To list the exact address or not to list the exact address

Baltimore, Maryland
General Landlording & Rental Properties
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To list the exact address or not to list the exact address

Nina DiehlPro Member
Baltimore, MD · Member since 2025 · 39 posts · 15 votes

I have read some horror stories about people taken advantage of empty rental properties between tenants (people breaking and entering, creating their fake leases, and staying in the home for months before they are removed). This leads to me think I should not disclose the address of my first rental property until I know the name and contact info of the interested parties. On the other hand, I am taking away an important piece of information from people who are choosing a new home. Am I creating a longer vacancy rate by not disclosing the exact address or am I being safe and protecting my investment?  

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Seth McGatheyBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Milwaukee WI · Member since 2024 · 321 posts · 255 votes
1y

@Colleen F. I also find that the loudest and most "offended" by the price are people not even looking for a place to rent. They are literally just there to complain because they don't know what the market is like. 

[email protected]708-297-0996
Seth McGathey - Shorewest Realtor4.914 Reviews
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  • Jules Aton
    MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    1y

    I haven't ever published the property address. Listing the neighborhood was sufficient to get inquiries in my experience. 

    1Reply
  • Henry Lazerow
    Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    1y

    I have listed hundreds of rentals and never seen that happen (did leasing my first few years and still do them on the side for clients). We always list the full address here in north side Chicago. 

    Your best protection is cameras and also hiding the lockbox location. As well as of course quality locks on your property. 

    1Reply
  • Colleen F.Pro Member
    Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    1y

    @Nina Diehl Depends on where you are and where you post.  How common are these break in's in your area?   Having cameras is a good solution.  Always include a neighborhood description if you don't post address.  I don't post the exact address.  There are multiple streets with the same name and other factors so it is not about break ins for me.

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  • Isadore Swartz
    Member since 2025 · 45 posts · 47 votes
    1y

    I have always posted the address. If there is a picture, people will google lens it and probably get it anyway. I do this all the time to find fake ads on Craigs...

    What I do to keep the rif-raf away, is to post it for 3 days, two of them being a weekend, where I host a rental open house. I tell anyone who clicks the I am interested button on Zillow I only give out applications at the open. Remove the Ad right after the open.

    A good open will bring 10 to 15 groups and 3 - 5 applicants. I am not telling 50 button pushers all about the house, or having to go there 8 times for showings at dinnertime.

    If I don't get good applicant (happened once in February where only one person showed), I post again the following Thursday night fri, morning.

    Been doing this for 11 years, never a problem.

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  • Bill B.
    Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    1y

    There are 1000’s of rentals with their exact address listed on Zillow (and the 5 or 6 other competitors.) in your market right now. Maybe it’s a problem in a C/D neighborhood? But those thieves already saw the U-Haul and they know it’s empty. 

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  • Seth McGatheyBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Milwaukee WI · Member since 2024 · 321 posts · 255 votes
    1y

    For me it depends where. I list the full address on most websites. But I also list on Facebook marketplace and there I just do the neighborhood because there are a lot of crazy people on there. I have had multiple people on Facebook marketplace suggest killing me is a good idea because the rent I was asking for was higher than they felt it should be. (Even though I price within the market.) But realistically, if someone wants to find it, they will/can. It's not that hard once you know the area and what the pictures look like.

    [email protected]708-297-0996
    Seth McGathey - Shorewest Realtor4.914 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
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  • Nina DiehlPro Member
    OP
    Baltimore, MD · Member since 2025 · 39 posts · 15 votes
    1y

    Yikes @Seth McGathey- there really are some weirdos out there

    1Reply
  • Colleen F.Pro Member
    Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    1y

    @Seth McGathey We have a local FB page for yearly rentals in the area which are more difficult to find. It is the same thing people come on and argue/complain about the price.   I  hesitate to post there because they are nuts and we offer a fair price for the units. It is a very easy to recognize property.  The best is in that page you post your rental and you get anonymous posts commenting. The internet makes people have no filter.

    2Reply
  • Nina DiehlPro Member
    OP
    Baltimore, MD · Member since 2025 · 39 posts · 15 votes
    1y

    @Isadore Swartz do you advertise your open house in other ways?  Or just tell whomever sends you an interest DM?


    Do you turn off the listing throughout the whole week and turn it back on Friday morning?

    0Reply
  • Jay Hines
    Property Manager · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2025 · 23 posts · 9 votes
    1y

    are you working with someone?

    0Reply
  • Nina DiehlPro Member
    OP
    Baltimore, MD · Member since 2025 · 39 posts · 15 votes
    1y

    @Jay Hines my goal is to manage this property on my own

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  • Jay Hines
    Property Manager · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2025 · 23 posts · 9 votes
    1y

    understood.

    0Reply
  • Colleen F.Pro Member
    Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    1y

    @Seth McGathey except dog owners, they are actually looking.  I have been cursed by more dog owners than you can imagine for not allowing dogs in an apartment due to between unit noise they make and the owners are nasty.   

    1Reply
  • Chris Chisholm
    Investor · Regina, SK · Member since 2025 · 54 posts · 42 votes
    1y

    I never publish the address.  There's no benefit to posting the address in my mind and a whole pile of problems that comes from posting it.  In my ads I post very specific details on the neighborhood and distances from the closest schools, etc so they have a solid idea of the area.  That's all they need to know until I've prequalified them to get a viewing lined up.

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