Let your long-term letting agency market your rental property

As a property investor or landlord, having your rental properties occupied with good tenants who look after your property, and pay their rent on time and in full is essential.

For this reason, property investors and landlords are encouraged to form a long-term relationship with a letting agency that can take care of the marketing and administration of the properties in their portfolios.

According to Pearl Scheltema, CEO of Fitzanne Estates, there are many different ways your letting agency can market and advertise your property.
Using great signage in rental property marketing

Although most industries have gone past the requirement for print media, real estate firms have not.

“Real estate signage, with the perfect font, colour and template can draw the attention of everyone who passes by your listed property,” said Scheltema.

“Professional letting agencies make use of the fact that real estate signs still make a significant difference in marketing their business and services.”

This is because most people, especially serious house searchers, scout potential properties by driving throughout neighbourhoods. Well-designed signage can elicit the desired response from your target audience.

Long-term letting agencies include real estate signs in a marketing strategy as it has no downside. It is:

• Cost-effective
• Multipurpose
• Requires little to no maintenance
• Helps build a professional image
• Markets your business 24/7, increase visibility by using social media

There are a lot of rental property marketing ideas out there, but this is one of the best.

“When it comes to promoting your rental property, social media reigns supreme,” explained Scheltema.

“Property listings can be shared on your long-term letting agency’s social media profiles or in relevant Facebook groups. They can target your listing to Facebook users in a specific city or by demographic, such as age, using a paid advertising tool.”

Making use of email marketing
Email marketing helps to nurture leads and keep in touch with prospective and present tenants regularly.
Effective email marketing keeps subscribers informed about:
• Property updates
• Podcasts
• Tips and advice for landlords and tenants
• Special events
• Apartment-living tips
• Neighbourhood guides
• Information about open units to entice referrals
A weekly or monthly newsletter that’s concise and informative is all you need to stay in touch and keep your tenants informed.
The landlord’s role in marketing your rental property.

Let your property shine with amazing photos
High-quality photos are worth a thousand words. Prospective tenants want to see the inside of a rental home. Posting unoccupied property ads without good images is unlikely to generate any interest.
“Photos are frequently the first thing people look at,” emphasised Scheltema.

“In fact, stunning images can make a huge difference to the point where customers are so charmed by beautiful photos of views and spacious rooms that they are willing to ignore flaws elsewhere.”

The importance of images and video content cannot be overstated. Take high-resolution photos of every area of your home. It should be dressed to impress. Make it look great by putting some nice furnishings in the room. Make sure the lighting is optimal when you take photos and use a good quality camera.
These photos not only work well on capturing the attention of potential tenants on property sites like Property 24 and Private Property but also social media sites like Facebook and especially Instagram.

Here are some pointers for taking great photos:
• Clean up the house and the yard first. Vacuum the carpets and clean the windows.
• Open the blinds and turn on the lights.
• If there are mirrors in the room, make sure you aren’t showing up in them.
• Take your photos just after sunrise or just before sunset when the lighting is best.
• To avoid distortions, try shooting photos at waist level.
• Shoot at different angles (close up, medium, wide) for variety and to highlight special features.
• Aim for about 10-15 photos in your listing.
Include too few photos and renters won’t get a good feel for the property. Include too many photos and they’ll feel overwhelmed. Take some photos of the front of the property, the back and maybe include a few shots of the neighbourhood.

Write great property listings
A great rental listing has a catchy title and a well-written description that accurately portrays your rental property.
“While it’s natural to assume that tenants are more concerned with the rental price, images and location of an apartment, the description is as important,” said Scheltema.

“While indicating you’re a sophisticated landlord, the rental listing description should complement the photographs and other components of your ad.”

The description is the most crucial piece of material in your listing, so make it count. Keep it simple, draw a picture and emphasise your strongest selling features.

Maintaining your rental property
Property investors are well aware that the value of a property has a substantial impact on the amount of rent that can be charged.
“Knowing how to enhance property values is a critical aspect of succeeding as a property investor,” highlighted Scheltema.

“A building with a low overall property value will normally attract a lower rental price than a building with a high property value.”

While normal wear and tear are unavoidable, there’s no reason to let a home deteriorate. Regular property maintenance services can help maintain a rental property’s value while also avoiding tenants from breaking their leases.
Property owners who want to increase rental income should employ a variety of marketing strategies, including paid advertising, word-of-mouth and formal referral systems. Furthermore, hiring professionals to promote your property for you gives you an advantage over landlords who try to do it on their own. To keep your properties occupied and generating an income, use a combination of print, broadcast, internet and word-of-mouth marketing.

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