Using a real estate agent to rent my property

[Emily Kessler]

We are about to purchase our first rental property and are a little nervous about finding renters during the holiday season. We are wondering if it's worth it to hire a real estate agent to help us get it rented. Does anyone have experience working with an agent rather than listing yourself on Craigslist, Zillow, etc.? Do you know what they typically charge? Thanks!

[Account Closed]

Hi @Emily Kessler

With all of the free online tools, I recommend finding your own tenant. It really isn't worth paying a realtor. They won't pre-screen as well as you will and it is good to learn how to do it yourself.

1. Do some research on rental sites like Craigslist, realtor.com, rentometer.com to determine pricing for the area. Renting during the holidays can be a little tougher, but a realtor won't change that. I like to offer 1 month free during slow times. I offer free rent for the 13th month, or even better on try to get an 18-month lease, so you aren't trying to renew during the holidays.

2. Make sure your rental is SPOTLESS and take some good pics or hire someone. I pay a pro photographer $150 to take shots of my rentals. It is worth EVERY penny because I can use them over and over. You can also use a free tool like picmonkey to edit pictures.

3. Put a sign in the yard and list your rental on the free sites and include your rental criteria, so prospects can pre-screen themselves.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.