Rental advertising has expanded to meet the demands of digital marketplaces. It’s unlikely that young or even middle-aged renters are reading the newspapers to find rentals. Instead, online advertising is your route to these renters.
But where and how should you advertise online? You might have social media accounts on Facebook or Instagram you use to advertise your properties. More likely, however, is that you post your listings on popular listing sites.
Online listing sites reach a wider audience than social media platforms, which tend to appeal to specific demographics.
Property management software makes posting to multiple listing sites a breeze. Many have listing syndication features, which allow you to upload one listing to multiple sites simultaneously. Look for this integration in your software.
Here are the five best listing sites for advertising your properties.
1. Zillow
Zillow is a broadly used and respected listing site. Its large platform, criteria sorting options, and “how-to” guides make this platform one of the best for rental advertising.
Another benefit is that Zillow is a popular integration on many different property management software platforms. This means that if you use property management software, it’s likely that you can advertise on Zillow through listing syndication software.
Zillow also has a sophisticated mobile app, so you can edit your listings or monitor leads from anywhere. Likewise, renters can browse your properties on the app.
Bonus: Zillow is free for all sellers and buyers, including landlords looking to advertise and renters looking for rentals. Instead, Zillow charges lenders and agents to advertise.
2. Apartments.com
Alongside Zillow, Apartments.com is another one of the most popular listing sites.
Apartments.com lists all kinds of properties, including apartments, condos, and townhouses. It also has refined search features, allowing renters to search for rentals by geographic area, price, or categorical factor (like utilities included or pets).
Like Zillow, Apartments.com also has a mobile app. Both the desktop and mobile versions are free to search properties, but Apartments.com does charge renters a fee to apply to rentals.
Apartments.com also excels at providing renters with knowledge and insight about surrounding communities. If your properties are in an attractive neighborhood or nearby social opportunities, it might benefit you to display these features on Apartments.com
One additional note about Apartments.com is that the platform recently merged with Cozy, a property management software platform. CoStar Group, the owner of Apartments.com, bought Cozy Services and plans to incorporate its features into the site. If you use or are interested in Cozy, rental advertising with Apartments.com will be extra convenient.
3. Realtor.com
Realtor.com is affiliated with the National Association of Realtors. Its highly accurate database makes it a prevalent choice for landlords looking for the most up-to-date suggestions and information.
Realtor.com also has a robust mobile app with options to post pictures and video tours, compare neighborhoods and communities, and calculate financials.
Another thing to know about this site is that it’s linked to Avail, another property management software platform. If you use Avail, you can link your software account to the site to access features like lead management, rent price suggestions, and pre-screening.
4. Trulia
Trulia is best known for its excellent mobile app. The site recognizes that many renters search for rentals throughout the day on their smart devices and developed an app to meet the demand for better accessibility and usability.
In 2015, Trulia was purchased by Zillow. This means Trulia inherited the databases and structural power of Zillow, increasing its accuracy. However, its best features remain the versatility of the mobile app and the variety of information available.
For instance, Trulia’s site includes local/community information, in-depth tutorials, and customizable alerts. Trulia is also a suitable place to advertise the highlights of your properties’ neighborhoods, including restaurants, shops, and schools. If your area has low crime or is considered safe by its residents, this information can also be listed on Trulia.
Renters will need to make Trulia accounts to save recent searches, but the site is completely free to use.
Advertising Your Properties with Property Management Software
Each of these four listing sites offers distinct benefits and strengths for listing your properties. However, if you don’t have time to carefully evaluate features and just want to get your listings out there, listing syndication on a property management software platform is the quickest route to success. Your listings can reach a broad audience and accumulate applicants in no time.