How to Fill Units eBook
There's a lot that goes into attracting great tenants to fill your rental units.
From identifying your target audience to writing an effective property listing and trying out your marketing skills on social media, there's a lot of preparation involved before a tenant even fills out an application.
To minimize the time you spend on tenant screening and turnover, perfecting these advertising and passive screening techniques is critical. In this article, we'll touch on the basics you need to know to effectively fill rental units—and for a more in-depth understanding, you can download our detailed eBook on the topic.
Key Takeaways
- Filling rental units starts before tenant screening, with strong marketing, clear listings, and a defined target audience.
- Better listings should include strong headlines, high-quality photos, detailed descriptions, accurate prices, and clear lease information.
- Landlords can reduce vacancy time by presenting rentals professionally, marketing in the right places, and following up with prospective tenants.
- The 'How to Fill Units' eBook covers audience targeting, listing creation, online and offline marketing, staging, showings, and more essential topics you need to know to successfully fill vacancies this year.
In this article
- Learn how to find good tenants to fill rental units
- Understand audience targeting for rental properties
- Create stronger rental listings and descriptions
- Improve online marketing, staging, and showings
- Download the 'How to Fill Units' eBook
How to Fill Rental Units eBook
| eBook Section | What It Covers | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Section 1: Audience Targeting | Target audiences, renter desires, amenities, location, and marketing strategy. | Helps landlords understand which renters may value the property most. |
| Section 2: Listing Creation | Headlines, photos, descriptions, and prices. | Helps landlords create listings that attract more renter interest. |
| Section 3: Marketing | Online marketing, listing sites, social media, websites, paid ads, and offline marketing. | Helps landlords reach prospective tenants across multiple channels. |
| Section 4: Staging | Cleaning, painting, decluttering, lighting, furniture, decor, and room-specific staging. | Helps renters picture themselves living in the property. |
| Section 5: Showings | Rental tours, open houses, property handouts, renter questions, and follow-up. | Helps landlords turn renter interest into applications. |
Understanding Your Target Audience
The first step in how to find good tenants is to understand what a "good" tenant looks like for you. Audience targeting is a marketing strategy that involves choosing a particular segment of your customer base to target your advertising efforts towards. For example, although the potential customer base for your properties is effectively all the renters in your town, if your property is located near a university, you may choose to specifically target college students.
If you're interested in audience targeting, your first two steps are to:
- Identify your target audience
- Find out what your target audience desires
Identifying your audience can be as simple as considering who will be the most qualified or interested in renting your property. This may involve sketching out an ideal renter's age, income, and other demographics. But be careful: This shouldn't translate into actively discriminating against tenants who don't meet these criteria in either your listings or your tenant screening.
What your target audience desires could vary widely, from preferred amenities to location or unit size. As soon as you know what your ideal tenants want, you can target your offerings and emphasize those features in your listings and advertisements. For example, you could highlight unique features like professional landscaping, custom kitchens, or upgraded appliances if those features are particularly compelling for the tenants you're interested in attracting.
Listing Creation and Descriptions
Listings are another critical component of filling your units. When learning how to advertise an apartment for rent, mastering the art of writing an engaging rental listing is key. A good listing should include a catchy headline, high-quality pictures, detailed descriptions, and, of course, the unit's rent price.
A compelling property description is crucial as it highlights unique selling points and engages potential buyers or renters. In your descriptions, use bulleted lists rather than large paragraphs, and try to be as exact with numbers, such as square footage, as possible. Clear writing and punctuation are also must-haves in your property listing description. Overall, try to express the value of your properties and the unique benefits or selling points they offer compared to other alternatives.
Common Mistakes When Writing Listings
When writing a real estate listing description, avoiding common mistakes can make a significant difference in attracting prospective tenants. Here are some pitfalls to steer clear of:
- Overly promotional language: While it's important to highlight your property's features, avoid exaggerating. Prospective tenants can see through hyperbole, and it may lead to disappointment during viewings.
- Spelling and grammar errors: Proofread your listing to ensure it's free of spelling and grammar mistakes. Errors can make your listing appear unprofessional and may deter potential renters.
- Missing essential details: Always include crucial information such as square footage, number of bedrooms, and bathrooms. Prospective tenants need these details to make informed decisions.
- Using jargon: Avoid technical terms that may be unfamiliar to renters. Use clear and straightforward language to describe the property.
- Not highlighting unique features: Make sure to emphasize what sets your property apart. Whether it's a stunning view, a newly renovated kitchen, or ample natural light, these unique features can be the deciding factor for many renters.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create a real estate listing description that is accurate, informative, and appealing to potential buyers and renters.
What Should a Rental Listing Include?
| Listing Component | What to Include |
|---|---|
| Headline | Rent price, beds, baths, property type, neighborhood, and best feature. |
| Photos | High-quality images of major rooms, natural light, layout, and standout features. |
| Description | Amenities, specs, pet policy, location, lease terms, and contact information. |
| Price | Competitive rent based on comparable properties and the local market. |
Online Marketing
If your goal is to learn how to find good tenants for rental property, you will be severely limited if you aren't taking your efforts online. Marketing your properties online can be a nerve-wracking endeavor if you've never done so before. But fortunately, online marketing is now easier than ever for landlords and property managers. It's the fastest way to get your property descriptions out there and in front of potential renters.
The first place to start is listing sites. These are where landlords can post listings, often for free, to generate renter interest and where tenants can browse available vacancies or filter availabilities by various characteristics to find a home that meets their needs. Listing sites like Apartments.com, Zillow Rental Manager, and Zumper also offer listing syndication services, which allows landlords to have their listings automatically replicated to other listing sites.
Social media is a new and growing environment that landlords and property managers can capitalize on to generate interest in their properties. It will take some time to craft a post history and a brand that accurately represents you on sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Instagram, but doing so may be a rewarding way to discover and connect with leads. You should also spend some time developing your company website, which most renters will look for to verify that your listing is credible and seek more information. High-quality visuals and engaging content are essential for your website to capture the attention of prospective buyers or renters.
Your last option for how to advertise rental property online is paid ads. This involves purchasing ad placements from other websites, search engines, and social sites to increase exposure and engagement with your own website. Ad pricing can vary widely depending on the level of exposure you're willing to pay for, but it can be massively effective in reaching potential renters.
Tips for Posting Property Photos Online
Pictures, videos, and even virtual tours make a big difference in online marketing. Here are a few tips for how to post content that gives prospective tenants a sense of what it's like to live in your property:
- Use high-quality images: Ensure your photos are well-lit and in focus. High-quality images can make a significant difference in attracting potential buyers.
- Showcase the property's best features: Highlight aspects like natural light, spacious rooms, and outdoor spaces. These features can be major selling points for prospective tenants.
- Use virtual tours or 3D walkthroughs: These tools can give prospective tenants a better sense of the property's layout and flow, making it easier for them to imagine living there.
- Consider drone photography: If applicable, drone shots can showcase the property's surroundings and neighborhood, providing a unique perspective that can attract more interest.
By including high-quality visuals and photography in your listing, you can attract more prospective tenants and give them a better sense of what it's like to live in the property.
Marketing Channels for Rental Properties
| Marketing Channel | How It Can Help |
|---|---|
| Listing sites | Put vacancies in front of renters already searching online. |
| Listing syndication | Replicate one listing across multiple rental sites. |
| Social media | Build interest through posts, photos, videos, and local groups. |
| Company website | Gives renters a credible place to learn more about the property or business. |
| Paid ads | Increase exposure through search, social, or website ad placements. |
| Offline marketing | Use newspapers, yard signs, referrals, and local organizations where useful. |
Staging a Rental Property
Staging a rental means cleaning, purchasing furniture, and decorating so that renters who tour a property immediately develop a good first impression. A unit's staging should reflect all the great qualities identified in the property listing description and emphasize the selling points of the property.
Start with cleaning, painting, and other general upkeep. If your market is competitive and there's plenty of renters interested in applying, you may be able to get away without further staging. For most markets, however, adding furniture and decor can go a long way towards convincing potential new tenants that your property could be their new home.
Some staging essentials include:
- Decluttering the rental
- Cleaning the space thoroughly
- Refreshing the paint
- Adding lighting where needed
A few other nonessentials include:
- Displaying a welcome doormat
- Utilizing accent pieces
- Including plants
- Using mirrors
It's also important to simulate functionality in each room of your rental. In other words, show tenants that the space actually can be used as designed. This could mean adding hand towels in the kitchen, setting up outdoor planters on the patio, making the bed, hanging a few pieces of clothes in the closet, or stocking the bathrooms with nice soaps.
Rental Staging Checklist
| Staging Area | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Cleanliness | Deep clean floors, counters, bathrooms, kitchens, windows, and common areas. |
| Repairs | Complete obvious repairs before taking photos or hosting showings. |
| Paint | Refresh walls where needed to make the unit feel cleaner and brighter. |
| Lighting | Add lamps, open blinds, and use natural light when possible. |
| Functionality | Show how each room can be used with simple furniture or decor. |
| Details | Add small touches like plants, mirrors, doormats, towels, or soap. |
Showings
After your property is staged, it's time to invite prospective tenants for showings. Although tenants can see pictures of your property online or even walk through the unit virtually as part of a virtual tour, in-person showings are irreplaceable with regards to their ability to help someone truly imagine living in that space. During a showing, you can give detailed explanations, answer questions, and direct renters' attention to particularly attractive features or benefits of the property. You may also choose to host open houses, where any interested renter may walk through the unit.
Here are some general tips for your rental property tours:
- Personalize the tour based on what renters most want to see or know
- Arrive on time to make a good first impression
- Provide a handout with property details for renters to refer to later
- Avoid being overbearing, and let renters wander
What Does the How to Fill Units eBook Cover?
REI Grove's How to Fill Units eBook gives landlords a deeper look at the full rental marketing process. It expands on the basics of finding and attracting renters by breaking the process into audience targeting, listing creation, marketing, staging, and showings.
This eBook includes:
- Audience targeting
- Components of audience targeting
- Identifying your target audience
- And more!
Section 1: Audience Targeting
The eBook begins with audience targeting, which helps landlords think more strategically about who may be most interested in their property. This includes identifying a target audience, understanding what those renters value, and promoting the property features most likely to appeal to them.
This section also explains that landlords can either start with an ideal renter and highlight the property features that appeal to that group, or start with the property's strongest features and identify which renters are most likely to value them.
Section 2: Listing Creation
The listing creation section explains the four major components of a rental listing: headlines, pictures, descriptions, and prices. Each component plays a role in shaping a renter's first impression.
The eBook explains that a strong headline should include important information like rent price, beds, baths, property type, neighborhood, and the property's best feature. It also emphasizes professional photos, specific descriptions, and competitive pricing.
Section 3: Marketing
The marketing section covers both online and offline rental advertising. Online marketing includes listing sites, social media, company websites, SEO, and paid advertising. Offline marketing includes more traditional strategies like newspapers, yard signs, corporate avenues, organizations, and referrals.
This section helps landlords compare different marketing options and understand where their efforts may be most effective.
Section 4: Staging
The staging section explains how landlords can prepare a rental property so renters get a strong first impression. It covers essential steps like decluttering, cleaning, painting, and adding lighting, as well as optional touches like plants, mirrors, accent pieces, and welcome decor.
This section also discusses staging specific rooms so renters can see how the space functions.
Section 5: Showing
The showing section covers how to guide prospective tenants through the rental after it has been marketed and staged. It discusses the tour itself, renter questions, property details, and post-tour follow-up.
A strong showing can help renters imagine living in the property and can move them closer to applying.
How Can This eBook Benefit Landlords?
This eBook gives you a more complete process for filling vacancies. Instead of only focusing on screening after applications come in, landlords can improve the steps that happen before an application: marketing, listing, staging, showing, and communicating with renters.
Conclusion
The above overview of how to fill your units—audience targeting, listings, marketing, staging, and showings—only scratches the surface of what you can learn to find and keep good tenants. By taking the time to learn about new technology, online resources, passive screening tactics, and even offline marketing avenues, you will be much more prepared to fill your units faster and more effectively. You can start by downloading a copy of the 'How to Fill Units' eBook below.
FAQs
How do I find good tenants?
Finding good tenants starts with clear listings, strong marketing, consistent communication, and a fair tenant screening process.
Where should I list a rental property?
Many landlords list rentals on rental listing websites, social media, local groups, company websites, and referral networks.
How do I advertise an apartment for rent?
You can advertise an apartment by creating a strong listing, using quality photos, posting online, sharing on social media, and following up with interested renters.
What should a rental listing include?
A rental listing should include rent, location, bedrooms, bathrooms, photos, amenities, pet policy, lease terms, utilities, and contact information.
Why is my rental not getting inquiries?
A rental may not get inquiries because of pricing, poor photos, missing details, weak listing copy, low visibility, or limited market demand.
Should I stage a rental property?
Staging can help renters picture the space. Even simple steps like cleaning, decluttering, lighting, and small decor can improve first impressions.