A strategic marketing plan can reduce your vacancy time and attract highly qualified tenants. Those are things that lead to more rental income and higher long-term returns, so it’s important to pay attention to the methods you use when offering your home to renters.
Most tenants in Charleston are looking online for their next rental property. They’re hoping to find great photos, an attractive property, and a competitive price. When it’s time to schedule a showing, they expect responsiveness and convenience.
We’re offering five great ways to market your Charleston investment properties.
1. Offer an Attractive Charleston Rental Property
Don’t make the marketing process harder on yourself by trying to advertise a home that still needs work. You want to provide a rental home that’s move-in ready, otherwise tenants aren’t going to bother looking at it. Make sure all your repairs and updates are made. Have the home professionally cleaned so it’s ready to show. It needs to be welcoming and attractive.
2. Professional Photos for Your Charleston Rental Property
Tenants are going to look at the photos before anything else when they come across your listing. You have to give them a good first impression if you want them to show any interest.
Include a lot of photos, and make sure they’re good photos. Camera phones can take high quality pictures and if you happen to have a great one, go ahead and use it. If you’re having trouble getting good shots with great lighting and wide angles, however, upgrade to a professional camera so you can really showcase the best that your property has to offer.
Consider using video, too. It might take a little extra time, but it can be beneficial for tenants who are trying to reduce the number of properties they visit in person. If they take a video tour and feel like they really want to rent your home, they’ll schedule a showing.
3. Write a Detailed Description
A well-written description provides all the information a prospective tenant needs, but manages to remain concise. What you write in your description can also eliminate people who were impressed with the photos but need larger bedrooms or more square footage.
List of all the features your rental property offers. Put down the obvious things like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as other details like the size, and whether things have been updated or renovated. Include the most important rental terms. Mention how much rent will be and what you’ll require for a deposit. If you’re allowing or prohibiting pets, be sure to mention that. Don’t forget your contact information.
4. Effective Marketing Includes Competitive Pricing
Price your property correctly and include that price in your online marketing. There’s no point in attracting tenants who are not able to pay what you’re asking.
A competitive and accurate rental value will help your marketing by reducing the amount of time you have to do it. Look at your competition and make sure your own rental value isn’t too high or too low. There’s no need to guess. You can take a look at what similar properties in your neighborhood are listed for on the same sites you plan to use.
5. Provide Responsive, Convenient Showings
When you’ve done a good job marketing your home online, you’ll have tenants contact you to schedule showings. Be responsive. You have to answer the phone, respond to emails, and return messages. Provide self-showing technology like lockboxes or digital keys if you’re not able to show the home in person. Tenants are likely to appreciate the privacy of seeing a home on their own, when it’s convenient for them. Always follow up by asking if they’d like an application and offering to answer any questions.
These are the five fastest ways to market your Charleston rental property effectively. As professional property managers, we’re able to do all of this quickly and efficiently. If you’d like some help marketing your property, contact us at Meridian Residential Group.
Meridian Residential Group in North Charleston provides both single-family and multi-family property management in the Charleston, SC area, including in North Charleston, Summerville, Goose Creek, and Moncks Corner, among other cities.
