aren’t a good fit for your property. Other outlets, such as Zillow or Trulia, are more refined, but limit your potential tenant pool. If you’d like to get really specific in your audience targeting, you might even try posting ads to Facebook and using their targeting system.
2) Use good, high-quality images.
This is really a must if you want to catch people’s interest and bring them in to read the rest of the ad. Stage your property well and take several good, high-quality photos that really showcase the apartment or home.
3) Give the important information upfront.
People don’t want to spend a lot of time searching through your ad. They’re likely looking at dozens of other ads, so a quality picture can be worth more than 1000 words. Right up top, or even in the title of your listing, let them know what they’re getting: rental rate, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, and type of property.
4) Highlight the amenities.
What will potential tenants be getting if they rent from you? What sets you apart and makes your property more appealing than the rest? Depending on your target renter, you may want to target different features, like a yard and quiet neighborhood if you want to attract families, or proximity to nightlife and public transportation if you want to appeal to young professionals.
5) Important budget information.
If you require a security deposit or first month’s rent upfront, say so, and let the renter know the exact cost. You may also want to include your income expectations (2-3x rent monthly, or similar) and which utilities the tenant is expected to pay. This gives people a realistic idea of how much they need to budget and their monthly costs.
6) Lease contract timeframe.
How long are you offering a lease? Six months, a year? Do you consider month-to-month? This is all important information to include so tenants can plan accordingly.
7) List your important policies.
Make sure you’re clear about anything that might be a dealbreaker, or an attractant. For example, your pet policy. If you don’t allow pets, you’ll be limiting your rental pool, but you’ll likely get more of the type of applicants you want. If pets are allowed, you’ll have a wider range of applicants.
8) Your contact and application information.
Let prospective tenants know where you’re located, how they can reach you, and when you’re holding any open houses or tours. Also be sure to tell them where they can go to apply for the rental, as well as what sort of screening and background checks you’ll be running. Doing so will help filter out anyone who wants to avoid a screening, which is a good indicator that they’re not the best fit, anyway.
If you have any other questions regarding how to compose better rental ads, let us know and we’ll be happy to help! We recommend our RentalConnect program as an added tool for selection the right tenants for your property. RentalConnect offers property owners and landlords a great alternative to the expense of full tenant screening. This service requires no on-site visit, sign-up, or membership fees, making it extra convenient. The service fee is paid by the applicant. Available 24/7, RentalConnect is fast, easy, secure, and delivers reports needed to make an informed decision, including a credit report, a national criminal search, and a national eviction search.
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