There are more than 23 million landlords in the United States –that’s a lot of competition. If you’re struggling to attract tenants, the problem might not be your property…but the way you’re listing your rental. Think of your listing like a personal ad in the paper. In order to attract the perfect match, you need to write a catchy intro, focus on the positives and cut down on your word count. Here’s how to optimize your rental listings for more cash.
1. Write an Awesome Headline
Your headline is the first thing prospective tenants will read, so make it count. Research shows that 80 percent of readers never make it past a header. Why? Because most of the headers are just plain dull. “Apartment to Rent,” “New Condo on the Market,” “Home With Lots of Amenities” — titles like these are not the most exciting to read over and over again. You need something fresh, something eye-catching.
Instead, focus on your property’s unique selling points. Have a swimming pool? Shout about it in your headline. Close to a major landmark? Tell the world. “Huge Modern First-Floor Apartment Just Footsteps From Times Square” sounds a lot better than “Manhattan Apartment Available to Rent,” doesn’t it?
Here are some other things you can include in your header:
- Recent renovations you’ve made to your property.
- Large kitchens and bathrooms (these are major selling points).
- Access to a car park or public transportation.
2. Include a Striking Image
It’s a cliche, but it’s true: a picture speaks louder than a thousand words. Research shows that people only remember 10 percent of information after three days. If a relevant image accompanies that information, however, people recall 65 percent. Impressive, right?
A good image is more powerful than any piece of text, so pick a pic that makes your property irresistible to tenants. Better still, take a brand new photo. You don’t have to be Annie Leibovitz to take a good snap. “Open the curtains and turn on all the lights to make a room look bright and open,” says Shannon Petrie, writing for HGTV.
Her word of warning, though: “While you want to make your house look as good as possible, don’t mislead buyers. For instance, a photo taken with a wide-angle lens can make a room look deceptively large.”
Here are some additional tips:
- Use a tripod. This will help you stabilize your photos.
- Remove clutter in your property before you take photos.
- Use photo editing apps to edit your images.
3. Use an Online Property Management System
Creating a new listing from scratch is fine, but using an online property management system provides you with much more flexibility. You can post a listing in minutes using the latest templates, and then incorporate images and other graphics into your ad. Plus, renters can find your listing on their desktop, laptop or mobile.
Want to optimize your rental listings? Follow the three tips on this list and attract more tenants to your property. Writing an awesome headline, including an image in your listing and using an online property management system will help you generate rental income.
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