How to Write a Good Property Listing

Having a vacancy means you’re losing money every month that it stays that way.

Therefore, it’s essential to start the marketing process as soon as possible after a tenant vacates your rental. Typically, a rental marketing process begins with the creation of a rental ad.

Your rental ad should be detailed and eye-catching in order to stand out from the competition. However, you may not know what to include if you're just starting out.

But that’s okay! Today’s article by Alltrade Property Management will teach you everything you need to know about how to write a good property listing.

1. Cover the Basics.

Start with the essentials that many renters begin their search with: How many bathrooms and bedrooms are there in your rental? Where is your property located? How much rent are you going to charge your tenant?

These are some of the things that a prospective tenant will want to know when looking for a property. Make sure to include them in your listing to give the absolute best first impression, and filter out tenants looking for something else.

2. Write a Catchy Headline.

A catchy headline is key to grabbing people's attention right away. Renters will have many options to look at, so avoid including uninformative fluff or technical jargon that will work against you.

Make sure your headline is informative but uses language that is easy for anyone to understand.

Which of these two headlines do you think will grab the most attention?

  • Luxurious Beach House With Open Views of the Ocean.
  • 2-Bedroom, 2-Bathroom Townhome for Rent in Louisville, KY.

The second one is the better option. A good listing must include key information that a prospective tenant is most interested in. So, make sure to always have the location and number of bathrooms and bedrooms in your title.

An informative title will make sure that only prospective tenants looking for your type of property and location make it to the application process.

for rent kentucky louisville

3. Include Important Numbers.

Once you have a catchy headline, the next thing is to write the property description. You should design it in a way that conveys the necessary information as concisely as possible.

One of the first things you want to state upfront is the rent amount. The last thing you want is to spend hours on the phone with unqualified prospective tenants reaching out to know how much the rent costs. Instead, immediately weed out disqualified tenants.

Next, carry out a comparative market analysis to determine the best rent to charge, or hire an experienced property management company to help you determine it. This will make sure your rent isn't over- or under-priced, and keep qualified tenants interested.

Besides the rent amount, you’ll also want to be specific about other costs. These may include the move-in fees, HOA fees, pet deposit, parking fees, and security deposits.

Even though Kentucky doesn’t limit how much landlords can charge for security deposits, make sure not to overcharge or undercharge your tenants to retain interest in your listing.

Charge an amount that will provide you with sufficient financial cushion against possible damages while still ensuring your property is desirable. Broadly speaking, a security deposit the equivalent of 2 months’ rent should suffice.

The length of the lease or rental agreement is another important piece of information to put in your listing.

for rent kentucky louisville

4. Follow the Guidelines of the Fair Housing Act.

Housing providers must abide by the stipulations of the Fair Housing Act. Passed in 1968, this act makes housing discrimination illegal on the basis of protected classes.

At the federal level, 7 protected characteristics exist: race, color, disability, sex, religion, national origin, and familial status.

The Kentucky Civil Rights Act (KCRA) also prohibits retaliation and harassment in addition to the 7 federally protected classes.

Simply put, this means that you cannot put statements that discriminate against people in your rental ad. Examples of statements to avoid include:

  • Ideal for a mature single
  • Suitable for female students
  • No children allowed
  • Ideal for a single professional
  • Christians preferred
  • No pets allowed (absolutely no exceptions)

As a general rule of thumb, always have a professional go through it once you’re done. You have two options in this regard: hire a qualified attorney or hire an experienced property management company.

5. Add Stunning Photos.

After writing an amazing description, the next step is to surround it with eye-catching photos. Photos help bring life to an otherwise dull block of text!

Even though you may think taking photos isn’t something that requires specialized skills, you’ll want to keep in mind certain things when taking the pictures. For one, make sure the house is sparkling clean— including the yard.

You’ll also want to let in as much light as possible, so open the blinds and get that natural light in.

kentucky home rental

A tip: make sure that the photos your property managers take highlight any special features your property may have.

So, how many should you include in your listing? Ideally, aim for about 10 to 15 photos.

Since you’re already taking photos, you should also consider shooting a video. Video tours can greatly increase the number of interested applicants for your property.

Once you’ve shot your video, upload it to a video streaming site like Vimeo or YouTube, and then make sure the link is available and visible within your description.

6. Additional Details Your Property Description Shouldn’t Miss

Adding onto the details we already discussed, make sure your rental listing also includes the following things:

  • Parking details
  • Security and smart home features
  • Current special offers (if applicable)
  • Neighborhood features and amenities
  • Special services

7. Don’t Forget to Add Your Contact Information.

Your contact information is the most important part of the rental ad. List your email address, company website, and business hours if applicable to make sure any interested applicants can contact you.

There you have it: Seven tips on how to write a great property listing. If you need help getting your Louisville property rented, contact Alltrade Property Management today. Our expert team will find great tenants for your rental, and handle all aspects of property management on your behalf!