Listing your San Mateo home for rent on all of the usual rental websites is a good way to get it in front of a lot of potential tenants. But, you might need a little bit more than that when you’re putting together a marketing strategy. Complement your online listing with a healthy social media presence and extra methods of getting your property the additional exposure it needs. You might want to try an open house, for example.

Here are some of the strategies we recommend when you want to rent your property quickly, to high quality tenants, and for the most rent possible.

This is our best advice as a Peninsula property management company, and we’d be happy to personalize our recommendations for your unique investment property.

Crafting a Stellar Rental Listing

Your rental listing must stand out from the competition, and you can do that with outstanding photos and videos and an attention-grabbing description. High quality photos are essential because tenants will always look at those before they read the words that go with the listing or evaluate the location. They’ll probably be scrolling through those photos on their phones, so make sure you’re sharing pictures that will look good on a mobile device.

Don’t be afraid to include a lot of pictures, and make sure the descriptions you write up provide an accurate representation of your property. The listing should also include all the necessary details a tenant would need, such as rental amount, when the home will be ready for move-in, and if pets are considered.

Always highlight unique features and amenities that will make your property more competitive. Does your rental property have any particular selling points or special features? Maybe it’s a pool or a fenced backyard or an attached garage. Also include the amenities of the neighborhood such as; parks, easy access to mass transit, shopping, entertainment, schools etc.

Don’t forget to provide your contact information in your listing.

Once you have a great listing, you want to get it in front of people. Use the internet and advertise your rental property on multiple platforms. Options include listing sites like Zillow, Trulia, Zumper, HotPads, Rentals.com, and RentCafe. You can also leverage social media platforms. Listing your rental home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is a good way to reach real estate agents who may be helping clients find a rental home.

Sharing Your Listing on Social Media

Don’t stop at the listing itself. While those rental websites are fantastic when you’re tossing your rental property into a large pool of potential new homes for tenants to choose from, you also want to be intentional about your audience.

Social media can help you reach the tenants you and your network are connected with. Post your home for rent in Facebook groups, on Twitter and Instagram, and even on Pinterest and Snapchat. Why not make a TikTok video or a YouTube video that walks a potential tenant through the home?

Social media platforms are powerful because they invite dialogue and engagement. All of the accounts you’re connected to can like, comment, and even share your post. That’s going to reach more people, faster. Everyone knows someone who is looking for a new rental home. Social media can help you reach those prospects.

Marketing a rental property can be tough, particularly when there’s so much competition out there. That’s why many landlords and property managers are now turning to social media as a way to help advertise their properties. With the right approach, social media can be an excellent way to target potential renters, showcase your properties in the best possible light, and ultimately, secure more bookings.

Whether you prefer Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, each platform offers its own set of unique benefits for rental property marketers. From posting eye-catching photos and offering virtual tours to connecting with potential tenants and sharing useful information about your properties, social media provides an array of useful tools that can make the marketing process much easier.

Inviting Prospective San Mateo Tenants to an Open House

All of us in real estate and Peninsula property management took a break from open houses during the worst years of the pandemic. It’s possible to host them safely, now, and you should consider doing an open house if you want to get your property rented quickly. Open houses invite a lot of potential tenants into the property at one time, which creates a sense of competition and urgency among the people who are thinking about renting your home.

Here are some of the elements that will make a difference when you’re hosting an open house for your San Mateo rental property:

Allow yourself enough time to prepare. You want to get your property rented as quickly as possible, which means you want to host your open house as soon as you can. But, you have to make sure your property is rent-ready. Make any necessary repairs, do a thorough job of cleaning, and decide whether anything needs to be updated or improved. If the paint is fading, for example, give the walls a fresh coat.
Welcome walk-ins. It’s great to have appointments scheduled during the open house period, but you should also welcome people who just happen to be driving or walking by. Be available to answer questions and to provide additional information.
Have a sign-in sheet. This will allow you to follow up with tenants who might have come to see the property. You can ask what they thought and offer some help in the application process.
Greet your prospective tenants as they come and go. This is where you’ll establish a relationship with prospective tenants. You want to show them that they’ll be renting from someone who is serious, professional and welcoming.

These marketing tips from your local Peninsula property management professionals will help you have a great experience during the leasing period. If you need some help getting your property rented, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Bayside Management. We can help with advertising, social media, open houses, and showings.

We lease, manage, and maintain investment properties in San Mateo and around the Peninsula, including San Carlos, Redwood City, Pacifica, San Bruno, Half Moon Bay, Daly City, Mountain View, Foster City, and Palo Alto.