A strategic marketing plan will help you rent out your Eureka property faster, for more money, and to better tenants. You need to get the attention of prospective renters, and you need to remember that it’s a crowded online space out there. It’s time to be creative.

A fantastic advertising strategy begins with the listing. 

This is your first impression. 

Here are some of our best tips for crafting the perfect rental listing for your Eureka property. 

Write an Attention-Grabbing Headline

A great rental listing starts with a headline that will get the attention of people scrolling through other listings on their phones. 

Your headline is the hook, so you want to make it count. 

Think about what makes your property unique or desirable and include that in your headline. Is your rental located near a popular landmark in Eureka? Does it have a stunning water view? Whatever it is, make sure your headline is succinct, yet descriptive. 

A compelling headline will capture the attention of tenants and give them a reason to click on your full listing. Here are some examples:

“Newly Renovated 3-Bedroom Townhome Close to Downtown”

“Pet-Friendly Home for Rent with Fenced Backyard”

Once you have your headline, you can go into more detail with your description and allow your pictures to showcase what you have to offer. 

Focus on Your Photos 

Pictures are important because once your headline or your price point gets the attention of tenants, they’ll click through your photos before they read your description. Make the photos as professional as possible, and make sure you have an abundance of them. 

You want the pictures with your listing to show tenants what it would be like to live there. You want them to imagine moving right in. Showcase your kitchen, and take some close-up photos of the appliances, the floors, and the counters. Include photos of living rooms, dens, and any other spaces where your tenants will gather with family and friends. The bedroom pictures are important, too. Include shots of the closet space and any other storage that’s offered. Don’t forget to showcase your bathrooms and any outdoor space, garages, or other special features. 

Use a good camera, even if it’s one attached to your phone. Concentrate on the lighting, and use the right angles to help your property look large, clean, and modern. Make sure you do a little cleaning up before the photo shoot. No one wants to see clutter or debris.

Nothing complements photos better than video. When you can post a video with your listing, you’re giving prospective tenants a real-time look at your rental home. Put together a video tour that walks prospects from the front door throughout the entire home.

Include a Detailed but Concise Description 

An accurate and engaging description needs to accompany your photographs. 

Don’t be too wordy; most tenants aren’t going to have the attention span that’s required to read paragraphs. Instead, choose descriptive phrases and lively adjectives to talk about your property’s best features. 

In addition to describing your property, your written description will also need to provide some relevant information. This will include:

• Rental price
• Security deposit amount
• Square footage as well as number of bedrooms and bathrooms
• Whether pets are accepted
• When the property will be ready for move-in
• Special features, such as parking or outdoor space
• General location information

Don’t forget your contact information. Tenants will need instructions on how to get in touch with you to ask questions or schedule a showing. You can also summarize rental criteria briefly, and always be mindful of fair housing laws and regulations. For example, you can no longer advertise your rental home as not being available to Section 8 tenants. 

Always Include Price in Your Listing 

It’s strange that we would have to remind rental property owners of this, but always include the price. There are a shocking number of rental listings out there that don’t include the price. This leaves the entire offering vague and even off-putting. 

Always say what your rental price is. Include the security deposit as well. This will cut down on the number of phone calls you get. Tenants will know if you’re in their price range or not before they schedule a showing.

Pricing your rental correctly is vital. Research the local market to understand how much similar properties are renting for and price yours competitively. If you're offering extra amenities, like included utilities or a pool, make sure this is reflected in your pricing strategy.

You’ll need good data before you attach a price to your property and include it in your listing. If you notice that no one is getting in touch to schedule a showing, it might be due to your price being too high. Talk to a Eureka property manager so you can get some insights and analytics that accurately reflect the market and the competition. 

The right price will help your listing stand out.

Be Mindful of Fair Housing Compliance

A listing can be problematic if you’re not aware of the fair housing laws. 

The Fair Housing Act is an important federal law when it comes to renting property, and California’s fair housing laws go even further in their protections than the federal law does. You cannot use any wording in your listing description that could be discriminatory against any of the state or federal protected classes. Avoiding saying that your property would be “good” for a particular sort of tenant. Do not point out that it isn’t safe for children. You don’t need to say that your property is located near specific houses of worship.