Few Steps for Writing Effective Rental Listings

Rental listings are a fundamental part of your marketing strategy. 

An effective rental ad is short, sweet, and to the point.

A well-thought-out, well-written listing will attract the kinds of tenants you’re looking for. 

It needs to have all the information necessary such as: the basic specs of the villa such as the number of beds, baths and square footage, and specific policies, such as whether pets are allowed.

You’ll want to include this essential information in the briefest format possible. So here our compilation of few steps for writing effective rental listings.

Study/Read how your competitors are talking about their features and amenities. Look at their pictures to see how they’re presenting their properties.

Also, look to see if there’s anything missing that your property has; something that makes you stand apart.

You can’t make your property sound better than everything else out there if you don’t know what everyone else is offering. Read current ads before you write yours. 

What, if anything, sets those other properties apart?

If your property shares the same selling points, make sure that you also include those features in your ad. 

You’ll want to make mention of anything your property has that the others don’t.

This one may seem pretty obvious, but if you manage multiple properties, it can be pretty tough to know details and amenities for every single one.

Take the time to refresh your memory by doing a walk-through of vacant properties, or reviewing old listings.

If the unit is still occupied, ask if you can set up a time to take a walk-through. Better yet, ask the current owners what they like best about their properties there.

Also, only make note of parking if it’s available at your property. State whether it’s off-street parking, such as a driveway or a parking lot, or on-street parking.

Another must-have in your rental ad is your pet policy. Make it clear what animals you’ll allow in your property. No pets at all? Only cats? Make it clear up front to prevent misunderstandings or conflict down the road.

If the neighborhood is a selling point, mention it, but otherwise, you might want to skirt around it. You can also include services, stores, restaurants, and schools that are nearby.

About the utilities, you don’t necessarily have to say “utilities are not included”. People don’t like to hear what they’re not getting in an apartment, so avoid any comments that can be construed as negative.

Choose your words carefully, but try not to go over the top. Too much enthusiasm can make people suspicious and be a turnoff.

3. Show, Don’t Tell

Then, write a listing that gets straight to the point. Show your audience how great your property is instead of telling them.

For example, don’t start a listing with something like this:
“This is a lovely single-family home that’s perfect for young families.”

Instead, try this:
“A 1,800-square-foot single-family home with a finished basement, large back yard, and space for a nursery or home office that’s close to nationally ranked schools.”

Include as many of those features your audience is looking for to give them a good picture of your property.

4. Include Really Great Photos

You may be tempted to take photos as part of your walk-through, but don’t. Wait until the walls are repainted, the whole unit has been professionally cleaned and ready to welcome your future guests.

Remember, you want to put your best foot forward in your listing.

For great pictures that help you do that, follow these tips:

• Take several pictures from different angles in each room.
• Take your pictures when you have the most light available.
• Opt for a wide-angle lens instead of a fish-eye lens, which distorts pictures.
• Take high-quality images, also use a tripod to avoid blurry images.
• Don’t include people in your shots.
• Make sure the property is tidied up.

Never include a listing without images, or with just a few shots. It gives the impression that your property has something to hide.

This might sound like a whole lot of information to squeeze into a short, sweet, and to-the-point ad. But no one is going to be gauging your sentence structure—readers are looking for information. Write it, then read it over and cross out anything that’s redundant or unnecessary.

Your listings are the foundation of your marketing strategy. They are your audience’s direct line to your available properties. Writing a listing that features the best parts of your properties and cuts out all the fluff will help you attract tenants and build your reputation as a provider of fantastic rental experiences.