In Northern Virginia, tenants have many places to live that provide them access to great schools, accessible transportation, and a high standard of living. Marketing will be the tool you use to set yourself apart from your competition.

You’re not just competing with similar properties in your area. You’re also competing with similar locations.

In this post, you’ll learn how to use the same marketing strategies agents use to influence rental listings online to attract more prospective tenants to increase inquiries and showing appointments.

Advertising Like a Pro

Remarks

The first step to enticing prospective tenants is with remarks that grab their attention. You want to paint a picture of the property and get them excited to see more. Share not only details about the house itself but also about the community and surrounding area. Is it dog friendly? A commuters dream. Is it within walking distance of the local schools or public transportation?

If you don’t know where to start, browse other rental listings. What are other homeowners saying in their advertisements? What superlatives are they using? We always start with spacious for a large and open home and charming for smaller ones.

Quality Photos

One of the most significant differences in my rental listings versus many agents is that I use professional quality photos for all rentals. Most landlords and almost all agents skip this critical step when marketing rentals.

High-quality pictures can make a world of difference. You don’t need to be a pro to hire one. Most real estate photography companies in the area will do this for you for a very reasonable fee. Well, reasonable to me. Sure it will cost you a couple of hundred dollars, but you can use these photos again and again for the life of your rental.

I consider this money well spent.

Bonus

Consider adding a 3D tour. A 3D will likely reduce the number of showings you have, but that’s a good thing. By adding a 3D tour, prospects can virtually walk through the property and rule it out if the layout or space won’t work for them. That saves you time, which, if you are showing the property yourself, is a big commodity.

Again this rare for even real estate agents but I’m teaching you how to do this like a Pros Pro.

Get a floorplan. If you aren’t going to do the 3D at least consider a floorplan. Once again this will reduce the number of showings but it helps you weed out those that aren’t really good candidates for your property.

If you are only going to do one of the two bonus options I recommend the floorplan because some 3D tours are hosting on sites that expire after a certain period. That could mean it won’t be available in a year or two when you want to relist your rental.

Final Thoughts

Put your best foot forward when marketing your property. Write a description that encourages people to contact you. Invest in professional photography. You want pictures that show the whole room not a portion of it. Finally consider investing in a 3D tour, floorplan, or both.

I hope you found this information helpful. Don’t forget to check out our Ultimate Guide to Renting Your Home Without an Agent. If you’re thinking about renting your investment property and want to enlist the help of a professional give, me, Abraham Walker, a call at 703-539-2053 or email me.

What ways do you influence your target audience by making your rental listing more attractive online? Post your answer in the comments section.

About the Author

The above article was written by Abraham Walker, Your Northern Virginia Real Estate Agent, helping clients market their homes to achieve high sales with a quick closing time is my main priority. He’s the co-founder of Ask A Walker and can be found on YouTube, Facebook, and HERE on this blog.