Through a renter's eyes: An inside look into what potential tenants actually look for in their online search.

Do you know what renters are really looking for? To make your rental property listing more desirable to potential renters, it's important to understand how and what they look for when using the rental search sites. 

Renters search for rentals based on the bedroom quantity and location.  They will narrow down their choices by adding a price range or maximum price.  Having your property priced within general market range ensures that your property will be seen in the renter’s search results. Items that would enhance the value of a property for sale, do not always have the same impact on rental price. Renters will not pay extra for things like gourmet appliances, high end carpeting, expensive fixtures etc.   Keep that in mind when setting the rental price as being within market range is vital to make sure the renters are able to see your ad after filtering for price.  

Having photos that fully display the property will help the renters virtually tour the property. The photos are very important as they draw the renter’s attention to your ad and encourage the renters to click on your ad to learn more about the property. Check out our article (Are your rental property photos maximizing your listing results?) on how to post and take the best photos of your rental.

Once the renter opens up your rental ad a good description of the property helps them take the next step and schedule a property visit.  A good ad description will include the basic description of the unit and neighborhood, who pays for utilities and garbage, and any unique features (pool, fireplace, hot tub) that will set your rental apart from others in your neighborhood.  On most listing sites you will also need to add property amenities as those are items that tenants can also filter on.  If you have hardwood floors, in unit washer/dryer, included appliances, parking included, etc. make sure that is marked as appropriate in the amenities/features section when creating the listing.

One final item to consider is the pet policy.  Over 50% of renters are pet owners. Allowing pets will allow you full access to the renter marketplace.  You can restrict the type, size and number of pets, but not allowing pets at all will reduce the marketability of your property by at least half.  Adding a monthly pet rent and initial pet deposit will help you manage any damage caused by a renter’s pets. 

To get the most exposure and greatest number of results from your rental listing, keep the above tips in mind.  If you would like some help in getting your property listed on over 30 sites and help managing all of the potential renter interest, visit zenplace.com/howitworks for a quick video tour of our Leasing Management Platform and see how Zenplace can help!  

Questions? Call 888.342.7550 or Email contactus@zenplace.com.