Marketing a rental home in Martinez should be easier than ever, with the power and reach of the internet. With one listing, you can now reach thousands of potential tenants.

However, there’s also a lot of competition out there. Everyone is using the same platforms, and you have to really make your property stand out if you want to get the attention of the best tenants.

We’re providing 5 steps that you’ll need to follow to effectively market your Martinez rental property.

1. Pay Attention to Curb Appeal

Your property’s first impression is going to be critical to whether a person decides to see it and then to rent it. Take advantage of the opportunity you have to show off a well-maintained, attractive, and welcoming home. You’ll need your property to look its best for showings as well as marketing photos. Make sure the exterior is cleaned up, free of any debris or random garbage cans, and inviting. If you’re renting out a single-family home, make sure the lawn is mowed and the bushes are trimmed. When your property is a condo or a multi-family unit in a building, check out the common areas to ensure they’re clean, safe, and uncluttered.

2. Take Exceptional Property Photos

Once you know the home looks good, it’s time to take some pictures of it. Hiring a professional photographer is a great idea, but if it’s not in your budget, you can probably manage some great pictures on your own. Be aware of the lighting; you don’t want anything to look dark or blurred. Open up all the windows so you can make the best use of natural light. Take your photos from the corners of rooms so you can show as much space as possible.

Don’t be stingy with the number of photos you include. Listings with two or three pictures will be quickly ignored by tenants. They’ll want to scroll through a dozen or so pictures of the property’s interior, exterior, and specific photos of the kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms.

3. Write a Concise and Accurate Description

Tenants are likely to check out your pictures before they read your description, but you have to make your words count, too. Don’t write long paragraphs or over-describe the home. Be concise and state what tenants need to know. Talk about number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, and whether there’s outdoor space or parking or an in-unit washer and dryer. Include pertinent information like rental amount, security deposit requirements, and whether pets are allowed.

4. List Your Martinez Rental Property Online

When it’s time to list your property, make sure you know which sites to use. Most tenants today will wander over to Zumper, Zillow, Hotpads, Lovely, Padmapper, and Rent Jungle when they’re ready to look for a new home. If you’re working with a Martinez property management company, you’ll get some extra exposure through their website and the syndication that they use to get your listing in front of more people.

5. Respond to All Inquiries

Perhaps the most important thing you can do when you’re marketing your rental home is to be responsive. It’s astonishing how many landlords and property owners do not respond to calls and messages when they’re trying to rent out a home. Answer the phone. Return the emails. Be willing to talk about your property and schedule showings. If you don’t, you’ll be facing a longer and very expensive vacancy.

We can help you with the leasing process and all of the Martinez property management support you need. Please contact us at Stokley Properties.