When it comes to advertising a vacant rental unit, there are certain resources and trends you will want to take advantage of in creating a good marketing plan. Conversely, there are practices you should avoid altogether.
Knowing more about good rental marketing practices in advance can help you avoid costly mistakes that might otherwise hurt your efforts.
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Tips for Dos
The following suggestions offer effective ways for you to maximize your advertising efforts to help you fill your vacancies faster.
Build a Strong Online Presence
Even if you already use property management in San Diego, you should also have your own internet presence. You can increase the visibility of your rental property by sharing the listings that the management company creates for you. Start with a website that features a blog to give you a place to talk about your real estate niche.
Use Social Media
You should also build a strong social media presence by creating accounts on the three major platforms. Join groups and follow pages that are related to your niche. This will help prospective tenants find you. When you share interesting and engaging content, people who follow those pages will also follow you.
Use Premium Digital Marketing
While social media marketing offers free and low-cost advertising options, that’s not where you should stop. Instead, use those money-saving options to supplement a larger advertising campaign. Take advantage of PPC advertising, mobile marketing, and SMS marketing to help you spread awareness about your rental properties.
Use Print Marketing
While digital marketing is great for finding a broader number of potential tenants, print advertising is effective in reaching your local community. Print up flyers, take out ads in your local newspaper, and ask your property management in San Diego to hang banners in front of the property if they haven’t already done so.
Enlist Help
When you have a vacant unit, make sure to let your relatives, friends, and co-workers know. If any of them are willing to help, send them links to your unit’s listing.
Getting the people you know to share your links and tell others about the vacancy can help you find a tenant that much sooner. Word of mouth advertising is a great way to spread awareness.
Use Video Clips
Video is already highly used in the real estate industry to help buyers and renters get a closer look at available properties. Filming a video that showcases your available unit and the amenities on the property will attract a higher number of potential renters. While photos are still important, a video can really help you make the sale.
Don’ts — The Major Actions to Avoid
Here are some common mistakes property owners make in marketing their vacancies. These blunders can sabotage your efforts to find new tenants.
Disregarding Millennial
While some companies that offer property management in San Diego are starting to turn an eye toward Generation Z, millennials still comprise the bulk of the real estate market. They have been hit hard by recent economic changes, but they still need rental properties.
By focusing your marketing efforts on millennials, you’ll get a greater share of that 20-million-strong part of the market.
Ignoring Properties with Lower Rent
You might be tempted to prioritize rental properties that can earn a higher rent from new tenants, but that could leave you suffering losses. It’s far better to treat each property equally.
In the current economic climate, many people are looking for apartments that offer lower rent. If you own properties that fit the bill, make sure to market those units just as openly.
Neglecting Safety Features
Rather than focusing solely on the features you think prospective tenants will find most attractive, you should also mention important safety features.
For example, make sure your property management in San Diego markets your rental unit’s security system. If the unit is in a tropical area and has hurricane shutters, make sure the listing mentions that as well.
Making It Hard to Contact You
Every digital ad or post should link to your website or another site that provides a way to contact you. Consider linking directly to your email address. Your print ads should also offer clear contact information.
A common problem that individual property owners run into is that interested tenants don’t know how to contact them. Make this as easy as possible.
Forgetting About Open Houses
An open house is a great way to market a house that you’re selling, but it’s just as effective in filling a vacant rental unit. Make each open house an event to remember. As people enjoy the food, contests, and entertainment, they will have a chance to tour the vacant unit. A little post-party clean-up will be well worth the rewards your open house events will bring.
When you find a marketing campaign that works well for you, save those resources in a folder on your computer. Each time a unit becomes vacant, you can refer back to that information. While you may have to tweak your advertising campaign or incorporate newer technology, the same basic marketing style can serve you well again.