Rental Property Listing Tools – Propertyware

Top 15 Websites for Advertising Your Rental Listing in 2022

Laurie Mega — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 22:19:32 +0000

As property managers, we work in a world where renters are looking for dynamic content—rental reviews, social integration, 3D walkthroughs, and other interactive media—that gives them more than the number of bedrooms and baths. Today, web traffic is as important as foot traffic in getting units filled. So, where should you focus your attention? Below, we’ve listed the 25 best rental listing sites and what each brings to the table for your business:

1. Your Website

Your website should be advertising central for your rental property listings. This is where you can feature photos, videos, 3D tours, detailed information, and the ability to connect easily with your property management staff. Not only must your site feature properties in a beautiful and informative way, it should integrate SEO best practices to help it get a higher search engine ranking, as well. According to Pew Research, 85% of Americans own a smartphone and 15% are smartphone only users (those who access the internet only through a smartphone).That’s why it’s so important to optimize for mobile. Help your prospective tenants see all of the features of your properties in a timely manner with a fast, mobile-friendly website and thorough, attractive listings. Still need a website that’s clean, easy to use, mobile-friendly and built to maximize lease inquiries? Click here to check out Propertyware’s property management website solutions. [Additional Reading: How To Become a Property Manager]

2. Zumper

Zumper is a value-added site that offers up neighborhood information and city guides for your tenants. Its initial listings feature minimal information and a single photo, but its detailed listings offer you the opportunity to add an engaging paragraph about your property. Zumper also gives you the opportunity to upload 3D tours and videos of your property. You can also use Zumper to screen prospective residents and collect rent.

3. Realtor.com

Realtor.com manages both rentals and real estate sales. It only accepts listings from property managers and owners. The interface is a little less straightforward and attractive than sites like Zillow, but it provides a simple search function for price and location.

4. Zillow

With its photo listings, interactive map, and ability to sort by features such as bedrooms, bathrooms, and rental price easily, Zillow is a popular rental property listing site. It also allows prospective tenants to compare two listings side by side.

5. Apartment List

Apartment List is a marketplace that brings renters and property owners together. Apartment List gets to know renters through a comprehensive set of questions to help them find a home they’ll love. Property managers can list their apartments for free, are connected to high-quality leads, and only pay if a renter leases through the platform.

6. Avail

Avail is owned by Realtor.com, which also owns Trulia, Walk Score, Padmapper, Doorsteps, Zillow, Hotpads, Apartmentlist, and Apartments.com. When you list with Avail, your listing is syndicated across all of those sites at once.

7. Padmapper

Padmapper has a fun, interactive map that allows prospective renters to set a price, set a number of bedrooms, and look at cities across North America that suit their price range. Renters won’t see your actual listing until after the initial search when they dig a little deeper.

8. Trulia

Trulia is an attractive and simple property listing site that allows renters to set parameters to see a group of photo listings with vital statistics about a property right underneath. Make sure you have a single great photo for adding your property to this site. [Additional Reading: How to Start a Property Management Company]

9. Apartment Guide

Apartment Guide has a very simple, graphic format with an interactive map. The latest listings show up in red on the map, so that renters can see what’s fresh on the market. It’s also easy for tenants to see whether a property is pet-friendly, and there’s a bulleted list of amenities that you’ll need to fill out.

10. Rentals.com

Rentals.com makes it easy for tenants to search for exactly the type of home they want, with searches compiled into condos, lofts, duplexes, and more. There’s less information required about amenities, and it has your contact information and the availability flagged to press people to call. With all of the calls you’ll be receiving about your property, did you know that Propertyware can ensure that you never miss another leasing call again?

11. Rentdigs

Rentdigs features free photo listings. Prospective tenants can not only find rentals, they can also find rent-to-own homes and moving company quotes. Rentdigs features a single photo and some simple information on the listing, so make sure your photo is a good one.

12. Rent.com

At first glance, Rent.com appears to be largely geared toward apartment rentals but it features a significant number of rental houses, as well. It’s also one of the higher traffic sites on the list. So it’s definitely worth checking out when you’re looking for your next potential tenants.

14. Apartments.com

As the name suggests, Apartments.com (as well as Apartmentfinder.com, its subsidiary) are popular sites that provide a free popular tool for long-term rentals of apartments and condos. Apartments.com offers deals and can provide upfront savings for users if they end up renting through the site.

15. Move

Move is a one-stop shop that provides many services for experienced renters or buyers who know exactly where they want to live and what they want in a home or apartment. It also caters to seniors who may require assisted living, continuing care, and independent living. This company has a database of listings that is viewed by a customer base of 40 million people and provides many helpful tips and links for topics such as owning pets, renting versus buying, painting, decorating and moving.

Other Listing Options

1. Social Media

Don’t underestimate the power of non-housing sites to advertise your rental property listings. If you have a listing on a site or on your website, you can advertise it to your community through social media. If you’re having particular difficulty renting a property, create an infographic with property details. While Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram may not be property-focused, they allow you to reach out to your communities and turn the search for tenants into a more sociable experience.

2. Airbnb

Airbnb connects a community of homeowners directly to customers seeking short-term rentals. Note that Airbnb is geared toward vacation and short-term rentals. If you’re looking for a year-long lease or more, this isn’t the place to list.

3. VRBO

Vacation Rentals By Owners is a top-ranked site that specializes in vacation rentals homes, apartments, condos, B&B cabins, beach houses, villas, etc. Like Airbnb, it is geared toward short-term rentals.

4. Nextdoor

Nextdoor.com has carved out a unique space on the internet as a private social networking site for local neighborhoods, with 80% of neighborhoods across the US relying on the information and services it provides its members. Think Facebook for your community. It’s a popular site for realtors to brand their services and for landlords to list rentals to a highly engaged and active local community.

5. Facebook Marketplace

With over 1 billion monthly global users, Facebook Marketplace is a great place to list your apartment. Marketplace shows users only local listings, so your listing won’t end up in front of a far-flung audience unlikely to rent from you.

6. Walk Score

As its name suggests Walk Score is another niche site whose mission is to promote walkable neighborhoods for those residing in apartments. This is a popular add-on feature to a property management website as it appeals to renters concerned with transportation costs, commute times, access to public transportation or a property’s location to activities, businesses, schools etc.

7. People With Pets

Last but not least, People With Pets. As the name suggests, our often overlooked four-legged family members now have their very own site. This site is essentially a national directory of pet-friendly homes, apartments, and hotels. For renters, this site is free to use, for property managers it charges $99 a year for advertising your pet-friendly property to the approximately 72% of renters that own pets.

8. Sublet.com

Don’t let the name fool you, Sublet.com is not just about sublets. You can list every type of rental here; short term, long term, vacation, furnished and unfurnished as well as private and room rentals. Landlords can post a standard listing for free, but a premium listing can receive up to 500 times more leads and includes tenant screening, employment and criminal background checking services for a sliding-scale fee based on the market you’re listing in.

9. Craigslist

The ubiquitous Craigslist is where people turn for almost everything, including housing that’s focused on a specific metropolitan area. The benefits: it’s inexpensive, and it allows you to write in your own way and with your own photos. The drawbacks: you’ll get many inquiries from those who aren’t serious about your rental and many that are flat-out scams.

10. Oodle

Like Craigslist, Oodle is a classified listing service that includes rental housing. While it’s not solely focused on property listings, it’s good for attracting renters who are local and may stumble on your listing as they browse for other items. As you optimize your rental property marketing and start exploring the best rental listing sites for your business, keep in mind that there’s tools out there to help you make the best first impression on potential residents. Beyond making it easy to syndicate your listings over multiple listing sites, Propertyware lets you instantly update property information, such as unit availability, pricing, floor plans and more—not to mention automatic lead tracking. Whether you’re just getting started listing your units, or expanding to new markets, we’re here to help make property management easier. Explore Propertyware

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Creating Powerful Rental Property Listings with Propertyware’s New Listing Widget

Leah Mendes — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 10:28:16 +0000

Rental property listings play a key role in attracting single-family rental prospects. An effective property listing tool has the power to solve core leasing challenges, drive overall activity and increase conversions. Propertyware’s updated Listing Widget employs new technology to offer advanced search capabilities, innovative display options and a sleek and customizable user interface.

Enhanced capabilities

The journey to a signed lease often begins with an online search. The Listing Widget, updated to modernize the prospect shopping experience, now includes sophisticated Search and Featured Rental tools. With improved ease, potential renters can search a company’s portfolio to identify property matches for specific rental needs. New filtering options allow users to shop with a new level of granularity. Featured variables include property type, desired amenities, pet type, move in-date and move-in date flexibility. Prospects can also search via an easy-to-navigate, interactive map. Both map view and list view experiences automatically reformat to perfectly display on desktops, tablets and mobile devices. In addition to user-driven search criteria, the new tool allows property management companies to highlight featured rentals within a carousel that can be placed anywhere on their website. The same carousel now also integrates video.

Next-level details

For prospects, finding the right property can be a daunting task. For property management companies, capturing a prospect’s attention can prove difficult. But a few key details can ease user frustrations, elevate the search experience and lend to a higher conversion rate. The updated Listing Widget includes optional buttons like “Apply,” “Contact Agent” and “Schedule a Tour.” The new tour scheduling functionality integrates third-party scheduling tools to create a seamless, end-to-end process for getting prospects through the door. Banners are another game changer and can be automated to complement a company’s workflow. Available property-specific banners include “Now Available,” “Coming Soon,” and “Newly Remodeled,” as well as time-bound promotional banners like “Weekend Special – No Deposit!” The new Infinite Scroll display was similarly designed with conversions in mind. Previously, users could only view 10 search results per page. Sorting results could be an arduous process for the user, causing them to break from the search – or bounce from the website altogether. With Infinite Scroll, the browsing experience is interruption free.

Customizable visuals

Rental property listings can stand out from the competition by mirroring a company’s unique aesthetics. Propertyware’s Listing Widget offers advanced flexibility in customization options. Companies can match their web presence with new control configurations that adjust font types, font sizes, font color and button visibility. Additionally, there are options to show prospects nearby and related listings that feature similar location, rent range and square footage. For more information on the newly enhanced Listing Widget, and to view a video demo, check out this link!

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Three Zillow Rental Listing Tips for Property Managers

Leah Mendes — Fri, 05 May 2017 15:27:54 +0000

At any given time, your rental property may face hundreds of competitors in an increasingly aggressive, online medium. If your property is located in a popular neighborhood or you list at a peak time, the competition only grows. Zillow Rental Manager alleviates much of this difficulty by expediting the online marketing process. Follow these zillow rental listing tips to stay ahead of the crowd.

1. Take eye-catching photos

On average, prospects spend fewer than 5 seconds deciding whether a listing deserves further attention, so your listings need to stand out. Rental property listings with photos on average receive more views thus more leads. According to Social Media Today, content with relevant images get 94 percent more views. The first step is to decide whether to stage a unit or shoot it empty. Both can be effective if done properly. Consider that an empty space can appear smaller and uninviting without proper lighting and attention to detail. Most opt for a furnished shot to add scale and allow a space to feel warmer; however, if you decide to shoot an empty unit, make sure to focus on the best features. For example, windows with fantastic natural light, hardwood floors, new appliances or a remodeled kitchen or bathroom. Don’t forget the outside spaces. If your unit has a patio, make sure renters get a sense of the view from their potential home. What if your property is still occupied? Many times, the tenant in the unit you’re advertising may have given notice, but has not yet vacated. This situation can present an opportunity. A furnished space allows your prospects to visualize themselves more easily living in the unit. If the current tenant consents to allow you to photograph the unit, offer a free visit from a cleaning service so that you both benefit from the experience. Regardless of the style you choose, it is imperative that the rental listing photos you use are high quality. To ensure that you post the best photos possible, you may want to invest in a professional photographer. With lighting expertise and a knowledge of rental spaces, a professional photographer’s images will save you time and give you leads.

With Propertyware’s Listing and Syndication Manager, you can easily update your property listings across all sites including Zillow and attract more prospects with our powerful, integrated posting tool. Click here to view a free demo.

2. Shoot videos

In November 2016, Zillow launched video walkthroughs on rental listings. Making use of this feature allows renters to visualize themselves in the unit. These short videos make it possible for prospects to move through a space – literally. A photo can convey much of what you want, but for a prospect to become physically acquainted with the space prior to a visit, this feature is nothing short of revolutionary. Don’t be intimidated if you lack a certain savviness with technology. Zillow makes it easy to create videos through the Zillow Real Estate App.

3. Include a great headline and description

The headline is the hook. Online attention spans are short, so it is imperative that you start with the most important details. Lead with the price. This is almost always the primary driver for prospects. Next, list the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Lastly, include an enticing feature that sets your unit apart. This combination of information is most likely to attract qualified leads. With just a quick search, you’ll find many sites with formulas for writing the best description for your rental property. Most of these formulas boil down to using compelling language and buzz words to describe your property. For example: “upscale,” “excellent schools,” “prime location” all work to draw in prospects and give your property a better web presence. Choose a great descriptor for your property using words such as charming, cozy, historic, modern or open concept. If your listing is in a desirable neighborhood, mention it. Let tenants know what’s nearby, from specialty stores, such as Whole Foods, to accessible public transit. Keep it brief. Imagine that you’re looking for a rental yourself. If you’re looking for a place to live and have been wading through online listings for a while, it’s going to get monotonous. Use exciting language, but don’t expect your prospects to read a novel. Follow these steps and you are certain to strengthen your web presence and attract the most inquiries from applicants.

Try Propertyware Today

Propertyware allows you to streamline your business operations by offering you a complete, simple to use property management software solution. Take a free tour of Propertyware today!

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Five Rental Property To-Do’s Before Posting a Listing

Leah Mendes — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 16:38:55 +0000

Renter turnover and the prospect of attracting the best possible tenants can be stressful to both property owners and property managers. Here are five tips to consider before you list your rental property.

1. Inspect and repair

Rental property maintenance and inspections should be a top priority. Is there any obvious damage? A broken window, a hole in the wall? Address the property from top to bottom, from potential roof leaks to floor issues. Test the electrical and plumbing, from systems to fixtures. Check outside as well. Are there any eyesores that could bring the attractiveness of your property down, such as a driveway crack or dying landscaping? Beyond the obvious, some health and safety issues can be harder to spot. If your rental property was constructed before 1978, making sure there are no lead-based paint hazards is important. Checking for leaks or any sign of mold is also paramount. Remember to check the batteries and to make sure the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in good, working order.

2. Clean

The initial inspection will often reveal a host of things that need to be done in order for your property or unit to be listed. In a perfect world, your previous tenant left the property in the exact same, pristine condition that they found it. Unfortunately, if you have been a landlord or property manager for longer than a few minutes, you know how likely that is. Even if the previous tenant left the place in good shape, there are likely areas that have been overlooked. Some of the most neglected areas are the windows and the walls. In the midst of a move, it’s easy to miss the windows, especially if they are not particularly dirty. The walls, depending on the paint color, can hide lots of grime and may have never been wiped down. The carpets are another spot with frequently missed areas, specifically the corners where it isn’t easy to get to with a vacuum. Don’t forget the blinds and ceiling fans! The kitchen and bathroom are key areas, and need to be spotless. No potential renter wants to move into a place with a dirty toilet or a ring around the bathtub.

3. Evaluate appliances

While inspecting and cleaning the kitchen, take a minute to evaluate the appliances. If you have a traditional, electric range, replacing the drip pans should be something you always do. It is inexpensive and will make a big difference in the appearance of a clean range top. The oven and racks should be thoroughly cleaned, and all of the burners and the oven should be tested. If you have a gas range, the connections should be tested for any potential leakage. The refrigerator can be one of the most disgusting places in the house. Remove the shelves and drawers if possible and make sure no food debris or mold is lurking in hard to reach areas. While you’re in there, make sure the temperature is right. Too cold or not cold enough can spell ruined food and unhappy tenants.

4. Change locks

Whether or not your previous tenant returned their keys, there is no way for you to know if they made additional keys. In the worst case scenario, the previous tenant could come back and rob future tenants. If you’re turned off by the expense of changing locks every time you rent your property, you can always offer the renter the option of having it done themselves. Though if you chose this option, make sure they give you a key. You could also look into Kwikset’s SmartKey technology. This technology allows you to re-key the locks yourself, without having to call a locksmith. At this stage, you should consider extra security options that could make your property more attractive to tenants. Things like deadbolts, chain locks and even options of security systems can all be attractive to prospective renters. Don’t over-do it! Having too many security features in place may make a perspective tenant think the neighborhood is a dangerous place to live.

5. Determine market value

If it has been a while since your property was on the market, you should take the time to reconsider the market value of your rental. Once the property is rent-ready and you’ve considered and made any needed updates, it’s time to determine your list price. Check out the comparable rentals in the area online and in person. Then evaluate your property in comparison. Take your monthly expenses into account and you’re ready to list!

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4 Tips to Create Better Listings for Your Single Family Properties

Marc Eiting — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 22:04:10 +0000

When you’re trying to target your listings for your single family properties, you need to understand who’s looking at them. The Telegraph says that “Getting to know the target market can allow landlords to take advantage of a niche that others may not have exploited.” Whether you’re looking for a tiny niche or wanting to capture the shifting demographics of your city, by targeting your listings to your audience, you’ll have better, more specific outreach and find new tenants quickly and easily.

1. Research Your Audience

Who’s coming through the door of your rental properties- and most importantly, who isn’t? One neighborhood might attract young families, while another is mostly of interest to corporate couples or retirees. If you would like to reach a new group of potential tenants, it’s important to understand who’s interested in that neighborhood and why. Look at demographic surveys, talk to local business owners, and discuss changing neighborhood demographics with your current tenants to get a sense of the needs and interests of that area. Look at larger trends as well, and be prepared to let go of some of your misconceptions.

2. Know their Housing Needs

Different people have unique and specific housing needs, but you can gain insights into the housing needs of a demographic through research. Some needs may be simple but easily overlooked. For example, seniors may want properties that have some of the features of their former homes, such as simple and easily accessible places to garden. Some millennials may want homes that can be shared by a group of singles living together. Consider how your rental properties could meet the needs of specific demographics, and promote these key features in your listings.

3. Understand the Amenities

The success of your property rental business also rests on your neighborhoods. Different groups of people are interested in different local amenities. While a young family values access to schools, day cares, parks, and swimming pools, seniors value access to libraries, community centers, and walkable communities with places to meet with friends. Know how your property and the amenities around it come together to provide a full package for your prospective tenants and include these benefits in your listings.

“We have significantly boosted the attention that our website gets on the Internet” – Betsy Morgan / BHHS Florida Properties Group

4. Target Your Communication With Property Management Software

With property management software backing up your website, you can tailor communication to better serve your desired audience. Utilize online posting tools to instantly update websites and property listings. Our solution supports low-cost lead generation and enables you to receive real-time updates the moment leads start rolling into your website. When you’re developing your property management business, you need support. One of your best allies is your property management software, as it can keep you organized and able to stay on top of changing properties and tenants. Are you curious about how Propertyware can help your business grow? Contact us and get pricing today.

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Keeping Your Rental Property Management Company Competitive

Marc Eiting — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 20:26:34 +0000

Maintaining the best rental property management company on the block is a competition, and you want to win. HousingWire states that, “The demand for rental housing is expected to grow by nearly 6.6 million units through 2016, with about 4.2 million new renters attributing to the total.” While your properties get your tenants in the door, it’s your customer service that really makes an impression and separates you from the rest. This year, keep tabs on your competition and move ahead of them using cutting-edge technological solutions.

Keep an Eye on the Market

Do you want to know what others are charging for rent? Keep a quiet eye on your local markets by comparing your prices. You can look online at competitors’ rental sites, or you can turn to straightforward search tools such as Rentometer that compare local rents.

Know Your ROI

Whether you’re marketing through advertising, blogs, or revising your website and SEO, you need to know what return you’re getting for your marketing investment. According to Inc.com, “Most Fortune 500 marketing VPs look at the revenue to cost ratio: incremental revenue driven by a marketing campaign divided by the cost.” Why not learn from these experts? Examine your different marketing channels and look at which ones receive the most traffic. This is particularly easy to do if you create different landing pages that collect people from different advertising venues. Once you know what speaks to your audience, focus your energy and your money there.

Create an Electronic Invoice Payment System

Keep your vendors happy, and you make it easier to complete property repair and enhancement projects in the future. This year, implement an electronic system for invoice payment. This will make it easier to track payments that are due and determine when they were sent out so that you can ensure that all of your vendors are paid on time. Help tenants pay online as well by setting up a tenant portal that allows tenants to easily track rent payments and pay online.

Shift Your Communication Style

Your renters are online, and most tenants have no patience for rent checks or paper notices. If you don’t have one already, this is the time to implement an online payment system through a tenant portal. Give renters options for communication, from phone-based contact centers for your older audience to online portals or text-based communication for Millennials.

Go Mobile

Forbes says that, “Business owners use their smartphones for everything from monitoring remote operations to receiving payment for their services. As the workforce becomes more mobile, we can expect the trend to continue to grow – quickly.” Move your property inspections and lease agreements onto the web as well. With cloud-based inspection tools, you can take real-time video and photos to document problems or create online tours of your properties. Sign a lease when you’re on site, and move your rental process along. Implementing mobile and cloud-based software programs gives your employees the tools that they need to be more efficient when they’re on site and out of the office.

Connect Online

How do people find your property listings? When you’re trying to stay ahead of the competition, you need to move into the modern era of online listings. Create a social-media-linked site that features your properties, and place them on other property listing sites as well so that they get picked up easily in local searches.

Automate and Audit

As you work to excel at customer service, one of the biggest boosts you can give to your efficiency comes from automation. Place your forms online, and create online processes that move your tenants or vendors through the process of applying for a rental or submitting an invoice. Set up automatic reminders as well, so that your employees don’t need to spend their time chasing payments. This will give them more time to spend on enhancing your marketing and customer service.

“We have about ten times more leads through Propertyware.” – Jerry Ryan, Resource Property Management

Exceptional organization is always a trend. Aim to boost business for your rental property management company through the use of rental property management software. At Propertyware, we create software that supports you as your business grows. Watch a demo today and learn how our products can help you build your business.

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