The Do's and Don'ts of Listing Your Home for Rent

The Do's and Don'ts of Listing Your Home for Rent

Ever heard of an elevator pitch? These concise but powerful introductions can help generate excitement for a brand, service, or project. Usually under 60 seconds, they pack all of the most important information about a topic into a single digestible snippet.

Listing your home for rent should be a lot like those pitches: concise, descriptive, and persuasive. It's no wonder many property owners struggle to pull it off!

Fortunately, a few simple do's and don'ts can help you attract the right audience fast. Here are the key tips you need to know.

Do Post Appealing Photos

Photos are often the first things a potential tenant will look at, so make sure they're up to the task! Take the time to snap some great shots or reach out to a professional photographer. This can help you highlight the best features of your property.

Don't Be Dishonest

When trying to get passive income for vacation properties, some owners get tempted into using underhanded tactics. However, you should always avoid false advertising, misleading details, and inaccurate information. These tricks can land you in legal hot water!

The same is true of your photos. Don't edit away flaws like peeling paint or sidewalk cracks. This can misrepresent the features of your property.

Do Bring Up Unique Selling Points

If you're wondering how to rent your home for vacations, this tip is key: broadcast the reasons why your property is unique!

One-of-a-kind mosaic tiles, interesting materials used in the shutters or windows, attractive countertops, upgraded appliances, generous pet policies, wheelchair access, and other unique details can help your home stand out from the crowd.

Don't Forget the Neighborhood

Your goal may be to rent out your house, but the location is often just as important. Sell your surroundings by detailing the area outside the property. Be sure to highlight its proximity to local attractions, shops, restaurants, and public transport.

Don't Get Too Wordy

In the hurry to explain every feature of your home, you might fall into the trap of writing a novel. Avoid the urge! Brief sentences and lists are easier on the eye than walls of text, and they'll also attract more views.

Do Drop Names

Renters love hearing about the brands used in a home's construction. If your property has name-brand paint, materials, or appliances, make sure to boast about them in the listing.

Don't Use Discriminatory Wording

Here's one of the key tips for successful vacation rentals that can also save you some legal headaches. Certain wording can violate the Fair Housing Act, so you'll want to brush up on terms you should and shouldn't say. For example, you can't mention your preferences for renters' familial status, sex or gender, disabilities, religion, or race.

Do Proofread

While minor typos may not always make or break your listing, these errors can give the impression that tenants are working with a disorganized or rushed landlord or vacation rental management team. Drop your listing into a spelling and grammar checker to avoid this.

Use These Tips When Listing Your Home for Rent

Ready to bring your listing to the next level? The tips above are a great place to start, but the right property management company can make listing your home for rent a breeze!

Our experts offer a variety of short- or long-term rental services for Baton Rouge area property owners. Contact us today to learn more.

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