We are fortunate to have a steady stream of incoming referrals and repeat clients that rent our properties. 99% of our advertising and marketing efforts are online. We also place yard signs on each and every property generating hundreds of additional calls a week.
Our goal is to generate as much interest and as many applications as possible for each vacant property we market. The more applications we have, the more likely we are going to be able to find the perfect tenant for your property. By perfect tenant, we mean the tenant most likely to pay the rent, pay it on time, month after month. In additions, we want tenants who are likely to take great care of your property as long as they are there.
We do extensive internet marketing using our websites www.ROOSTRentals4u.com in Ohio and www.ROOSTRentals.com in Florida. Our sites are populated with a feed from our software partners Appfolio. By using Appfolio our listings automatically go to hundreds of rental websites including Zillow. Our listing exposure is second to none. Here is a description of the advertising services Appfolio provides from their website:
Posting Vacancy Ads
When all of your property information is stored in AppFolio, marketing vacant units is quick and easy because you save so much time and avoid the hassle of maintaining information in multiple locations. In just a few clicks you can quickly post your vacancies to hundreds of sites on the Internet including your own website, Oodle, Rentals.com, Apartments.com, Zillow and Trulia, to name just a few. You can also download professionally formatted HTML code and images to use when manually posting to listings sites like Craigslist.
Posting to Rental Listing Sites is Easy
Manually posting to rental listing sites outside of AppFolio can take hours each week—we’ve even talked with customers who used to spend a day or more on postings. AppFolio saves you valuable time by being able to post to hundreds of listing sites with a click of a button. With this ability and the option for prospects to fill out a Guest Card or to Apply Online, you can now speed up the leasing flow and fill your vacancies faster.
Monitor Your Marketing from One Place
We also provide reports that help you track the success of your marketing efforts. You can track guest cards by lead source, you can easily see and pay closer attention to those units that have been vacant the longest and see what happens over time as you change the language of your ads, change market rent or highlight different amenities.
(www.appfolio.com)
The Application and Screening Process
We encourage people to apply online whenever we can. Our online application and screening services are also provided by our software partners Appfolio. Our applicants can also fill out our application form and mail it in or drop it off at the office. The act of successfully and completely filling out the application is a screening step in and of itself. The non-refundable application fee is also an important piece of the process that discourages applicants from applying who do not meet our criteria.
Our applications include the disclosure that we will perform credit and criminal background checks on every adult applicant. The applicants’ signatures give us consent to run these reports. Fairness and consistency in this process is paramount because it is first good business, and second, it ensures we do not run afoul of any Fair Housing laws.
How We Show Properties
When appropriate, we use an electronic lockbox service called Rently. (www.Rently.com) The Rently app can be downloaded to a smart phone. The applicant supplies Rently with a credit card number and in return they get an access code to the lockbox. It is secure and convenient and we are expanding this service with additional boxes every month. Here is a description of the service from the Rently website:
What is Rently?
Rently is a premier lockbox rental showing solution. Utilizing Rently’s lockbox rental solution renters can instantly and securely access properties at their convenience. This method, also referred to as Self Service Showing, is becoming the industry norm as property managers save money and lease faster than ever before.
Get More Leads
Using Rently, you’re going to generate more leads than ever before. With our system, every day is an open house and renters will be able to see your properties at the time that best fits their needs. Self-service showings equal more qualified leads coming in around the clock: even during afterhours and weekends. More leads in less time means you’ll be leasing faster!
Manage More Properties
Because you and your agents won’t have to be physically present during the showing process, you’ll be able to spend more time focusing on signing new business and growing your company. Allowing Renters to view your vacant unit at their convenience gives you a competitive advantage and will have you leasing faster. More owners will want to use your management services. Leasing has never been easier.
Lease Faster
With the Rently system, you will get more leads in a shorter amount of time. Renters are eager to find a new home and by eliminating delay between renter interest and property showing, you’ll be leasing faster. The Rently system will significantly reduce your property’s time on market.
Conclusion
This is just a quick summary of how we market and show your properties, and screen and evaluate applicants in an efficient and effective manner. The fact is we turn down up 90% of the applications we receive in favor of the applicant who we feel is in the best position to pay their rent and take care of your home. Our systems and processes ensure that any vacancy you have is filled as quickly as possible so you can get back to collecting your check each month.
Care To Learn More?
- Are you interested in diving deeper into your personal mindsets and motivations as a real estate investor? Set aside 15 minutes and complete the Making Real Estate Work Mindset Scorecard. You will get instant results and insights to your own personal view of the business you may not even be aware of. www.MakeRealEstateWork.com
- For a free download of my book Make Your Real Estate Work For You – The Eight Mindsets You Need To Increase Your Cash Flow Right Now fill out the form below.
- For more information about The ROOST Landlord Advantage™ property management system, visit us at www.ManageWithROOST.com.
