When it comes to listing a rental property, you need to do more than just grab a renter’s attention. To generate traffic and attract quality prospects, your listing must also gain tenants’ trust and reassure them that renting your property is the right decision.
This trust starts with your rental property listing. With accurate details, high-definition photos, and thorough property descriptions, you can assure prospective tenants that you and your property are legitimate and trustworthy. To get started, keep reading for our expert tips on how to create a trustworthy listing for your rental property.
In this article, we’ll explain how to craft a quality rental property listing that not only catches renters’ attention but also builds trust and credibility. Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Understanding rental scams and how to spot them
- Key elements of a reliable rental property listing
- Rental listing red flags
- Best practices for building trust with renters
Understanding Rental Scams
To understand why renters might initially have doubts about rental listings, let’s first discuss rental scams. A rental scam occurs when a landlord misrepresents themselves and their property to lure unsuspecting renters into giving them money or personal information. A common instance of this is when fake landlords list rental properties that don’t exist or are already filled. In this case, they might trick a renter into giving them an upfront payment and then disappear.
In today’s digital age of advanced technology and cybersecurity, you would think that rental scammers would be put to a stop. However, these scams are and continue to be much more common than people realize. Six years ago, over five million people lost money to rental scams. Of these five million individuals, one in three people lost over $1,000, with the median financial loss being $400, according to a 2019 study published by the Better Business Bureau. That said, these rental scams are still very prevalent in today’s market. Most modern renters err on the side of caution when apartment hunting, making the accuracy and credibility of your property listing more critical than ever for your rental business.
Common types of rental scams
Rental property scams can come in all different shapes and sizes, they can target both renters and landlords. Some target specific types of renters, such as those facing eviction, while others have more general tactics. Here are a few common types to be aware of as you prepare your listing:
Phantom rentals
Resonating with its name, a phantom rental is a listing showcasing a property that doesn’t actually exist – almost as if it vanished like a ghost. With phantom rentals, scammers will steal photos from legitimate listings and post them to a new listing advertising a completely different address.
Cloned listings
A cloned listing, also known as a hijacked listing, is a fraudulent listing duplicated from a pre-existing listing. Scammers will copy and paste details from a legitimate listing from one website and post it to another with different contact information. This scam is one of the most common and yet hardest to spot for unsuspecting renters.
Eviction scams
Eviction scams occur when illegitimate landlords, lawyers, or housing advocates take advantage of renters who are on the brink of eviction. These individuals will trick vulnerable renters into paying them fees or providing personal information to avoid eviction or negotiate a settlement, only to disappear once they’ve collected the funds.
Bait and switch scams
A bait and switch scam occurs when a landlord prices a property well below its market value. This low price attracts renters, who are then surprised when the landlord suddenly removes the listing and replaces it with a similar, but way more expensive, alternative. This tricks renters who act quickly to secure a rental for a seemingly low price, only to be hit with a price increase they can no longer afford.
Key Elements of a Trustworthy Property Listing
With your new understanding of rental scams, you can now work toward creating a listing that shows clear signs of authenticity and merit. Remember, most renters will be on high alert throughout their apartment search, especially those who have fallen for rental scams in the past. So, you should do everything you can to reassure them that you and your property are legitimate and worthy of their time and attention.
To craft a reliable rental property listing that builds trust with prospective renters, you should include the following elements:
High-quality photos
When it comes to rental listings, a picture is worth a thousand words. Listing photos are usually the first thing a renter notices as they browse listings. If they like what they see, they’ll click on the listing and browse through more photos to see what a property looks like, what kind of condition it’s in, and if they can envision themselves living there.
Listings with few images or ones that are blurry, poorly-lit, or clearly fake are a red flag to renters. So, it’s important to invest time and resources into photographing your unit. Use a high-resolution camera, shoot during daylight hours, and use good angles as you take pictures of your property. These details will help you produce professional-looking photos that accurately depict your property and its condition.
Verified property information
Along with quality visuals, your listing should include detailed, accurate information about your property. These are the details that renters will pay close attention to and refer back to as they tour a property. For example, if your listing says your property is X amount of square feet, but renters discover that it’s noticeably smaller in person, they’ll likely lose trust in your listing and possibly in you.
That said, make sure to triple-check your property details before posting your listing. To make it easier, here’s a list of things to confirm and verify before your rental goes live:
- Monthly rent
- Lease duration
- Required fees (security deposit, move-in fees, HOA fees)
- Location/address
- Square footage
- Number of parking spaces
- Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- Recent renovations
- Community amenities or features, if applicable
- Special restrictions (smoking, pet policies, quiet hours, etc.)
In-person or virtual tours
The most obvious way to verify your listing is to have renters come see it for themselves. Hosting an open house or private tour allows prospective tenants to come see your property, ask direct questions, and get an accurate feel for the neighborhood or community. Plus, hosting tours gives you the opportunity to build rapport with your potential tenants and start laying a foundation for a strong tenant-landlord relationship.
If your prospective tenants can’t make it to an in-person tour, virtual tours are a great alternative. These will still provide an in-depth look at your property and give renters a better feel for the space. However, they won’t require any travel for renters and will allow them to tour whenever and wherever they choose.
Clear and upfront rent prices and monthly fees
Photos and property descriptions aside, one of the most critical details in a rental listing is the rent price. When browsing listings, renters will often filter their search by price to stay within budget. That said, it’s important to clearly list your rent price and monthly fees in your rental listing. If these components are missing or hard to find, renters might get frustrated and pass on your listing altogether.
Making sure your price is accurate is also important. Though a lower price might attract more applicants, it’s important to list your rental at a price that accurately reflects its value and benefits your rental income. This price should also be consistent across all online platforms where your listing appears. If renters notice discrepancies in pricing, it could raise red flags about the legitimacy of your listing.
Potential Red Flags to Avoid in Rental Listings
Now that you know what elements to include in your rental listing, you should also know what not to include. When posting your listing, be wary of including certain elements that could make renters second guess your property’s legitimacy. Though some of these inconsistencies can stem from honest mistakes, they might raise red flags for renters suspicious of rental scams.
Vague listing descriptions
As mentioned earlier, it’s all about the details when it comes to property descriptions. A short and nondescriptive property description could raise alarm bells for renters. This, combined with sparse photos, could make them question the listing’s legitimacy and your trustworthiness as a landlord.
Poor spelling and grammar
Poor spelling and grammar are another huge red flag for rental listings. If your property description is full of errors, misspellings, and formatting issues, renters will likely question your professionalism and the validity of your listing.
Improper or incomplete background checks
Conducting a thorough background check shows that you’re serious about finding the right tenant. This is especially important if you’re dealing with long-time renters who have been through the process before. These individuals will anticipate and expect a proper screening process, so make sure to follow strict screening procedures and don’t cut corners. If you rush through or skip out on background checks, it could send the message that you’re not serious about finding a trustworthy tenant.
Urgency to sign a lease
We understand you might be eager to fill your rental. However, it’s important that you don’t express this urgency to renters. Sending excessive follow-ups or trying to expedite the rental process could rub renters the wrong way. Even if you’re desperate to fill a vacancy, approach tenants with patience, politeness, and respect. Otherwise, they may question your intentions.
Best Practices for Building Credibility with Tenants
Building trust with tenants is more than just crafting a strong property listing. Frankly, forming credibility is an ongoing process that involves professionalism, transparency, and commitment to providing a positive living experience for tenants. Once you post your listing and receive an inquiry, here are some ways you can continue to build credibility:
Respond promptly and professionally
Responding promptly to renter inquiries shows professionalism and respect for renters’ time. Whether these interactions take place in person, over the phone, or online, make sure to respond quickly and politely. Doing so will create a foundation of trust between you and your potential renter and start your relationship off on the right foot.
Provide proper documentation
Having proper documentation also shows professionalism and credibility. This could include anything from your property listing and lease agreement to records of previous maintenance and renovations. Having these documents on hand builds transparency with potential renters and ensures complete disclosure of all rental policies, procedures, and records.
Use the listing features on Apartments.com
Finally, one of the best ways to establish trust with renters is to promote your listing on the right platform. This is where Apartments.com can help. Our comprehensive listing tools allow landlords to create accurate property listings and broadcast them to thousands of prospective renters. Plus, our user-friendly platform allows you to easily track leads, view applications, and screen potential tenants. List with us today to unlock your rental business’s true potential.
FAQs
How can I make my rental property stand out?
To make your rental property listing stand out, focus on great photos and thorough property descriptions that highlight unique features like updated appliances or a great location. You may also include videos or virtual tours to give a more in-depth look at your property.
How do you write a good description for a rental property?
To write a good rental property description, it’s important to be clear and concise. Emphasize key details about the unit, such as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and standout features like a spacious back yard or renovated kitchen. Use positive language to create an inviting tone and make sure your grammar, spelling, and formatting is correct.
Where is the best place to list my rental?
A great place to list your rental is Apartments.com. It’s a trusted platform with a large audience of renters, making it easier to find qualified tenants quickly. Plus, Apartments.com has tools that simplify the entire rental process from listing to lease signing.
