When it comes to marketing your property, the process can be diced up in a few different ways. A lot goes into it, and if you don’t have a plan set up, you could be disorganized.
First, make sure the house looks good, smells good and presents well. This is important. Make sure the electricity and the water are turned on, and keep it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. When someone walks through it, you want them to get the feeling that it’s clean and fresh. If it’s cold out, the heat should be on. In Florida, a house can get damp and musty if the air is not on. We like to keep it set at 79 or 80 degrees, then knock it down when a showing is scheduled.
Use all available marketing outlets. You can list your rental property on HotPads, Craigslist, FreeRentalSite.com and many others. If you’re a realtor, you can use the MLS. Get access to a lot of outlets so people can find the listing easily. Consider watermarking your photos with a phone number or your name. People in other countries have been scamming ads on Craigslist and you want to protect yourself and your potential tenants. Make sure people know you are the one posting the ad.
Put a sign in the window. Keep that sign visible with a phone number and company name. At Cavalier Estates, we post signs that include phone numbers that lead people to a recording, where they can listen to details about the houses we have available. You can do the same thing for a very low cost. Leave a detailed message on the recorder explaining what the property is like, how many rooms it has, what the square footage is, as well as information on other details and amenities to the property. This gives the caller an idea of what the property is about. At the end of the message, leave your cell number or another way for them to get in touch with you directly. A lot of tenants want to know what the rent is and how much of a deposit is required before they see the house. If it’s out of their price range, they won’t waste your time.
Finally, don’t chase tenants. This only makes you look desperate to get your property rented. Let the tenants come to you. Make them jump through a few hoops so you’re sure they’re right for you. There are many different ways to market your property. We recommend ads and getting tenants as much information about the house as possible before showing them the place.
If you’d like more information, specifically about techniques on showing your house without even being there, please contact us at Cavalier Estates.
