Using Zillow to market your rental property Vs Craig's list

[Chuck Gerchow]

Ok so my house in Marysville,Wa became available after almost 5 years occupied with the same tenant. I have used craig's almost exclusively to find new tenants for the last 12 years. I was initially trying to get new tenants in there before old ones moved out. Wasn't going to happen! Maintenance issues mostly cosmetic. Once the house was vacant. Carpets were cleaned ect. I started running craig's people through 4-5 a day. Felt like they were shopping used cars. Holding out for Bigger better deal. After going back and fourth negotiating one lease. Then prospective tenant backing out of deal. I started to look at my options.  

I thought to myself. Let me try Zillow. I had the day earlier taken my Dslr and took several high quality photos. So put an Ad together on zillow and posted at around 6am. My email blew up with responses to see the house. Needless to say We had a signed lease before 5pm that day.

See when you post with zillow it also posts with Hotpads and Trullia as well. Massive exposure for your income property.  I ended up leasing to an out of state party that was relocating.  

So If you have a rental your struggling with getting a lease signed try Zillow. Also Craig's had tons of people with horrible credit and evictions applying. I served two 3 day vacates in one day once. Not fun.

[Russell Brazil]

The answer to what works is very market specific.  For instance in my market...in Washington DC, there is a 95% chance you are going to get your renter through Craigs List. However if you move just 30 miles north of DC to Frederick MD, you will get no responses off of Craigs List and almost all your responses will come from Zillow.