Do you post your listings on Facebook?

General Landlording & Rental Properties
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Do you post your listings on Facebook?

Elijah White
New to Real Estate · Aubrey, TX · Member since 2019 · 11 posts · 12 votes

I posted our first property for rent on Facebook marketplace and have received over 35 Facebook messages inquiring about availability and showings. I used Rentometer and Zillow’s rent estimate to determine my rent, but now I’m thinking it is way too low. So, should I remove the listing and repost at a higher price, or is it normal to have this many inquiries normal and the majority will flake out? 

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Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
6y

It doesn't mean your rent is too low. Private Landlords tend to get a lot more inquiries because bad tenants think there won't be a screening process and they can sneak in. Or maybe they think you'll be a pushover and negotiable on the price.

Your advertising should be clear about your most basic qualifications. This will allow potential renters to self-eliminate. For example, just mentioning you will run a credit/criminal background on every person 18 or older will stop about 1/3 - 1/2 of all inquiries. I would keep it pretty basic to your top 3-5 requirements:

  • Must make 3x the rent
  • Credit score of at least 620 for each applicant
  • No animals allowed

Anyone with a criminal record or a 550 credit score will (usually) move on to the next rental. This will dramatically reduce the number of inquiries.

I would take the ad down for a day or two, beef it up, and then try again.

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  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    6y

    It doesn't mean your rent is too low. Private Landlords tend to get a lot more inquiries because bad tenants think there won't be a screening process and they can sneak in. Or maybe they think you'll be a pushover and negotiable on the price.

    Your advertising should be clear about your most basic qualifications. This will allow potential renters to self-eliminate. For example, just mentioning you will run a credit/criminal background on every person 18 or older will stop about 1/3 - 1/2 of all inquiries. I would keep it pretty basic to your top 3-5 requirements:

    • Must make 3x the rent
    • Credit score of at least 620 for each applicant
    • No animals allowed

    Anyone with a criminal record or a 550 credit score will (usually) move on to the next rental. This will dramatically reduce the number of inquiries.

    I would take the ad down for a day or two, beef it up, and then try again.

    The DIY Landlord Book4.7243 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    4Reply
  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    6y

    I absoulutely use FB marketplace to post vacancies.

    I had 40 people inquire abut property, about 7 show up to the open house and 5 applications.

    Many of those people are tire kickers and just click on the "Is this still available" button.

    3Reply
  • Jon A.
    Asheville, NC · Member since 2017 · 385 posts · 274 votes
    6y

    I do most of my advertising on FB. You will get a lot of "is this available?" responses because people will hit the wrong button on their mobile phone. I have done it by accident myself looking at things on FB marketplace. I have also noticed that people just want to message all the time and not make a phone call. I copy and paste a response with my phone number for them to call me because I can't stop what I am doing at work all day to answer text messages. I am constantly shocked at is how few people actually call the number. They all want to text me with 50 questions. If they don't call and leave a message I don't respond. After work, I start returning phone calls to the people that have left messages. One thing that is nice about FB marketplace is that you can see how many people viewed your ads. Giving all the info in the ad will curb some of those responses. Like @Nathan Gesner says, it doesn't mean you are too low in price. Just make sure you know your market. Lots of response is better than no response. 

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  • Daniel Haberkost
    Rental Property Investor · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2018 · 682 posts · 729 votes
    6y

    @Elijah White I use FB marketplace to advertise and have the same response. I just copy and paste the same response (outlining that I’ll do a background check, call their previous landlords, verify their income) to everyone who inquires so I don’t waste my time.

    I’ve gotten several good tenants using it.

    1Reply
  • Elijah White
    OP
    New to Real Estate · Aubrey, TX · Member since 2019 · 11 posts · 12 votes
    6y

    Thank you all for your help! I realize I should have had more of our qualification standards in the post. I ended up just doing a copy and paste response with our basic qualification standards; we will see how much that helps. 

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  • Steve Vaughan
    Rental Property Investor · East Wenatchee, WA · Member since 2014 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Elijah White:

    Thank you all for your help! I realize I should have had more of our qualification standards in the post. I ended up just doing a copy and paste response with our basic qualification standards; we will see how much that helps. 

     I like to ask questions towards the bottom of the posting for them to answer in their reply or message.  It will stand out big time when someone actually read it and complied vs asked if it's available.  Night and day.

    I at least ask how many people, how many animals, does anyone smoke and how soon are you seeking something.  Nothing like the perfect applicant that needs to wait 4 months and has 3 animals.  Find out early in the convo.

    1Reply
  • Polina Orlova
    Rental Property Investor · Toronto · Member since 2018 · 16 posts · 2 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Nathan Gesner:

    It doesn't mean your rent is too low. Private Landlords tend to get a lot more inquiries because bad tenants think there won't be a screening process and they can sneak in. Or maybe they think you'll be a pushover and negotiable on the price.

    Your advertising should be clear about your most basic qualifications. This will allow potential renters to self-eliminate. For example, just mentioning you will run a credit/criminal background on every person 18 or older will stop about 1/3 - 1/2 of all inquiries. I would keep it pretty basic to your top 3-5 requirements:

    • Must make 3x the rent
    • Credit score of at least 620 for each applicant
    • No animals allowed

    Anyone with a criminal record or a 550 credit score will (usually) move on to the next rental. This will dramatically reduce the number of inquiries.

    I would take the ad down for a day or two, beef it up, and then try again.

    I think Facebook Marketplace is banning me for describing these qualification criteria as it violates Community Standards they have 
    0Reply
  • Polina Orlova
    Rental Property Investor · Toronto · Member since 2018 · 16 posts · 2 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Jon A.:

    I do most of my advertising on FB. You will get a lot of "is this available?" responses because people will hit the wrong button on their mobile phone. I have done it by accident myself looking at things on FB marketplace. I have also noticed that people just want to message all the time and not make a phone call. I copy and paste a response with my phone number for them to call me because I can't stop what I am doing at work all day to answer text messages. I am constantly shocked at is how few people actually call the number. They all want to text me with 50 questions. If they don't call and leave a message I don't respond. After work, I start returning phone calls to the people that have left messages. One thing that is nice about FB marketplace is that you can see how many people viewed your ads. Giving all the info in the ad will curb some of those responses. Like @Nathan Gesner says, it doesn't mean you are too low in price. Just make sure you know your market. Lots of response is better than no response. 

    Facebook Marketplace is banning me for posting a simple ad. Are there some rules to follow when posting a rental ad on Facebook Marketplace?

    0Reply
  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Polina Orlova:

    If that's happening, try advertising it somewhere else, then use your facebook ad to link to the full ad.
    The DIY Landlord Book4.7243 Reviews
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    0Reply
  • Eliott Elias
    Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2021 · 9k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    3y

    Facebook is the home of unqualified buyers and renters. It's not uncommon

    0Reply
  • Polina Orlova
    Rental Property Investor · Toronto · Member since 2018 · 16 posts · 2 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Nathan Gesner:
    Quote from @Polina Orlova:

    If that's happening, try advertising it somewhere else, then use your facebook ad to link to the full ad.
    Thank you for advice Nathan. Facebook has 2 venues for advertising: one is Meta( those ads that show up when you are browsing) and Marketplace (like craiglist). Meta did not bring us many leads while Marketplace brought us like (10 leads per hour). Currently facebook banned us from Marketplace but we can still use Meta I believe, however, Meta is not that effective(maybe we are not using it right though). I will try to do as you said. Thank you
    0Reply
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