Vacancies are expensive, and if you want to cut down your vacancy time, one of the best things you can do is market and advertise your rental home more effectively. A smart marketing strategy will cut down on the number of vacant days you have to deal with as an owner. Good marketing will also attract well-qualified renters and get your home leased for the highest possible rents.
We’ve been leasing and managing rental homes in Atlanta for many years, and we have some smart tips that will help you attract the right residents when you’re marketing your rental home.
Start with Pricing and Property Prep
Before we start talking about what your listing should look like and whether you should share it on social media sites, let’s start with something even more basic: your rental price. When you’re trying to market a rental property but you’re not hearing from prospective tenants, the property may be priced too high.
Pricing your rental property correctly and competitively is an important part of the marketing process. Tenants are well-informed, and they know what the market demands. They also know what they’re willing to pay. Make sure you’ve conducted a comparable market analysis so you know how your rental home compares to those around it.
Pricing depends on property location, the condition of the home, and whether there are a lot of competing properties just like yours on the market.
Once you have the property priced competitively, you’ll want to make sure it’s an attractive rental home. Give tenants a reason to come and see it. Make sure all minor maintenance issues have been taken care of. Complete all remodels and updates. Clean the home thoroughly and pay attention to the landscaping – you want to create good curb appeal.
Then, you’re ready to list it.
Designing an Atlanta Rental Property Listing
One the property is ready to be seen, take some photos and write a description that allows you to list your rental home on all the popular websites that tenants are using to find their next place. Here are some of the most important elements of that listing:
- Photographs
You may have the best home on the market, but it won’t matter if your pictures don’t tell that story. The first thing potential tenants are going to do is look at the pictures posted with your ad. They have to be as professional as possible. Make sure the lighting is natural and abundant. Use a camera that can catch the best angles, and make sure the space is cleaned up and empty before you start taking shots.
Always provide abundant photos. There should be a picture of the outside of the property as well as the kitchen, living area, and bedrooms. Include any outdoor space as well as special features that will catch the attention of prospective tenants. A walk-in closet, for example, or a dedicated laundry area are worth photographing.
- Descriptions
When you’re marketing your Atlanta rental property, you’re trying to show prospective tenants why it’s more appealing than other homes just like it. After you talk about the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, share some interesting information that will help renters decide whether they want to look at the home. Talk about the neighborhood and whether the property has parking or is close to public transportation.
If the property is pet-friendly, be sure to mention that. Talk about proximity to schools, restaurants, and shopping. Include any amenities in the home itself or the building, if this is a multi-family unit.
- Provide the Pertinent Info
Good tenants will need all the information in one place. Your online marketing and listings should include:
- Rental amount
- Security deposit amount
- Qualifying criteria
- Move-in date
- Your contact information
When tenants begin to reach out for more information or to schedule a showing, make sure you’re responsive. Don’t leave them hanging, or they’ll simply move onto the next rental home that they’ve identified.
Where to Market Your Atlanta Rental Property
There are a lot of ways to bring attention to your rental property, and most tenants are looking for their next home online. There are hundreds of popular rental sites being used by those tenants, and you will want to syndicate your listing onto all of them if you want to increase your exposure and rent your home quickly. Make sure your home appears on Zillow, HotPads, Apartments.com, Rent.com and others like those sites.
If the idea of uploading all those photos and listings multiple times is too much, consider working with an Atlanta property management company during the marketing process. Our property management software allows us to list your property in multiple places with ease. We can also showcase your property on our own website, where tenants may come to see what’s available.
Don’t forget to leverage the power and the reach of social media. You can utilize sites like Facebook and Instagram to show off your property and engage with prospective renters who may have questions. You can invite friends and colleagues to share your listing in case there are people in their own circles who are looking for a new place to live. You’ll find that Facebook Marketplace has its own section for rental properties.
Take up space on all of the social platforms that people are using, inviting comments and likes and shares. It generates more momentum and gets more traction for your rental property.
These are some of the best tips we can give you in a general sense. The best marketing advice will be customized to your property, your specific area of Atlanta, and the goals that you have for the tenants you place and the results you achieve.
We can help with all of your marketing and leasing needs, so please don’t hesitate to contact us at Silas Frazier Realty with any questions.
Silas Frazier Realty serves rental property owners in Atlanta, Snellville, Stone Mountain, Lilburn, Conyers, Smyrna, Marietta, Lithonia, Jonesboro, McDonough, Vinings, Brookhaven, and Tucker.
