Advertising your Philadelphia rental property seems easy enough. It’s all about online advertising these days, and you might think that all you have to do is post some pictures with the rental price and wait for your prospective tenants to contact you. 

That’s not exactly how it works, especially not in this market. There’s a large pool of tenants, and they’re all eager to rent well-maintained homes. However, your advertising needs to be strategic. Your goal is to limit your vacancy time, attract the best qualified tenants, and bring in the highest possible rental rates. 

Advertising is part of your overall marketing plan. You need to know what your ads should look like, where they should be posted, and how you should respond to them. 

Our advertising strategies at TCS Management are effective. We’re prepared to advertise your home effectively and quickly, resulting in a lower vacancy period and the placement of a highly qualified resident.

Here’s what we recommend when you’re advertising your Philadelphia rental home.

Before you Advertise: Is Your Property Rent-Ready? 

Don’t make the mistake of advertising a rental property before it’s ready to be seen. 

You want to make sure your property is ready to rent.  This means that a tenant could take the keys and move in right now. Before you start your advertising process, the property has to be clean, functioning, and attractive. 

• Spend some time on curb appeal.
• Create a welcoming environment. There should be a great looking lawn if you’re renting out a single-family home, and the common areas and building should be clean and free of debris if you’re renting out a unit in a multi-family building.
• Make any repairs or replacements that are necessary before you advertise. 
• Have the property professionally cleaned before it’s listed.

An effective rental ad will connect emotionally with prospective tenants. That emotional connection is difficult to achieve when the advertising photos show a property that’s still in the process of being made ready.   

Online Advertisements Need High Quality Photos

Your photographs are a critical part of your advertising process. 

These pictures are sure to be the first things any potential resident looks at when they come across your listing online. The pictures need to be clear and professional, and there should be a lot of them. 

Consider investing in professional photography. If you’re going to take your own photos, make sure you use excellent lighting and all the right angles. You need your property to look its best.

Remove any debris, personal items, or cleaning materials before you take your photos. The pictures should show a clean, well-lit home that looks inviting and cozy. Include photos of the kitchen, the bedrooms, the bathrooms, and any outdoor space. Don’t forget special features like garden tubs or stainless appliances. 

Your photos should tell a story and motivate prospective residents to come and see your property.  

Where to Find Qualified Philadelphia Residents 

Your listing will get the most attention on the popular rental websites that highly qualified tenants are using. 

Platforms we recommend include:

• Zillow
• PadMapper
• Trulia
• HotPads
• Zumper
• RentCafe
• Rentals.com 

These are your best online spaces, and you can expect to find a wide range of tenants using these platforms. Make sure your advertising reflects your rental terms such as rental amount, security deposit requirements, and rental criteria. You’ll want to mention whether pets are allowed and when the home will be ready for occupancy. 

Track the number of responses you get so you can adjust any of the information in your ad if necessary. If you notice that a lot of people are clicking on the home but choosing not to contact you, there may be a problem with your price. 

Sites to Avoid When Advertising Rental Homes 

The sites we mentioned above are reputable rental platforms that give your listing a large audience. You’ll have to pay to list a home, but it’s worth it. Free sites like Craigslist may seem like a good idea, but you’re not necessarily getting the best tenants on such sites. And, you’re making yourself vulnerable to scams.

Avoid Craigslist. Not only is it risky, it’s also time-consuming to continually post your ad and keep it towards the top of all the listings that show up there. 

We also recommend watermarking your photos and including contact information that includes specifics, such as your full name. This will make it harder for scammers to steal your photos and try to rent your home out to unsuspecting tenants. 

Follow Up with a Responsive Showing Process

A good advertising process includes a plan for responsiveness. When an advertising campaign does what it’s supposed to do, interest in your property is immediately generated. You will likely have tenants calling and sending messages almost immediately. 

Be prepared. 

These potential renters will have questions, and you’ll need to be prepared to answer them. When they want to see your property, you’ll need to facilitate an easy showing process. Many owners and Philadelphia property management companies are using technology and smart locks to allow prospective tenants to see the home on their own time. Others prefer in-person showings. 

Be flexible.

Make sure you follow up with people who call for more information. Don’t leave messages unanswered. Tenants have a lot of options, especially good tenants, and they’ll move along to the next property on their list if you don’t answer your phone or respond to an email. Set up a showing, answer any questions, and follow up with an offer to provide an application. You want to get good tenants into your property quickly. 

These are our best tips when it comes to advertising. If you’re ready to lease your Philadelphia property and you’d like some support or additional resources, we’re here to help you. Contact our team at TCS Management. 

TCS Management is a full service property management company headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, also serving Harrisburg, PA, Cherry Hill, NJ, Wilmington, Delaware and the surrounding areas. We focus on single-family and multifamily residential property management of homes, condos, townhomes, and apartment buildings.