How to Advertise Residential Rental Vacancies

From college towns to retirement communities, smart advertising will help fill a rental vacancy quickly. Residential rental properties can be quickly rented if you know how and where to advertise. From bulletin boards to full color brochures, here are a few helpful tips to advertise residential rental vacancies and get new tenants moved in quickly.

Instructions

1. Know who your tenants are likely to be before advertising your rental. If you are renting to the elderly, chances are they won't find your ad on the internet. Busy working people aren't likely to find your ad on the bulletin board of a laundromat and college kids probably won't find your color brochure in the mail. Decide who your tenants are most likely to be so you know where to advertise the vacancy.

2. Place a classified ad in your local newspaper to fill your vacancy. Keep your classified ad relatively short, but include not only the basics but amenities as well. For example, include the monthly rent, up front deposits, number of bedrooms and baths, pet policy, smoking policy and lease policy. Include amenities like swimming pool, tennis, location, etc. when you advertise in the local paper.

3. Advertise your vacancy on the internet. There are many websites that will showcase your rental property for a fee or you can make up a website yourself. There are also free online classified ads that you can use to advertise your residential rental property.

4. Design a color brochure if your residential rental property is in an upscale area and you have a lot of vacancies. Using a color brochure is fairly expensive, but well worth the money if your rental property is brand new. Place the color brochures in upscale commercial establishments such as restaurants and spas, with permission of course. Buy a mailing list of upscale consumers in your area and mail the color brochures to generate interest in your rental properties.

5. Make a one-page flyer to advertise your rental vacancy. Essentially, a one-page flyer is just a complete classified ad. Place the name, address and phone number at the top of the flyer so prospective tenants will know who to contact. Find a good photograph to use under the name. You can either create the flyer on the computer or make copies at an office supply center. Write a good description of the residential rental and place the description under the photo. Place the flyers in local restaurants, laundromats or businesses to advertise the vacancy. Always ask permission to place flyers.

6. Ask your current tenants if they know of anyone looking for a place to rent. When you advertise by word-of-mouth, the tenant who refers another will usually only refer a responsible person.

7. Print several 3x5 cards with a full description of the rental vacancy and contact information. Post the cards on bulletin boards at hospitals, colleges or larger businesses. Always ask permission first, and don't forget the thumb tacks.