Mistakes to avoid in your rental property listing

It’s just a small advertisement, but make no mistake when it comes to securing the right occupiers for your rental property in the shortest time possible, the rental listing is paramount.

Used on your property manager’s website and the real estate portals, this listing draws attention to the property, allowing it to stand out to the right type of renter.

But as essential as it is, there’s also the potential for simple mistakes, and that can cost you in terms of the time the property sits vacant.

Here are four common mistakes to avoid in your rental property listing…

Skipping the important info

Renters seeking a rental property will skim lots of listings in search of the ones that tick the right boxes and suit their needs.

They may also set filters, such as number of bedrooms or specific features in a bid to narrow down that search.

While the listing should be succinct, it should include the following information:  

  • Number of bedrooms
  • Number of bathrooms
  • Car parking and storage areas, including whether it’s off-street parking, a secure garage, carport, or under-house storage.
  • Any additional living areas, such as a second living area, rumpus, covered patio, study, media room etc
  • Special features, such as whether it’s pet friendly, has a swimming pool, big backyard, or boasts views.
  • Location – while you don’t have to include a specific street address, the suburb is necessary and it’s a good idea to provide insight into whether it’s close to schools, walking distance from shops, transport, etc.
  • Date its available
  • Proposed tenure – For example is it six months only or will a 12-month agreement be offered and is there potential for that to later be extended for the right long term renter?
  • Price

Poor quality photographs

As the old saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words, and that’s definitely the case in listings for both rental properties and those for sale.

Poor quality imagery can make your rental look tired, dated, dark, small and in short, unappealing.

It can also paint an unrealistic picture of the property’s size and condition.

Do invest in quality photography, and if the images of your property are dated or no longer accurate, have new photographs taken.

Exaggerating its appeal

While the aim of the listing is to make your rental stand out from the crowd, there’s no point painting a descriptive picture of your property that doesn’t live up to expectations.

Don’t exaggerate the property’s features and appeal, but do highlight exactly what it has and what it offers.

Not providing floorplans

There’s a common misconception that floorplans matter less in rental listings than they do when it comes to selling a property.

That’s not necessarily true. Even basic floorplans help potential renters determine the size and layout of a property and whether it’s likely to suit their needs.

How we can help

Our experienced property managers pride themselves on establishing great relationships with both rental occupiers and owners.

We manage every property as if it were our own and you can learn more about our property management services here.

Alternatively, if you are looking to rent a property, you can view the properties we currently have available here.