Selective Tenanting Through Marketing and Promotion
Tenants have a “Shelf-Life,” because they need to be replaced from time to time. They move on or you move them out. Show me a cash-flow investor with a two-year track record of making money and paying the bills and I will show you someone who bankers want to take to lunch and discuss low interest mortgages. There are plenty of rental properties where the numbers can work. The key is having quality tenants who take care of the property and pay their rent on time.
All the promotion you may need for a rental unit that caters to University students might be a giant big screen TV and computer with high speed Wi-Fi. A property on a busy street may only need a simple sign in the front yard. But, in most cases, to rent for top dollar and select the highest quality tenants you want to reach a lot of people in a hurry.
Anyone can throw money at the problem with lots of expensive ads. Here are some things you can do on a ZERO or near ZERO-dollar budget:
- Zillow.com/Rental-Manager – Here you can place a complete ad with lots of pictures and full disclosure information. You will get a link to your own page that you can even email to people while you’re visiting with them on the phone. Zillow may be the biggest name in real estate. I have never run an ad here that didn’t get my phone to ring.
- CraigsList.org – The secret is in timing. Place your ads at 11:45 AM and/or 6:30 PM so you can stay “above the fold” during peak view times. “Above the fold” means your ad can be see without scrolling. People click they don’t scroll. Do not repeat the same ad or anything close to the same ad before the required 48 hr. wait time. They tend to not post ads till they are “below the fold” for people who abuse their system.
- Print flyers that present not just your rental unit but puff up the neighborhood as well. The back of your flyer can include Elementary, Jr. High, and High School Principals or Vice-Principals contact information. Do the same for Churches, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Town Hall Meetings, Health Clubs, Little League, Police, Fire, etc.
- Be creative in where you place your flyers. Got a washer and dryer included? Hit the laundromat bulletin boards. Got the big screen TV? Hit the University bulletin boards.
- Visit other rentals especially where your property appeals to a different kind of renter than they cater too. They could send you leads. Visit the Section 8 Housing Department. They will give you the lay of the land on how to work with them so you can have half or more of your top dollar rent put in your checking account on the first of each month.
Regardless of how you market or promote for tenants, your future depends on getting good tenants who take care of your property and pay you on time. History repeats itself so here is what you can do to protect yourself:
- Have prospective tenants fill out and sign an application allowing a credit report.
- Run a credit report. Anyone under 600 probably has late rent pays.
- Walk out to their car with them and see how they take care of their car.
