Need help renting rooms

[Sean Rhodes]

I just recently purchased a home. My plan for the home was going to be renting rooms. Everything is going pretty good but I’m having trouble finding good tenants to fill the rooms. I have been using craigslist and another resource for roommates finding called Roomiematch and they have been okay, but I’m just wondering if there is anything else out there for this. I’ve talked to property management companies and they said they don’t do single room rentals. I am in the Portland area in Oregon if anyone has any good tips for me. Thanks BP!!!!

[Nicole Marshall]

@Sean Rhodes Have you verified that you're on par with the market rents in your area? You might be overpriced without realizing it. 

Also, furnishing a room helps a ton, even if it's just a bed. I have beds in all my rooms that I rent out... renters find it easier to find a cheap dresser or just put their clothes in the closet, buy an Ikea stand or something for next to the bed. The bed is the hardest thing for a renter to obtain. And then what happens when they move out? They lug this heavy thing to their next place? Rent a truck just to move a bed? Sometimes yes but a mattress is a big purchase for a lot of people - they like to take their time researching if they are going to spend a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

I agree with @Greg Gaudet about staging. Like I said, even a bed with a nice bedspread (could be yours just for the photo) makes a lot of difference in an ad. Once I started adding photos of the room (after I remodeled) and the pool, I got a lot more responses.

Definitely don't lower your standards. Heavily screen every applicant. It's also harder to rent this time of year. Whenever I have a tenant move out, I'm usually able to find a new one within 2 weeks, but all my rooms are actually vacant at the moment - it's just market timing. Keep at it, you'll find a good tenant!