There’s more to landlording than just collecting rental payments at the end of the month. To be a successful property owner, you need certain skills and experience. Among these skills is the ability to write a good property listing.
As you probably know, vacancies are every Grande Prairie landlord’s worst nightmare because, at the very least, they mean no rental income at the end of the month. That’s why it’s important for you to know how to draft a good listing for your property so you can fill your vacancies quickly.
In this post, we’ll share a guide to help you draft an attractive, detailed and informative rental ad.
Keep on reading!
1. Cover the Basics
Make sure your listing covers all the basic information a renter may want to know about your property.
Here are some things to consider adding in the listing:
- How many bedrooms and bathrooms does your property have?
- Where is it located?
- What’s the monthly rental price?
2. Have an Attention-Grabbing Headline
An attractive headline will make a prospective tenant want to click on it. Remember, your listing will be competing with dozens of other listings. As such, your goal should be to make it stand out from the rest.
Let’s consider the following two headlines:
- Luxurious Townhome Replete with Elegant Finishes and High-End Amenities
- Gorgeous 2-Bedroom, 2-Bathroom Townhome for Rent in Grande Prairie, Alberta
Which of the two headlines do you think a prospective tenant is more likely to click? The first one? Wrong! A prospective tenant is more likely to click on the second option because it’s specific.
When writing a headline, your goal should be to be as specific as possible. Avoid any fluff and jargon. At the end of the day, potential renters are interested in two things: the location and the amount of space.
Other examples of attractive headlines include:
- Spacious Condo Just a 5 Minute Walk to the Metro
- Charming 2 BR on Lovely Tree-Lined Street in Beaverlodge
3. Remember the Rent Amount
The rent amount is the last thing you want to forget in your rental ad. By including the rent amount, you will ensure that you only attract renters that can afford living in your rental unit.
You also want to ensure you include the term of the lease in the rental listing. Be specific as to whether the term is a short-term or a fixed-term lease.
4. Offer as Much Detail as Possible
A good property listing is one that contains as many details as possible while still being concise. Talk about what makes your particular rental special.
Your rental description should give the prospective tenant a visual of what living in your property will be like.
In addition to details about the rental, you can also include details about the:
- Location the property is situated in
- Nearby highways
- Schools in the area
- Commute options
- Weather
In doing so, your prospective renter will get a better sense of what their life would be like living in your property.
Statements to Avoid
It’s important that, when you include description in your listing, it doesn’t discriminate against certain protected characteristics. As per the Alberta Human Rights Act, protected classes are “race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religious beliefs, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, family status, source of income, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and gender expression.”
Therefore, it would be illegal for you to include statements such as:
- “Men Preferred”
- “Must be Able to Live Independently (No Service Dogs, Wheelchairs, etc)”
- “Heavily Jewish Area”
- No Children Allowed”
- “Hispanic Area”
All these statements infringe on the Alberta Human Rights Act as they discriminate against certain classes of people. To avoid violating the Act, focus on describing your property rather than the kind of tenant you’re looking for.
5. Add Many Quality Photos
Pictures speak a thousand words, right? Quality photos are not only attractive, but they also help to accompany the written word with visuals.
To take quality photos of your property, make sure:
- Your home is properly cleaned: You may consider hiring professional cleaners.
- There is adequate lighting: Open the blinds and/or turn on the lights. This will help the camera capture details.
- Shoot different angles: This will highlight crucial features.
Once you’re done with the photos, consider shooting a video as well. According to real estate experts, including a video in your property’s description can boost leads by up to 95%.
Simply upload the video to any video streaming site, such as YouTube or Vimeo, and then include the link in the listing description.
Need More Assistance?
There you have it – 5 tips on how you can write a good property listing. Did you find the process daunting? If so, Real Canadian Property Management can help. With more than 4 years of property management experience, we can help you realize your investment goals in the Grand Prairie, Alberta area.