So your house is move-in ready, but with thousands of rentals on sites like Zillow and Craigslist, how can you make your listing stand out? Follow these best practices for listing your rental property to turn a viewer into a potential tenant.
Formulate an attention-grabbing title
Your title will help the reader decide whether the listing is worth their time or not. It should look to grab attention and inform the viewer. Stick to including just two or three of these five significant features per title:
- Number of bedrooms/bathrooms
- Defining feature(s) such as a patio, pool, fireplace, etc.
- Location
- Concession/promotions
- Availability
Put yourself in the shoes of someone on the hunt for a rental. What would you be typing into a search bar? What would make you click? What would turn you away?
It’s best to keep the title under 70 characters. You should sound inviting but too many exclamation points, and capital letters can make the listing look cheap, fake or unprofessional.
The details that matter
Taking the time to create a solid description will lead renters to contact you. Before choosing to get creative with your writing be sure to include these essential details:
- Rent, deposit, fees, lease terms
- Square footage and floor plan
- Bedrooms and bathrooms
- Special features and upgrades: floors, renovated bathrooms, etc.
- Appliances
- Natural light and storage
- Parking
- Pet policy
These details will help renters decide if your listing aligns with their must-have fancied features.
Your description should also be organized and easy to read. The efficacy of your listing depends on how you make your property look and feel. The goal is to check as many boxes as possible, but do not fudge the truth.
Use recent high-quality photos
Creative descriptions can highlight your home at its best, but a picture’s worth a thousand words. Post a minimum of 10 pictures and make sure to include your home’s exterior and interior features.
Tenants know that renting a space means someone lived there before them. But that doesn’t mean the pictures should show that. Try your best to make the space look clean and tidy. Many tenants use the neatness of the property to gauge its maintenance level. Plus, any clutter could be a distraction from your home’s prominent features.
You want your property to make potential tenants feel like it could be their home, not just somewhere they’re crashing for a year or two.
Location, location, location
Location is at the top of the must-have list for most tenants. In fact, some renters are willing to give up some items on their list of apartment amenities for a good location.
When creating a listing, market the neighborhood along with your property. This gives renters a preview of the surrounding area that they may not notice while driving by.
We feature the nearest metro stations, supermarkets, excellent restaurants, and coffee shops on all of our listings. Nearby schools and recreational centers also emphasize desirable location to prospective tenants.
No one wants to waste time when searching for a new place to call home. These practices will set your property apart from the competition and match your home to the right tenants.
Finally, if you are struggling to find renters yourself you may want to consider reaching out to a top-rated Washington DC property management company. They have in-house marketing teams who specialize in online rentals and can get your place rented quickly.
Good luck!
