The marketing and advertising of your rental property will have a huge impact on the types of tenants you attract to your rental property. If you’re looking for well-qualified renters who can be expected to pay rent on time and take care of your home, you’ll want to make sure you create a showing experience that connects with such tenants.
Showings do not have to be complex, but you do need to set a scene that’s welcoming, inviting, and likely to help your property stand out in a crowded rental market.
Here are some of our best home-showing tips. As Orlando property managers, we’ve found that these things can help you get your property rented quickly to excellent residents. You’ll reduce vacancy and bring in more rental income consistently.
Self-Showings Help You Attract Quality Tenants
Before we talk about how to show your home effectively, let’s get this out of the way: you need to be willing to allow self-showings. It’s expected by most tenants, and usually it’s preferred. They want to be left alone to see the property without someone following them around and delivering an awkward sales pitch.
Not that you would be awkward.
Still, by utilizing self-showing technology, you can facilitate a faster marketing and leasing process. That’s good news. You don’t want to slow down the process by insisting that you be present for the showing.
Plenty of self-showing technology is available today, and if you’re having trouble choosing the right system for you, reach out to us and we’ll make some good recommendations. You can install a digital keypad or a lockbox. You can also download apps that grant access to tenants for a limited time.
By using self-showing technology, you’ll not only impress prospective tenants, but you’ll also make sure the showing process is efficient, convenient, and safe. You’ll increase the number of tenants who are viewing your property, you’ll keep marketing and leasing costs lower, and you’ll get your home rented faster.
Clean and Update your Rental Home
Your property has to look great before you show it. This goes without saying; why would you show a rental home that’s dusty, missing a door on a closet, or plagued by insects?
You’d be surprised at what some owners are willing to overlook when trying to rent out a home.
In order to stand out and draw good tenants to your property, make sure it’s professionally cleaned. You’ll want everything to be repaired and updated. Finish the painting and install new hardware on the sinks, drawers, and doors.
Take care of all maintenance and repair needs – no matter how minor they may seem. You want your home to be move-in ready when your prospective tenants arrive for a showing. The goal is to inspire them to complete an application. You want them to imagine moving right in.
Invest in Better Curb Appeal Before Showing Season
Curb appeal is important. This is the first impression you’re making on prospective renters, outside of your online listing. When someone arrives for a showing, they’ll make an immediate judgment about the inside of your property based on how the outside looks.
Here are some of the landscaping and exterior maintenance items you might want to take care of before you start showing your home:
Pressure-wash the property. This is easy and quick, even if you don’t have your own power washer. You can easily rent one from a local hardware store. Most homes are quick to collect leaves, tree branches, dirt, pollen, and other debris. The power wash will make everything look new. Your driveway and walkway can probably benefit from a strong spray as well.
Check your exterior paint condition. Most homes in Florida see their exterior paint fade quickly thanks to the strong sunshine and intense heat. There’s also a lot of moisture that can impact the condition of your exterior paint. If it’s time to repaint the property, invest in high-quality paint and materials so you don’t have to repaint again too soon. Fresh paint will increase your curb appeal and your rental value. No one wants to move into a home with faded, chipped, or peeling paint.
Make the front door pretty. Tenants are going to walk right through that front door when they arrive for their showing, so make it count. Clear away any cobwebs and debris that may have gathered around the entrance. This entry into your property will be more welcoming if there’s a mat for tenants to wipe their feet. Consider some bright and cheerful flowers. Invest in a new, shiny door knocker or door knob. These are inexpensive upgrades.
Invest in good landscaping. Hopefully, you have a landscaping company that helps with mowing, mulching, and weeding. If you don’t, consider hiring one. Otherwise, you’ll want to spend some time before the showings start making your lawn and outdoor area look great. Keep the lawn healthy and green but low-maintenance. You don’t want to scare off any potential tenants with complicated landscaping schemes that probably look like a lot of work.
Provide adequate lighting. This is an important part of your curb appeal because it serves both aesthetics and function. A nice porch light or some small solar lights along a walkway can look great. Motion detector lights on garages or the side of the property can also help tenants feel more secure. You never want a completely dark house; that’s going to be a target and look like an opportunity to criminals.
As you prepare to schedule showings, walk through the property yourself and look at it from the perspective of a tenant. Does it look like a place you’d want to live? It should.
Make sure you keep all of the utilities on. Tenants will need lights when they’re visiting your property. They may want to test the shower or flush the toilets, so they’ll need water.
Always follow up after a showing. Find out what they liked and whether they’ll be filling out an application.
These are some of our best showing tips, and we’d be happy to share more with you. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at RE/MAX 200 Realty. We manage rental properties in Orlando and throughout the greater Central Florida area, including Orange County and Seminole County.
