Real Estate Gladiators is an industry leader in the property management industry serving Issaquah, Bellevue, Kirkland, the greater eastside and surrounding areas.
Vacancies are expensive, and if you want to cut down your vacancy time, one of the things you can do is advertise your home more effectively. Marketing your rental property strategically will help you get it rented to a great tenant quickly and for the most amount of money. Today, we’re sharing some tips on how to get the most out of any marketing campaign.
Prepare Your Property for Marketing
When you have a vacant rental property, you want to make sure it’s ready to be seen by potential tenants. Don’t take marketing pictures and set up showings if it’s not in perfect shape. Tenants will only respond to your listing if they can imagine themselves moving right into the home. Make sure it looks like they can.
Inspect the property thoroughly and make any repairs that are necessary. This includes major things like replacing old and worn appliances to minor things like installing new light bulbs if they’re burnt out. You also want to clean the property thoroughly. Hire a professional cleaning crew to scrub it until it shines. The kitchens and bathrooms should be especially clean, and pay attention to details. Dust any ceiling fans, wipe down baseboards, and clean crumbs and debris out from under and behind the appliances.
Next, you need to price the property correctly. This can be tricky if you don’t know the local rental market really well. Get an idea of what similar properties in your neighborhood are renting for. Don’t price your home too low; you’ll risk losing money now and during lease renewals. Don’t price your home too high, either; you’ll lose even more money on longer vacancy periods. Get some help from a property manager who understands what tenants are willing to pay for a property like yours.
Use Video for Online Listings
Once your property is looking great, take some pictures and create a video that allows prospective tenants to feel like they’re walking through the home. This will save everyone time because the tenants will know instantly whether or not they want to see your property. Include a description with your video, and be precise. Stick to the facts and be direct about what the home has. Don’t bother with a lot of fluff and extra adjectives. Highlight the positives and be sure to include your contact information. Then, post this listing on all the popular rental websites.
Self-Showings Save Time
Whether you’re a self-managing landlord or working with a professional property manager, we recommend you embrace self-showings. With technology and lockboxes, the process is seamless and secure. Self-showings save time, they streamline the marketing process, and they’re more appealing to tenants. Prospective renters can visit the property on their own time and according to their own schedules. They can walk through it on their own, and spend time inspecting the details that are important to them. Today’s renters are modern and busy. They don’t need to have someone holding their hand as they visit potential homes.
These are just some of the things that help us market vacant Bellevue rental properties effectively and efficiently. If you have any questions or you’d like to hear more tips, please contact us at Real Estate Gladiators.
