Do you have a rental property sitting empty? The first step to filling vacancies and keeping your rental income flowing is to properly market your place. As a landlord, advertising is one of the many tasks you must take on to successfully manage your properties, and with a simple formula, you can master it in no time. We’ll help you become a savvy advertiser in just a few steps to help you create rental ads that drive leads and attract the qualified renters you’re looking for.
To start, put yourself in the renter’s shoes. If you were looking for a new place to call home, you’d likely start your search with a list of preferences like specific amenities, a monthly budget, and ideal neighborhoods, to name a few. Be sure to include as much detail as possible about your rental in the ad and proactively answer as many questions as possible. Searching for a place to live is time-consuming and your listing will quickly get overlooked if you lack basic details.
When scanning rental listings, prospective renters will take notice of a catchy headline, an informative description, and high-quality photos. A rental ad that ticks those three boxes is more likely to catch a renter’s eye and less likely to get lost in the crowd. Taking the time to craft a well-written, informative rental ad not only attracts the right searchers, but it also reduces the number of dead-end leads you’ll have to field. And, it’s one of the best ways to get your property rented faster.
Rental Ad Checklist
Property Details
- Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- Square footage
- Type of property, i.e. apartment complex or single-family home
- Description of the unit and any notable features
- Do you have new appliances?
- Gas or electric stove?
- Layout
- Type of flooring
- Amount of natural light, what direction to windows face
- Dimensions of bedrooms or living spaces
- Recent updates or renovations
- New windows
- New appliances
- New flooring
- Parking and type (garage or street) and cost associated with it if applicable
- Storage and cost associated with it if applicable
- Is it handicap accessible?
- Do you need to climb stairs?
- Is there an elevator?
Location Details
- Address, cross streets, or neighborhood
- Description of the neighborhood or characteristics of the street
- Are there grocery stores, parks, or other attractions nearby?
- Walkscore
- Are you near major freeways, public transit, or parks?
Lease Terms
- Lease terms
- Start date and desired duration
- Maximum number of occupants
- Rent and security deposit amount
- Pet policy and pet deposit if applicable
Application Process
- Explain your application process
- Do you charge renters to apply?
- Do you have a credit score or income requirements?
- Open house dates or when you’re available for showings
- Your preferred contact method
Pictures
- Bedrooms
- Bathrooms
- Kitchen
- Living space
- Balcony
- Backyard
- Roof access
- Laundry room or washer/dryer
- Closets
- Garage
- Storage unit
- Exterior
- Entrance
- Gym
- Pool
- Bike room or rack
Now that you’ve taken the time to craft a rental advert worthy of reading, don’t make the mistake of using low-quality photos. No matter how enticing your words, if you don’t showcase your property with high-quality photos, potential renters will steer clear, as they are wary of ads that lack images and may consider it to be a scam. Including pictures in your listing has a direct correlation with the number of leads you receive which is why we recommend including anywhere between 5-10 images.
Here are some photography tips to keep in mind:
- Take pictures during the day for the best natural lighting
- Clean up and remove clutter
- Rearrange furniture, if necessary
- Include photos of special features
- Include photos of the view, yard, or landscaping
If you’re not confident with your photography skills, it might be worth spending money to get your property staged and photographed by a professional.
Agent profile
Lastly, round out your listing with an agent profile. Upload a picture, list your contact information, provide your website if you have one, and link to other active listings. This will help you build trust with renters.
Take a look at the below listings to see the difference between a quality rental ad and a lackluster one.
Example of a listing that will get overlooked
- No images
- Brief write-up with no mention of amenities
- No information regarding the application process
Example of a listing that will drive leads
- Great pictures that showcase the entire property
- In-depth description
- List of amenities
Your rental listing is the first and sometimes only impression you’ll make on potential renters, and you want it to be a good one. By providing a thorough write-up about your property with a lot of detail and high-quality pictures, you’ll give yourself a competitive edge so your rental gets snapped up quickly instead of lingering for weeks without any action.
Think you’re ready to write your own rental ad? Get started with Zumper and post your listing, screen tenants, and collect rent, all in one place.
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