Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2008 · 45 posts · 1 vote
Anyone do anything different then craigslist and zillow? And have let neighbors know it is available and offered a referral fee. I have a fairly nice 3/2 for rent in a decent part of town and am not getting a lot of activity on it. I thought things would pick up closer to June 1st but they haven't.
I don't do yard signs. And I don't put the address on the internet postings. Any other ideas on increasing activity?
Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
14y
I create my ad in www.postlets.com, and it syndicates the ad out to all kinds of sites - Hot Pads, Trulia, Zillow, etc. Sites I've never even heard of. You get the option of copying/pasting the HTML from Postlets into craigslist, to make a really sharp ad.
I never post the property number, only the street and the cross street, for my SFRs. Since they're vacant single family homes, I don't want people scoping them out, possibly trying to break in. I don't use For Rent signs either for that reason.
When someone calls for a viewing, I tell them to call again half an hour before their appointment time and then I'll give them the address. Making them confirm saves time in going over there, cuts way down on no-shows, and only the serious ones will do it.
Check craigslist for comparable properties and what they're renting for. I had about 30 people come and see my recently listed property, and it was rented in 2 weeks. Make sure the images you post are high quality, not blurry or dark.
Realtor · Houston, TX · Member since 2011 · 916 posts · 296 votes
14y
Is the rent too high for the area? Maybe you should put the address on the posting. Some people dont even reply to an ad without an address because they think its a scam.
Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
14y
I create my ad in www.postlets.com, and it syndicates the ad out to all kinds of sites - Hot Pads, Trulia, Zillow, etc. Sites I've never even heard of. You get the option of copying/pasting the HTML from Postlets into craigslist, to make a really sharp ad.
I never post the property number, only the street and the cross street, for my SFRs. Since they're vacant single family homes, I don't want people scoping them out, possibly trying to break in. I don't use For Rent signs either for that reason.
When someone calls for a viewing, I tell them to call again half an hour before their appointment time and then I'll give them the address. Making them confirm saves time in going over there, cuts way down on no-shows, and only the serious ones will do it.
Check craigslist for comparable properties and what they're renting for. I had about 30 people come and see my recently listed property, and it was rented in 2 weeks. Make sure the images you post are high quality, not blurry or dark.
Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
14y
Originally posted by Aly L:
...
I never post the property number, only the street and the cross street, for my SFRs. Since they're vacant single family homes, I don't want people scoping them out, possibly trying to break in. ...
For online ads, I completely agree with not exposing the exact address, but just the nearest intersection. The potential tenants want to have an idea ahead of time about the nature of the neighborhood.
I DO use "for rent" signs in front of the building where I have the vacancy, AND in front of my already occupied houses in the same neighborhood. For the already occupied houses, I clear it in advance with the tenants in there so that they don't think I'm trying to get rid of them - I tell them I'm just trying to get more phone calls for the vacancy around the corner or up the street. Those calling the number on the sign have so far been the better prospects - they know they want to be in that area.
Investor · Valparaiso, IN · Member since 2011 · 103 posts · 65 votes
14y
Originally posted by Matt S:
Anyone do anything different then craigslist and zillow? And have let neighbors know it is available and offered a referral fee. I have a fairly nice 3/2 for rent in a decent part of town and am not getting a lot of activity on it. I thought things would pick up closer to June 1st but they haven't.
I don't do yard signs. And I don't put the address on the internet postings. Any other ideas on increasing activity?
Wish I could help. Craigslist has brought us every single-family tenant we've had in the past 5 years.
I'll echo the advice shared above to make sure you have a good ad, with good photos & a good description.
Residential Landlord · Chicago, IL · Member since 2012 · 356 posts · 81 votes
14y
I think this one is property specific. I have a multi-unit that all I have ever done is put a sign in the window. Although I have tried other channels (online sites, craigslist, rental agents, etc.) no other strategy has exceeded the rent I can get from a $5 sign. In your case, if you don't think the sign is an option you could consider enlisting an agent to assist you. Pricey, but better than a month of vacancy, and there is a chance they'll get a higher rent than you're asking....
Investor · Hampton Bays, NY · Member since 2009 · 907 posts · 258 votes
14y
I post my rentals on section 8 web page in Dayton. This has produced activity but the signs are the most effective. Prospective renters often search the area and call on the signs even though the pictures are on display on the web.
Investor · Southlake, TX · Member since 2009 · 950 posts · 338 votes
14y
I've had luck with MLS. Not a whole lot of experience but I did get tremendous traffic, most were qualified and I was able to pick an absolutely great tenant.
I ran craigslist at the same time and didn't get near the traffic and got much more nonqualified prospects.
Rental Property Investor · Englewood FL & Prior Lake, MN · Member since 2012 · 107 posts · 33 votes
14y
I've used signs before, but never had very good response. We tried newspaper ads too, but nothing ever really compares with Craigslist. Good pictures and a decent description help. We post the address, but understand the security concerns. We may pull that in the future. We haven't tried the MLS, but may in the future. Pricing is key. You can only put so much lipstick on a pig. You've got to know the competition.
Real Estate Broker · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2009 · 575 posts · 496 votes
14y
By not advertising the address online you are eliminating 95% of your possible target online customers.. and "for rent" signs are THE number 1 way to rent your property.. period. You need a comprehensive marketing plan. It sounds like you need to hire a leasing agency.
Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
14y
Originally posted by Phillip Dwyer:
What do you have against signs? I've had the best luck with these.
From what I've read from those opposed to signs, the location of their vacant rental is not the best area so the sign gives the thieves notice that there is an easy target.
I agree with you that signs lead to better results in filling units.
Investor · Southlake, TX · Member since 2009 · 950 posts · 338 votes
14y
Originally posted by Ryan M.:
Tod R. How do you go about getting them on the MLS?, Fees?, Worth it?
Any other out of the box ways?
Thanks in advance.
You can list on MLS for lease in addition to for sale. I used my for lease sign prior to MLS and got some pretty good response but the MLS created more traffic. The cost was 1/2 month's lease payment. I considered it worth it, especially since I didn't have to go show it.
Hatfield, PA · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 629 votes
14y
Originally posted by Ryan Mullin:
By not advertising the address online you are eliminating 95% of your possible target online customers.. .
If address you mean street address, I have not found this to be true at all. And I think someone is insane to provide a street address on an online site, without some kind of interactive screening to ensure they are at least somewhat qualified. No way in the world I want a bunch of strangers knowing a unit is empty, looking in windows, "driving by" disturbing other tenants/neighbors, etc.
Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
14y
As I wrote earlier in this thread, I am in agreement with Ken - no exact street address, only nearest intersection. That allows the prospects to have an idea of the neighborhood, which is the info the online customers really need. I suspect that giving an exact address might be more likely to lead to the property being targeted by the various CL scammers for some kind of scam.
Rental Property Investor · Northern, CA · Member since 2012 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
14y
I use Craigslist along with a for rent sign in the front yard. I would say that 50% of the calls I get come from Craigslist, and the other 50% come from the sign (people driving around the area they want to live in).
Rental Property Investor · Memphis, TN · Member since 2011 · 111 posts · 40 votes
14y
It all depends on your area, the type of tenants and how they want to communicate. My tenants for example are usually younger and computer savvy and thus use the internet, e-mail and text messaging to communicate. We have a website (through our property management software company) that generates most of our leads. The management software also automatically posts ads on craigslist and other sites, which also generates numerous leads. We hardly use yard signs anymore and the daily paper is no good and too expensive.
In other areas, I have friends who have to use yard signs because their prospective tenants are not connected or do not read the paper or are driving around a particular neighborhood they wish to live in. I have one investor friend who even hires people to hand out fliers at supermarkets advertising his rentals.
So it just depends on how your prospective tenants want to communicate. You have to figure that out. Good luck!
Syracuse, NY · Member since 2011 · 53 posts · 47 votes
14y
I look at my vacancies and think about what people would need to be in that area for school or work. Then I target the workplaces and schools.
For one near a hospital I've gotten a friend of a friend who worked there to put a flyer on a break room bulletin board - ended up renting to two nurses.
I got some of my rentals on the housing list for a community college which is a few miles away. Some of them are near Syracuse University so I advertised on a site that is specifically for off campus SU housing and I emailed info to some friends who work at SU.
Property Manager · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2011 · 16 posts · 1 vote
13y
Originally posted by Aly L:
I create my ad in www.postlets.com, and it syndicates the ad out to all kinds of sites - Hot Pads, Trulia, Zillow, etc. Sites I've never even heard of. You get the option of copying/pasting the HTML from Postlets into craigslist, to make a really sharp ad.
I never post the property number, only the street and the cross street, for my SFRs. Since they're vacant single family homes, I don't want people scoping them out, possibly trying to break in. I don't use For Rent signs either for that reason.
How do you get around having the actual address for sites like Trulia and Zillow?
Commercial Real Estate Broker · San Diego, CA · Member since 2012 · 21 posts · 2 votes
13y
Timing-The trick with craigslist is to post between 5-6pm. That way when people read your ad after work when they are home thinking about having to move.
Post type- dont respond to emails rather request thier phone number to discuss. The passive aggressive types take longer to sell on the vacancy.
Availablilty-Post your cell phone and make sure to answer the line evertime it rings
Frequency-Post every day Monday-Friday. As new listing post your ad will move down the page and most likely will not be viewed.Mornings work best on Saturday, and Sundays afternoons are best.
Follow up- I keep a lead sheet of all people that call and and follow up with them daily. The more aggressive you are the faster you will fill your vacancy.
Best season-Summer and the last two weeks of the month are when you will recieve the most inquiries.
Dont be lazy- keep marketing until you have a signed lease. The last thing you want is waivering tenant and you have stopped your marketing efforts. You may have to start over from scratch if the tenant walks