Rental Property Advertising Tips

You want your rental property advertising to stand out. It should be eye-catching, detailed, and spectacular. Many property owners are nervous since they don’t know where to start. If you take it one simple step at a time, you can create an inviting, detailed and descriptive ad with photos in no time at all.

Basic Introduction

To begin to write a rental listing, you’ll need to list the number of bedrooms and bathrooms; these are usually the first items that renters are seeking for.  For most prospective tenants, the first 4 items that will come to mind are:  1)l location 2) number of bedrooms 3) number of bathrooms 4) monthly rental rate.  These are the first things renters want to know.

Inviting Rental Listing Headline

Be specific in your headline. Don’t include fluff or jargon. For example, which headline do you think would attract the most attention?

Executive Condo with High-End Amenities and Designer Finishes
Two-Bedroom, Two-Bath Condo for Rent in Cheyenne, WY

Congratulations – your two-bedroom townhome just got noticed. You want to get the location in as soon as possible, as well the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. You only want renters interested in that particular area and needing that amount of space to contact you.

Numbers Up Front

The monthly rental rate should be listed clearly up front. This is for the same reason as to why you want to specify the location and the number of bedrooms/bathrooms early on in your listing: to weed out those who can’t afford your property. You want real, qualified leads reaching out to you or you’ll spend a lot of time on the phone without really getting anywhere.

Also, be specific about other costs: move-in fees, the security deposit, any HOA fees they might have to pay, parking fees, what utilities they are responsible for, renters insurance, etc. Don’t worry that providing this information right away will scare renters off – most will appreciate you being upfront about it.

Specify your lease terms. Is it a 12-month lease? Will there be an option to renew at the end of the lease? Do you allow pets? What’s your pet policy? Include all of these pertinent details.

Property Description

The ad must be kept on the short side so you don’t lose the viewer’s interest. Here are some questions to answer as you write your description:

What makes your rental special? This is where you’ll highlight the things your property has that no other property can offer. Something drew you to this property. What was it? Whatever drew you will draw renters, as well. Is it a historic craftsman? A trendy downtown loft? A suburban hideaway near a lake or park?

Try to tell a story in your description. What will the renter’s life be like, living in your rental? Where will they shop? What is there to do? Are there exciting neighborhood events they can participate in?

Make sure your description says something. Avoid using generic or flowery language. Consider this rental description example:

A spectacular location in a lush setting. Stroll along the local park lined with trees. An amazing place to call home. You’ll love the landscaping and the outgoing community.

While that sounds lovely, the above doesn’t really say anything. Where will I be living? It sounds wooded. Am I going to be in the middle of a state park?

Try being specific:

A fantastic three-bedroom, two-bath home in Scottsdale, AZ, just a five-minute walk from the Horizon Park. Spend your weekends playing pickleball, walking your dog at Horizon Dog Park, or head to the nearby Scottsdale Fashion Square to do some shopping. The home sits on a beautifully landscaped lot with a palm trees in the backyard, just off your private deck. Enjoy backyard barbecues in the summer, or sit next to the cozy fireplace in the living room and enjoy the view from a spectacular bay window during the winter.

With the above rental description example, you’ve placed the renter in your home. They can imagine hosting a get-together in the backyard, sitting next to the fireplace, or heading out for a day of fun. These specific details will make your rental that much more real, and therefore more accessible and desirable.

Your property description can give other details, such as train stations or bus stops, nearby highways, bike lanes, and other commute options. Perhaps specify which schools and universities are in the area. How far are you from recognizable landmarks? If some are nearby, let renters know.

Photos to help Visualize the Property

Now that your description is amazing, it’s time to dress it up with photos. The photos take what you wrote and bring it to visual life. You need both – the description and the pictures. One without the other is much less effective. Here are some pointers for taking great photos:

• Clean up the house and the yard first. Vacuum the carpets and clean the windows.
• Open the blinds and turn on the lights.
• If there are mirrors in the room, make sure you aren’t showing up in them.
• Take your photos just after sunrise or just before sunset, when the lighting is best.
• To avoid distortions, try shooting photos at waist-level.
• Shoot at different angles (close up, medium, wide) for variety and to highlight special features

Aim for about 10-15 photos in your listing. Include too few photos and renters won’t get a good feel for the property. Include too many photos and they’ll feel overwhelmed. Take some photos of the front of the property, the back, and maybe include a few shots of the neighborhood.

Value Added Details to Include

Pull out a few of your rental’s best features and create some bulleted lists. Things to include:

• Unique features and amenities
• Any current specials you may be offering
• Security and smart home features
• Parking details
• Special services (community pool and tennis court, a car-washing station, etc.)
• Neighborhood features

Your Contact Information

You created this amazing ad with a great description, lots of photos, and terrific details. Don’t forget the most important part of the ad – your contact information! Be sure to list your company website and your business email address so renters can reach out to you. If you have a business line or a number that rings through to your phone (i.e., Google Voice), provide that number as well (rather than providing your personal information). Be sure to include your business hours.

Publish Your Ad

Take your beautiful ad and put it in front of millions of renters by listing it on Apartments.com. Your ad will appear on all five popular sites: Apartments.com, Apartment Finder, ForRent.com, Apartment Home Living, and Apartamentos.com. You’ll also be able to add Rental Tools, which will allow you to screen applicants, generate a lease, and even collect payments online. If you have questions about adding your listing, be sure to visit the Apartments.com Help Center.