A sound marketing strategy for your Merced rental property will help you reach a larger pool of potential tenants, which means you’re likely to end up with a more qualified renter. Another benefit to strategic marketing is that you’ll rent your home quickly, avoiding vacancy costs and other expenses that come with an unoccupied property.

At River Drive Properties, we deliver effective marketing plans that result in finding well-qualified tenants quickly for the properties we lease. Today, we’re sharing some of our best marketing tips when it comes to finding good residents for your investment property.

Advertising Online for New Tenants

Almost all tenants are looking for their next home online. You have to make a point of advertising on all the sites that prospective renters are using.

Be intentional about where you’re listing your rental property and who you’re trying to reach. Include your ad on sites like Zillow, Trulia, Hotpads, Realtor, and others that allow you to reach the maximum number of tenants. You can also try posting your home for rent on social media channels. Look for local Facebook groups that can help you reach prospective tenants. Craigslist can be an effective tool as well but needs to be closely monitored for scammers.

Reaching students who need housing is also easy on sites used by UC Merced, Fresno State and other local colleges. We advertise online, we show up at off-campus housing fairs, and we reach out to qualified students who are looking for homes.

Provide Outstanding Photos in Your Marketing

Pictures are extremely important when it comes to online advertising. When prospective renters begin scrolling through ads, they’re going to spend most of their time evaluating the photos. Those pictures will ultimately lead them to decide whether or not they want to see the property. Make sure they’re great photos that sell your home. Clean and prepare the property before you take marketing photos. While you don’t have to hire a professional photographer, you should put as much effort into the photos as possible. Use the right lighting and snap from the best angles.

Scheduling Showings for Your Rental Property

We don’t require prospective tenants to complete an application before we show them a property they’re interested in. Instead, we share our rental criteria with them before they apply, and this usually pre-screens the applicants. They’ll look at our requirements and decide whether or not they have a good chance of being approved.

Showings are an important part of your marketing plan, and you have to be available and responsive. Many of the property management companies we compete with are closed on the weekends, making it difficult for tenants to see homes on their schedules. We’re open, and we’re available evenings and weekends to accommodate the future tenants schedule.

These are just a few of the things you should keep in mind when you’re marketing your rental home. If you have any questions, contact us. We can help you with any of your leasing or property management needs.

River Drive Properties provides effective and professional property management services in Merced and the surrounding areas including Fresno, Modesto, and Turlock. We have extensive experience with both single-family homes and multifamily properties.