Question about rental ad formats? What works for you??

[Brian H.]

Hey all!

So, I have been curious what other people on here have found to be succesful in terms of rental ad formats on places like Craigslist?  I am sure some of you have found including/not including certain things, formatting the ad in some specific manner, etc. really works to increase response to your rental ads?

Share those with us!

Thanks :)

[MIchael Rickerd]

Here's an excellent tool that I use when posting online about anything (i.e. selling cars, household goods, renting out rooms/houses, etc.). I put myself into the buyers/prospective tenants shoes and do a bit of research to find ads for similar things to what I am offering, and I take note of the types of ads that I see that make me want to buy/rent whatever the person is selling. 

I take note of what the ad included, the level of detail, the types of pictures, etc. that make me want it. And then I duplicate what I see for my own situation. This works well for me. I'll rent out a room in two-three days, using this strategy, way before the end of the month.

Also, to counterpoint Andrews point above, I would never leave out important information in the rental ad. Perhaps it's my current faulty way of thinking, but leaving out the rental amount seems insane. Why oh why would you want to deal with a multitude of calls about something like how much it rents for? Unless you are really intent on spending your time taking random dead end phone calls full of stupid questions, I'd make your ad as informative as possible.

I include all pertinent information in my rental ads. I want whoever is going to contact me to know that their background, eviction history, and finances will be checked/verified. I want them to know the move-in amount, and that it has to be paid in full prior to move-in. I want them to know my pet policy, my no smoking policy, etc. before they ever take the time to contact me. No sense in dealing with people who think that somehow the rent will be hundreds of dollars below market value, and that there is no security deposit, because you didn't put that crucial piece of information in the ad.