Advertising your Benicia rental property is an important part of the leasing process. This is your opportunity to attract potential tenants to the rental you have available.
You have to make the advertising count.
Attention spans are short and when tenants are looking for their next home, they’re quickly scrolling through one listing after another, and eventually they all start to look the same.
Yours has to stand out.
How you advertise your rental property is just as important as where you advertise it. Let’s talk about what makes a great listing, and where you should place that listing.
Online Advertising is Where the Tenants Are
Rental listing sites online and in mobile apps can give you the most exposure to renters on the move. Those tenants you want to reach are likely using their phones or tablets to look at the offerings on rental sites. They may be signing up for alerts and notifications when a new property becomes available in their price range or desired neighborhood.
You need to leverage those sites so you can get your property in front of all those tenants looking for their next rental home in Benicia.
There are hundreds of rental websites online, however, so how do you choose which ones to engage with? You should choose where you advertise based on the following criteria:
- Is their platform user-friendly?
- Can you syndicate from one site to others?
- Are the listings on the platform informative and visually appealing?
- How many application and screening tools do they offer (if you need these)?
- What does it cost to advertise?
Online advertising provides a direct channel to prospective tenants, and there are hundreds of sites being used by renters seeking a new home. Some of the most popular rental sites you’ll find include Zillow, Trulia, Zumper, Rentals.com, and Craigslist.
If you use a Benicia property management company to lease and manage your home, you can benefit from additional tenant views. You’ll have access to the property management website and possibly the MLS.
As you’re choosing where to list your property, remember that scams are likely and more common on free sites like Craigslist. Take preventative measures to prevent your ad from being stolen and then re-listed by someone else, and for a much lower amount of money. Consider watermarking your photos and always provide your contact information.
Craigslist, for example, is a popular site for owners to advertise their rental homes. It’s free to do so, and a lot of eyeballs land on the Craigslist website.
But, there are also a lot of scammers working the page to steal ads. On paid advertising sites, you’re less likely to have your listing show up as someone else’s.
Advertise on Sites that Allow a Lot of Photos
Photos are incredibly important to an online rental property listing, and you want to be sure you’re welcome to maximize the number of pictures you load with your listing.
Tenants will search for properties based on their budget, and once they have a filtered list of options, the first thing they’re going to look at is photos.
The pictures you choose to include with your listing will impact the amount of interest you generate. Avoid those generic smartphone photos and invest in high quality photos that present your property in the best possible way.
You don’t necessarily have to hire a professional photographer, but make sure you’re including professional-level photos in your online listing.
Check your lighting and use angles that make your space look large, bright, and light. Include photos of your property’s best features, whether those are the new hard surface floors, the generous closet space, or the backyard.
Think about including a video so people can feel like they’re walking through your property without actually being there.
When you’re choosing a site for your online advertisements, photos and videos should be welcome.
Social Networking to Advertise Benicia Rental Homes
Social networks are just as important as those online rental sites. It lets people in your professional and social circles know that you have a home for rent.
When others share the listing, you’ll leverage the social networks of everyone you know, giving you a wider audience.
You can share your property listing in relevant Facebook groups as well. Paid advertising tools are available on sites like Facebook and Twitter, and that will help you target your listing to users who live in your city.
Social networks love videos and photos. They boost your post when you gather a lot of engagement. While a home for rent in Benicia won’t necessarily go viral, using social networks and social media will help you get more attention for your property.
Word of mouth is still a valuable marketing tool. Partner with local companies who may have new workers moving into the area. Talk with relocation companies who might help people find places to live when they arrive in and around Benicia.
The Old-Time Yard Sign
Why bother with a yard sign?
Everything is electronic and digital these days, and no one is going to want to see your property based on a written sign.
This is not entirely true, and honestly, it depends on the neighborhood where your rental property is located. We don’t think yard signs are an advertising tool for everyone, but if you are renting out a property in a walkable neighborhood that gets a lot of traffic, it might be a good idea. When people are walking by or driving by, they might see your sign and decide to inquire.
Neighbors will also be helpful when a yard sign is displayed. They might know someone who is looking, and they’d likely be delighted to have a friend or family member move into the area.
Working with a Benicia property management company is the best way to advertise and lease your property. We bring strategic marketing solutions to owners and landlords like you, who want to make a big difference when advertising their properties, but may not have the tools and resources that are necessary.
Contact us at Krystle Properties, and we’ll advertise your home.
