All Forum Posts by: Amir B.

This is also how a scam artist would advertise a property they didn’t own. All exterior pictures.  I assume you’re using a PM.  If not, get one. If so, switch to a different one, they should have done all the advertising and pricing and should have known better. 2 weeks is a pretty long vacancy. I’m also going to assume you contacted a PM before buying this property so you would know how much it would rent for and how fast, and that there was a market for a 5/1. Personally I’ve never seen such a beast but I assume someone told you it was normal for that market and they could rent it out for you. 

Only 4 pics and all exterior.

Hire a professional photographer. Get floor plans. Also most people looking to rent a 5 bedroom house will want more than 1 bath. Consider adding a bathroom.

Don't take this post the wrong way but I am really just giving you honest feedback on what I think which is probably what many potential applicants are thinking as well, I'm only trying to help.  

You hopefully really didn't put your best foot forward on this listing.  Generally if there is something I don't want someone to see I won't take a picture of it.  You zoomed in on a cracked driveway full of weeds and a fence that looks like it is going to fall down at any moment with bad landscaping.  There are no pictures on the inside but if I were a tenant I'd say the reason is because it is in even worse shape than the outside.  I'm genuinely curious why you didn't include a single picture of the inside but from the listing I would assume it is in slum like conditions.  That doesn't mean that it is but based on the 4 pictures you showed and the fact that a applicant is going to have to assume you are hiding something I just don't see tenants beating down the door to take a look.  

In your defense though I have to assume that the real reason you didn't post pictures is you remodeled the house since you bought it in April but it wasn't available until last week.  Hurry up and take some new pictures since I assume you have fixed the fence and made some great improvements inside to get rid of the negative stereotype of your listing.  If an applicant bothers to read you state that it is updated with SS appliances and an updated kitchen but people aren't going to get past the pictures to read.  I don't know the area at all but you seem to be priced significantly above the other houses in the area. 

Have you been allowing showings while you are renovating.  I bought a house over the summer that was a real fixer uppper but let tenants know that it wouldn't be ready for a month thinking they would understand and see my vision.  They didn't and I wasted a lot of time showing I could have been working.  I took it down for a couple weeks and then rented it fairly easily when it was in better shape. 

I've never posted on realtor, I may have to try it but I get a lot of traction in my area on Zillow are you posted there as well.  I also post on FB marketplace but it is mostly garbage applicants and a waste of time however I'll eventually get someone on there so I keep trying.  

When I re-read my post I noticed I used the word assume a lot both positive and negative and edited a few of them out but I think that is the real issue with your listing is your pictures don't tell the story.  I'm sure it is a really nice house and you did a great job updating but if I were an applicant I wouldn't waste my time looking into it for one of the most expensive houses in the area.  

The pictures are really lackluster. Pay a professional to get good ones of the exterior AND interior. If I were looking to rent I would pass on that due to no interior pictures, I wouldn't want to waste my time with a showing as I would suspect the inside to be worse than the outside with pictures like that. 

Spend the money and you will get a good return, if not, time to lower the price. 

Also, as @Terrell Garren 5bd 1 BA is a really tough ask. Whatever it costs in the area, it would be worth it to add the extra bathroom. 

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

5BR/1BA - That's a lot of waiting.  I would have converted a BR to a BA.  It does look pretty rough.  Time to lower the price I suspect. 

Honestly, those pictures look pretty rough and there are none of the interior. Still a shortage of rentals should not take that long.

Honestly, those pictures look pretty rough and there are none of the interior. Still a shortage of rentals should not take that long.

What is the vacancy rate in the area and are other homes sitting on the market?  Vacancies shouldn't last months at this time of year.  Find out what platforms others are using to list rentals, look at the photos and assess the price.  

@Amir B.

Common sense and due diligence. Due diligence on everyone from the title company to the agent every single person you talk to