Marketing your Killeen rental property is still important, even in a market that’s as strong as this one.
Demand is high and inventory is low. Rents are high. Tenants are seeking homes in good neighborhoods with modern updates. If you have such a home, you’ll likely have no trouble getting it rented.
That doesn’t mean you should skip over a smart marketing strategy.
Here are some of the best ways to ensure your rental property in Killeen gets all the attention it deserves as soon as you list it for rent.
Make Some Noticeable Improvements and Upgrades
The first part of your marketing strategy needs to be this: property improvements.
Renting out a home that tenants will find attractive and modern is one of the easiest marketing strategies you can employ. When you offer an outstanding rental home, the property practically markets itself.
There’s no sense in marketing a home that still needs work or is actively being turned over.
When prospective tenants look at your listing or visit for a showing, you need to showcase a property that they can imagine moving into right away. The home needs to be more than move-in ready, it needs to be a better choice than all the other rental properties on the market.
Investing in cost-effective updates and improvements that will make a difference in the marketing of your property. These are the upgrades that will get the attention of your tenants:
- Fresh paint on the walls and the trim. Even ceilings can benefit from new paint. Don’t bother touching up random spaces and spots. Paint the full walls.
- Updated landscaping and curb appeal. Keep the lawn mowed and green. Trim the bushes and trees and weed the flower beds. Consider a power-wash for your front door.
- Take care of any cosmetic or wear and tear items such as nail holes or scuff marks in walls, caulking around tubs, etc.
- Clean or new carpets or replace carpet with hard surface flooring. Laminate floors are extremely popular with tenants, and marketing a home that has hard surface flooring will be a lot easier than marketing a home with carpet – even new carpet.
- New fixtures in bathrooms and kitchen can create a shiny, modern look and feel.
- Updated lighting inside and out for security as well as aesthetics.
You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars renovating the property before you start your marketing. Just make sure it looks clean, modern, and move-in ready. It’s the only way to effectively advertise a great rental home.
Pricing Strategies for Killeen Rental Homes
How can you use pricing to assist your marketing plans?
Well-qualified tenants are looking for value. They’re willing to pay top dollar for a home as long as the home is worth that rental price.
One way to attract great tenants quickly is to price your property at or just below what the market demands. Perhaps, for example, you’ll conduct some research and gather some data and decide that compared to similar homes in your neighborhood, you can earn $1,600 for your rental property. A lot of homes like yours are priced at that very spot.
Knowing what you know, list your property for $1,575. It’s only a $25 difference, but when tenants are scrolling through listing after listing, yours will stand out as one that’s a little bit less. This will matter.
Does it feel like you might be leaving some money on the table? Not really. You’re still bringing in a great rental amount, and you’re also getting an immediate tenant. You won’t have to wait too long or endure aggressive marketing while you wait for a tenant to be willing to pay what you’re asking.
If, on the other hand, you price your property slightly above the $1,600 average, at $1,625, your property will be the last one that’s chosen by tenants. It makes sense to price your property competitively.
Online Advertising Platforms and Strategies
When it comes to selecting and placing tenants, we recommend online advertising platforms to reach a divers and well-qualified pool of tenants. You’re hoping for a large number of prospective tenants who will see your listing, spend time learning more about your property, and schedule showings.
Leveraging highly trafficked rental sites will drive up the number of potential applicants and give you an excellent chance of having a highly qualified resident willing to rent your property.
Websites like Zillow, Trulia, Zumper, Rentals.com, HotPads, PadMapper, and Doorsteps offer space for listings, photos, videos, and rental instructions.
Social media is also a great way to market your property. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social sites are more important than ever in getting products and services in front of potential customers. That includes housing. Share your listing and ask the friends and family and others in your network to share it as well. This will bring in more prospective tenants who will see that you have a home for rent. Social media can introduce your home to new audiences, and the fact that you have a home for rent will travel by word of mouth and social media sharing.
Leveraging Property Showings
There are many excellent reasons to work with a Killeen property manager. One of the best reasons to partner with a management company is to access our resources and expertise when it comes to marketing.
Showings are an especially important part of the marketing process. While the industry has been trending towards self-showing technology, we believe there’s real value in having an experienced leasing agent present for potential tenants who want to see the home you have for rent.
Here’s why it’s so important:
- Tenants can access an agent’s expertise and experience.
Leasing agents are professionals trained in handling property showings. They know how to market a property and make it attractive to potential tenants. They also have experience in pre-screening the people who come to see your home. You can be sure your property is represented in the best possible light to attract high-quality tenants when there’s a professional sharing information about the property, the neighborhood, and the qualifying criteria.
- Leasing agents save you time.
As a landlord, your time is valuable. If you’re renting out your own property, you can spend a lot of hours scheduling showings, attending showings, and following up with tenants. Managing a rental property comes with a lot of responsibilities, and one of the biggest time drains is the showing process. By hiring a leasing agent for property showings, you can free up your schedule and focus on other tasks. A leasing agent will handle all aspects of the showing process, including scheduling appointments, conducting tours, and answering questions. This can save you time and reduce stress.
- You’re more secure with a leasing agent at your property.
Self-showing technology is becoming more popular among landlords, but it comes with a number of security risks. When you allow potential tenants to enter your property unsupervised, you have little control over what they do inside. With a leasing agent, you can be sure that your property is secure. Your prospective tenants will feel safer, too.
Hiring a property manager to manage showings is also good for your professional image. It’s easier to establish a positive reputation when you’re working with a property management company that can handle the showings. Tenants prefer working with and living in professionally managed homes.
Ultimately, having a property management professional with a dedicated leasing agent show your property is financially beneficial. A leasing agent can help you find high-quality tenants who are more likely to pay their rent on time and take care of your property. By reducing vacancies and turnovers, a leasing agent can save you money in the long run.
While self-showing technology has become more popular among landlords, there are still many benefits to hiring a leasing agent for property showings. Leasing agents offer expertise and experience, can save you time, can increase security, help maintain a professional image, and ultimately provide financial benefits. By working with a property manager, you can attract high-quality tenants and ensure that your rental property is successful.
Make Military Marketing a Priority
With the Fort Cavasos Army Base nearby, there will be a number of potential tenants that are actively serving in the military who are looking for rental homes. There are specific websites for military tenants, and you should market to those sites when you’re interested in renting to members of the military and their families.
We talk a lot about marketing because we believe it’s one of the most important parts of your leasing process. You want to have a targeted and strategic marketing plan so you’re attracting the right residents and giving them a good reason to come and see your property.
If you’d like some help crafting or implementing an effective marketing plan, please contact our team at Shine Residential Management. You’ll be impressed with what we can put together for you.
A property management company based in Harker Heights, Shine Residential Management cares for exceptional single-family homes throughout Central Texas, including in Killeen, Temple, Belton, Copperas Cove, Salado, and Georgetown.
