Advertising Your San Francisco Rental Is More Complex Than It Sounds
Advertising your San Francisco rental unit seems like it should be easy. You simply post an ad online and wait for the tenants to line up and fill out applications.
That’s not exactly how it works, and the right advertising process is crucial because it will lead to the right tenant.
Advertising in San Francisco’s rental market requires experience and innovation. As the
COVID pandemic continues to change how we do things, it also requires flexibility and creative ways to conduct contact-free showings.
You want a lower vacancy period and a highly qualified tenant. Let’s talk about how advertising can help you achieve that.
Advertising is More than an Online Ad
Technology has made it easier than ever to advertise a property online. Make sure you know what prospective tenants are looking for in those ads – it usually starts with pictures.
1. Online Advertising Needs Great Photos
Everything starts online when it comes to renting out a property, and you have to be in all the places that the tenants are showing up to look for their next home. You’ll need detailed, attractive listings on all the sites that qualified tenants are using to find their next San Francisco rental home.
Photos have to be crisp and professional. Prospective tenants are going to look at your pictures before they read your description. You want potential tenants to get a good idea of the space, the light, and the
neighborhood.
It’s not enough to list your property on one platform. You’ll want to syndicate the advertisement out to as many rental sites as possible, including Trulia, Zillow, Hot Pads, Zumper, and others.
A good listing will include more than dazzling photos. You need to include your rental price, a description that matches the pictures, and some basic information like move-in date, whether pets are allowed, and what the security deposit will be.
All of this will help prospective residents decide whether they want to see your unit.
2. Responsive Showings Signal You’re a Good Landlord
When your ad does its job, potential renters will want to see your unit. This means you’ll have to facilitate an easy showing process.
It’s important to follow up with people who call for more information. Answer your phone, return emails, and be proactive and responsive when prospective tenants have questions or want to schedule a showing.
After they’ve seen the property, follow up with an offer to provide an application. The goal is always to get good tenants into your property quickly.
When you’re responsive during the showing process, you’re demonstrating to tenants that you’re a landlord who is available, accessible, and willing to meet their needs.
OUR ADVERTISING AND SHOWING SERVICES
At BanCal, we’ve established some safe and consistent protocols for showings that ensure everyone is safe and still able to see your unit.
Essentially, our showings include:
- Practicing social distance guidelines
- Maintaining a distance of at least six feet between people when tenants want to see the property with a leasing agent.
- Offering virtual tour options on request.
- Limiting showings to one person per household.
BanCal Property Management has been attracting and advertising to quality San Francisco tenants since 1987. We know how to develop and execute strategic marketing plans that get your property the attention it needs.
We provide a seamless, stress-free advertising and showing process for owners who want to rent their properties quickly and to high-quality tenants.
To hear more about
our services, please
contact us. We also welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions for topics you want to learn about, so please share those too.
Thank you and we hope to hear from you soon.
Author - Kelli Smith
