5 Common mistakes to avoid in your property listing

Your listing is your most important advertising tool for finding tenants for your property. This means getting your listing right is crucial to the success of your investment. To be successful, your listing needs to stand out amongst other properties, connect with potential tenants, and encourage them to come to an inspection.

We have seen a lot of listings, some great and some bad. Here are 5 mistakes that we often see across listings and how to avoid them.

1. You are using low-quality photos

These days everyone expects high-quality imagery. Uploading a listing without quality imagery will make you stand out, just in all the wrong ways. Potential tenants will form their first impressions of your property through your images. They will zoom in on them, swipe through them multiple times, and send them to partners, family, roommates, and friends. Bad photos will make your property look unappealing, reducing the number of potential tenants you could get.

It is worth investing in a professional photoshoot for your property. These photos will be high quality, well-lit, and well-staged. They will paint your property in the best light possible. Plus, you will be able to use these photos again and again for quite a while, until there are major changes to your property.

2. The information you have provided is incomplete or inaccurate

Inaccurate or incomplete will make your property seem less appealing and trustworthy. This could have a detrimental effect on its success in the market. Incomplete information will put off your tenants before they even inspect your property, while inaccurate information will be revealed during an inspection.

If you want the best tenants, it is better to ensure your listing is complete and accurate. Fill out as many sections of the listing as possible and provide as much detail as you can. Double-check that all information you provide is up to date and accurate for the current state of your property.

3. Your headline is generic and not engaging

A well-crafted and engaging headline for your property will pique their interest. On the other hand, an uninspired or generic headline will have potential tenants scroll right on by. Avoid any generic or boring phrases like “Beautiful 2 bedroom apartment for rent”. This doesn’t offer any compelling information about your property, just the bedroom count.

Remember that this title, plus the bedroom, bathroom, and car count are the first bits of information that potential tenants will see. So, having a header that provides extra information and paints a picture will transform your listing. “Spacious apartment with gorgeous city views” is far more eye-catching.

4. You have used misleading or discriminatory language

Discriminatory or misleading language will not only put off potential tenants but could get your listing removed. This language is not tolerated by these platforms. It will damage the reputation of your property and make it less appealing to potential tenants.

The simplest thing to do here is to avoid words or phrases that exclude or marginalise certain groups of people. Avoid language that implies a preference for age, race, gender, or disability. Use of this language may also be illegal and could put you in a precarious position.

5. Putting out the wrong price

It is important to have confidence in your property and how appealing it is on the market. At the same time, it is important not to be overconfident. Getting the right price for your property can be challenging. You don’t want to undervalue it and risk losing revenue, but overpricing it will only result in disappointment.

So how do you find the right price? There are many factors that go into the value of a rental property. The location, age, market conditions, size, and more. Getting an appraisal from an experienced Property Manager is the easiest way to find out the value of your property. They know what renters look for, and how much rental income you can expect.

Conclusion

A great listing is vital to the success of your rental property. Avoiding these 5 common mistakes will go a long way to ensuring you can get great tenants. Of course, there is a lot more to securing the right tenant. If you need help screening tenants, negotiating, creating contracts, and so much more feel free to reach out to Link Living.