Effective Advertise For Rent

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there is craigslist for free for rent ad only once every 45 days.

Does anybody know other on-line ad for rent for SFH?

newspaper is good but expensive.

we would like know a few more alternatives that provide good return for our ad cost.

What do you guy do to attract tenant?

beside for rent sign in front of the property or corner street.

just brainstorm for the most "effective" for our dollar.

Comments(11)

  • joel19th December, 2006

    Greetings Tom,

    In my 10 years of management experience, this is how we get a renter in as fast as possible. First, you need to find out who your targeting. Demographics and ads must appeal to them.

    1. You MUST have curb appeal. Not only do your clients want a house, but they want to rent a property they are in love with.

    2. Properties need signage out in front of the units welcoming passers-by to take information. InfoBoxes and Directionals are a must.

    3. Then advertise on the Internet. If you list in your My TCI > My Properties, they are shown on www.PropBot.com - a free property listing website.
    On www.PropBot.com you can:
    * Purchase the sign that goes with your property listing
    * Get the Directionals/InfoBox I mentioned above.
    * Email your listing to your call ins.
    * Link to your virtual tour, (if you provide pictures),
    * Track your incoming leads from your CraigsList advertisements or elsewhere.

    PropBot also tracks the statistics of where the leads are coming from.
    http://www.propbot.com/business.php?feature=leadtracking

    4. Then paid local advertising - Choose the 4 Sunday deal for the best price.

    5. Make sure you have a lockbox on the unit.

    6. Make sure you have your callers, set an appointment with you, then have them call you back 1 hour in advance of the appointment. This technique eliminates no-shows.

    Remember, the best campaign is to do ALL of these above. Using all of these tips has helped us turn our properties into 100% filled units.

    Hope this helps.
    [ Edited by joel on Date 12/19/2006 ]

  • lavonc20th December, 2006

    I have found that Craigs List works VERY well for some areas (California) and not so great for other areas. If Craigs list does work well in your area, I often have a web site where I post a lot of pictures since Craigs List only allows four pics.

    Another thing I have tried is I befriend the neighbors and tell them I am looking for a really good neighbor for them and will pay them a finders fee ($50 or so). But the tenant has to pass background check.

    For my multi-units, I work closely with the other tenants to get one of their family members or friends. But sometimes friends that live too close become good enemies so I am careful about this. If it is a family situation, odds are great.

    Another thing I do, is when repair people are in working on the place, I have applications and my business card handy for them to give anyone that walks up.

    I am fairly careful about posting for rent signs in a vacant property. I know this is critical but I always put a lamp on a timer inside to give it the appearance someone is there to deter theifs.

  • mtnwizard26th December, 2006

    $56 on rentclicks? Who has ever even heard of it? I checked my area and there are zero homes for rent. Save your money.
    [addsig]

  • betterlater26th December, 2006

    Our units are local (good school/small town environment) so the big metro papers dont work for us. There is a small regional circulation called the "pennysaver" that we use, and I always include the exact address in the listing. Since curb appeal is so improtant, I encourage people to drive past it first before they respond to the ad and set up an appointment.
    I set up all my appointments on one day, usually in a two or three hour window. Not only do I save time running to and from the unit over several days meeting with potential renters (and waiting for no-shows), but when folks show up and other folks are already there looking at it, that makes for a sense of demand for the unit, and ultimately the neighborhood.... Which are both great. Never failed me yet.

  • d_random27th December, 2006

    Good tip betterlater!

  • sirbeigealot26th December, 2006

    I think its a best case snenario to be close to home, but a person would be better off buying out of state than not buying at all.

    It is easier to manage stuff yourself if you can, but you can find good deals out of state that will be just as valuable to you as anything purchased in your own area.

    Take the time to educate yourself on diff. areas and markets...talk to agents in the area, or continue asking questions on this site until you are ready to make a purchase.

    I have properties that I manage myself, and properties I have purchased out of state that are managed by property magmt. companies.

    Both are doing well.

  • bgrossnickle26th December, 2006

    177 properties were returned on www.realtor.com for Manchester NH properties under 200k.

  • bbriscoe28th December, 2006

    You would be very cash flow negative on that property. Do you expect it to appreciate a lot? With the way the RE market is now it may not appreciate for several years and it may get worse before it gets better. Why do you want to rent it out?

  • finniganps28th December, 2006

    Can you refi to a variable? If you plan to sell in a few years, you may want to consider an interest only or negative am. loan to help with cash flow.

  • mtnwizard28th December, 2006

    Get a pit bull.
    [addsig]

  • bbriscoe28th December, 2006

    You probably got a better interest rate on the 20 year than on a 30 yr note. I would also like to discuss your potential CPA business - please PM me about it.

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