Avoid These 10 Mistakes When Advertising Your Rental Property
Don't let mistakes leave your rental property vacant longer. Avoid these 12 mistakes landlords make when advertising.
In the fast-paced world of property rentals, advertising your rental property effectively is crucial. However, even seasoned landlords can stumble on certain mistakes that can prevent potential tenants from clicking on their listings or, worse, drive them away. These errors can prolong vacancy periods, negatively affecting your rental income.
To help you avoid those costly mistakes, we’ve compiled a list of the top twelve things to avoid when advertising your rental property online.
The Importance of Advertising Your Rental
Effective advertising isn't just about getting your rental property out there; it's about showcasing it to attract the right tenants. Your goal is to present your property as a desirable place to live, highlighting its unique features and benefits.
Good advertising translates to shorter vacancy periods, a wider pool of potential tenants, and a more profitable rental business. Here are some reasons why you should never ignore the importance of getting your rental property advertised:
Get Your Listing Seen
Advertising your property on Australia’s major real estate websites gives your listing maximum exposure and helps you fill vacancies faster. These platforms reach the largest pool of active renters and typically generate higher-quality enquiries compared to other avenues like Facebook Marketplace. With broader reach and more reliable interest, you’re far more likely to find the right tenant quickly and efficiently.
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Stand Out From the Competition
By leveraging all available advertising options, you can ensure your listing stands out from other properties on the market. This way, you'll attract potential tenants looking for a property like yours.
Keep Vacancy Rates Low
Effective advertising will help you keep vacancy rates low, which is essential to managing a profitable investment. The more people who view your listings, the faster you'll be able to find great tenants and fill up your vacancies.
Attract High-Quality Tenants
When you've put effort into showcasing your property's best attributes, you're more likely to attract tenants who appreciate and value those features. These high-quality tenants are more likely to take care of your property and pay rent on time, contributing to a more secure and profitable investment.
10 Mistakes Property Owners Make When Advertising
Rental property advertising is a process and as a landlord, it's easy to make minor mistakes that can have larger impacts. We've put together a list of common mistakes landlords often make when marketing their properties. By understanding these pitfalls, you'll be better equipped to avoid them, enhancing your advertising efforts and bringing in high-quality tenants more efficiently.
1. Poor Photography
One of the most common mistakes people make when advertising a property for rent is not taking good photographs. Poor quality photos can turn away potential tenants and leave them with a wrong impression of the property. It’s important to take high-quality photos from different angles that accurately represent the property in its best light.
2. Setting the Price Too High
Another mistake people make when advertising a property for rent is setting the price too high. It’s important to research comparable properties in your area and set the price accordingly so that you don't lose out on income.
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3. Not Having a Detailed Property Description or Headline
When advertising a property for rent, you should include a detailed description of the property and an eye-catching headline that will draw in potential renters. Without this information, potential tenants won’t have enough information to determine if they are interested in renting the property or not.
4. Failing to Communicate or Poorly Communicating With Interested Tenants
Once you’ve attracted interest from potential tenants, it’s important to communicate promptly and provide all the necessary information about the rental process and next steps. Failing to do so can lead to frustration, and tenants may decide not to proceed with your property. This is especially crucial when tenants have taken the time to apply - good communication helps build trust and ensures a smooth experience for everyone.
5. Not Being Flexible With Lease Terms
It’s helpful to stay flexible and open to negotiation on things like lease length or pet policies, as this can broaden your pool of suitable tenants.
6. Not Advertising on Multiple Platforms
You should also take advantage of the multiple platforms available for advertising rental properties, such as social media sites and real estate websites Advertising on multiple platforms allows you to reach a wider audience and increase the chances that your property will be rented out quickly.
7. Failing to Mention Any Rules or Regulations
Outline clear details about any rules or regulations for tenants living in your rental. This includes things like noise level restrictions, guest policies and any rules about pets being allowed. By making this information known upfront, you can help ensure prospective renters know what will be expected of them before signing a lease.
8. Not Considering the Location
Another mistake people make when advertising their rental properties is not considering the rental's location and how this could affect prospective renters' decisions. For example, if there are schools nearby or nearby attractions like parks or shopping malls. In that case, these should be mentioned for prospective renters to understand what kind of neighbourhood they would be living in if they choose your property over another one.
9. Unclear Renting Process
When advertising a rental, ensure clear guidelines regarding how applicants should submit their applications. Without these guidelines, prospective renters may feel discouraged from applying due to possibly feeling like their application won't even be considered.
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10. Not Mentioning Any Special Requirements
You should also mention any other special requirements that must met by applicants before being approved, such as proof of income, tenant check results and references from previous rentals. This way, prospective renters know exactly what they need to prepare before applying and don't waste time submitting incomplete applications, which could end up being rejected.
How Can I Get The Most From My Property Ad?
Creating an effective and enticing ad can make all the difference in attracting potential renters in the competitive space of property rentals. An ad is not just a list of property details, but it's more like a story that paints a picture of what life could be like in that rental unit. Here are several tips for making your ad stand out from the crowd:
Create a Compelling Headline
Your ad should have an attention-grabbing headline that captures their attention and entices them to read more. You can also use keywords related to your property in the headline to make it easier for potential renters to find your listing online.
Use High-Quality photos
Nothing attracts prospective renters more than visually appealing, high-resolution images. Ensure you capture every room, exterior view, and any special amenities that your property offers. Don't forget to include well-lit pictures of those common areas, too!
Highlight Unique Features
Does your property have a rooftop deck, a pet-friendly policy, or proximity to great restaurants or parks? Make sure to emphasise these unique selling points in your ad to stand out from the competition.
Be Specific and Transparent
Be clear about the rent, the terms of the lease, and any additional costs, such as utility bills or maintenance fees. Honesty builds trust, and trust attracts renters.
Keep your Listing Updated
Keep your listing fresh and accurate. An outdated listing can mislead potential tenants and lead to unnecessary confusion.
Response Time Matters
Prompt response to enquiries indicates that you're serious and proactive. It can also make the potential renter feel valued, increasing their interest in your property. The success of your rental property listing hugely depends on how effectively you communicate its value to prospective tenants.
A striking headline, high-quality photos, highlighting unique features, transparency, keeping the listing updated, and swift response times are proven strategies to make your ad stand out. The goal is not just to fill vacancies but to attract quality tenants who respect your property and maintain a long-term relationship.
Let RentBetter Help You Create the Perfect Rental Ad!
Looking to advertise your rental property? RentBetter makes navigating advertising your property a breeze. Create professional and eye-catching ads in minutes with our user-friendly interface and handle enquiries, applications and tenant checks with ease.
Choose RentBetter and discover how the platform can help you find great tenants and manage your property with ease.
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