Getting Good Tenants

By Sheri Vanderponte


You are looking to rent a property. There are those who move to a new house, and they choose to rent out their last home. Or maybe you've purchased a condo, or completed a basement suite in your home, solely for the purpose of getting that extra rental income. What is the best way to find tenants?

It's a good idea to spend some time crafting your ad well, as you want it to be selected by possible tenants that you're trying to find. Be as descriptive as you can. Be descriptive and interesting, get the reader on your side. Include details, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the type of suite, laundry, parking, when the apartment will be available, rental terms, amount of damage deposit, whether pets are allowed or not. This will save you a lot of unnecessary phone calls.

Having pictures in your ad will make a huge difference. Lots of people will skip right over any ads without them. Don't forget to include your contact information: name, phone number, email address. You want to make it easy for them to contact you.

Put your advertisement on the market

The best way to get the word out is to advertise in a variety of places. Keep in mind the target potential renters you're looking for. Renting out a small bachelor unit is not the same as a large penthouse suite, so advertise appropriately to find your target audience.

CraigsList: Advertising through online sites, such as Craigslist, will reach a broad audience, and it's free. Webistes like that do a good job of having a basic layout that everyone understands, so you can reach the prospective tenants easily. Put around 4 colour photos in your ad; 1 exterior photo, and 3 more of the inside of the premises. When a particularly nice view is available from the unit, use a picture of that in the ad. This will definitely attract attention.

Social media: Put postings on your Facebook page and/or Twitter account to let everyone know you have a property to rent.

Some people use the time-tested method of putting a sign in their front window advertising the rental, as this can still be effective. People who live in the area will see the sign and recommend it to a friend who is looking for a rental, or someone just visiting the area may see it and inquire about renting. The more information you can include on the sign, the better, such as: number of bedrooms and bathrooms, monthly rent, and the move in date. When the details are available, people won't bother you with telephone calls as much. Your contact phone number should be big enough that people on the street can read it.

Word of mouth: Tell everyone you know that you have a place for rent. Acquaintances sometimes have knowledge of people that are moving into your part of town.

Local bulletin boards: Put up a sign, or flyer, at your neighborhood community centre, grocery store, or library. Make your flyer eye-catching by including colour photos, and don't forget to include tear-offs at the bottom of the sign with your contact information and the address of the property.

It's important to find the right balance between renting your suite fast, and finding a responsible tenant. A landlord would be wise to take their time and find responsible tenants who can easily afford to make rent, and are respectful of your property and treat it well. Find out more with further articles to help you find and evaluate prospective tenants.




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