The key to owning a successful rental property is advertising your unit properly. How else can your property generate income for you if no one ever knows about your property? The longer the unit stays vacant, the more you lose out as a landlord. Thankfully, there are many ways to stand out and successfully get yourself a tenant quickly.

Take Good Photos and Videos

Chances are there are many other units just like yours being rented out as well. So how do you stand out from among the sea of crowds out there? With eye-catching photos!

The secret to good photos is all about the lighting. Make sure that the rooms are all well lit with natural sunlight. Otherwise, turn on the lights within the unit to make it look even better. If you’d like to do it yourself but don’t have the camera gears to do it, you can always consider renting the equipment to take the photo quality up a notch. Otherwise, it may be worthwhile to invest in a professional photographer to do it for you.

Take as many photos as you can. If your unit is furnished, then include as many details as possible. Details like built-in ovens, fridge, TV or even extra storage with high quality photos can make all the difference.

Another great way of showing the unit around is to create videos, especially when many platforms now allow you to upload them directly. This gives an added dimension to complement your photos. Make sure to edit them so that you give a detailed walkthrough of every room and space. And if you’re really feeling up for it, you can even make it cinematic with b-rolls for a bit of flair and dramatic effect.

Play Up Your Unit’s Strengths

Always put yourself in the renter’s shoes and think about what would entice the tenant. Is your unit located near a train station, college or university? Is parking provided? If it is near a hospital, it may also attract doctors or nurses who would want to stay nearby. You may want to highlight these upfront as your niche.

Spend some time writing a good description that sells your unit according to what’s available in your unit and its surroundings. This will be especially helpful in many instances, particularly in the following tips.

Offer Special Rates and Discounts

If you’re looking to snag a tenant really quickly, give a special discount and highlight it in your advertisement. A great way to get a tenant fast is give a “free first month” offer, and set a deadline too so that it will give a sense of urgency for the potential tenants to seal the deal.

This can also help you look for the tenants you want by giving special discounts for couples only, or young families with children. And if you’re looking for long-term tenants, give the option for a lower lease, but longer tenancy periods instead.

Advertise On Social Media

Now that you’ve come up with a list of attractive selling points, taken a bunch of attractive photos and an epic video, it’s time to spread the word.

It’s common now to just share with your friends on Facebook, WhatsApp groups and even Twitter. But rather than just adding the photos and videos you just took, it may be a good idea to create a separate advert visual to go along with it in. This helps to give a quick overview of your unit, and highlighting in point form the key features of your unit. And if you’re offering discounts too, this is the best place to shoutout about it.

Also Advertise The Old School Way

While social media may be quick, advertising the traditional way may be just as effective.

Be on a lookout for bulletin boards near universities, or hospitals, or even at train stations. You may even want to consider popular coffee or mamak spots nearby to advertise too. There’s no harm in speaking to the managers of these premises to ask if they’re okay with you leaving a few of your fliers around their counters, or even a few small posters to go with it.

Just be careful on how much you spend on printing materials. These expenses can rack up quickly and become costly if you don’t set a limit on how much to spend on them.

Consider Giving Your Older Unit A Refresh

You’ll often see older units advertised to be often less attractive than they can be. There are a few things you can do to spice things up, and even raise your rental a little after a little make-over.

Firstly, give it a fresh coat of paint. While you’re at it, mix in with some modern colours too to give it a little more character. And for furnished units, you may want to consider updating the furniture such as a water filter machine, new washing machine, or a new fridge. New kitchen appliances will be more attractive to those who enjoy cooking at home.

Again, take well-lit photos of the unit after you’ve given it a bit of a make-over. You’ll be surprised how much all these little things will add up to make your unit ever so modern and enticing to potential tenants.

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