Blog Post

How to Write a Good Property Listing

April 15, 2022

For property owners looking for prospective tenants, no matter where you live, learning to write a good property listing is a must. It’s important to be able to capture attention through your ad copy! The goal of any property listing is to receive plenty of inquiries from prospective renters. 


If you
attract potential tenants with your property descriptions and listings, you’re more likely to succeed as a landlord!


Here are some tips to help you get started with writing your listing.


Have a Powerful Opening Statement


To engage your audience, your ad’s opening statement must be interesting. Otherwise, prospective tenants may choose to ignore the rest of the property’s description! To create an effective opening statement your tone must be captivating and the words you use must be clear and specific.


It’s important to not over-generalize when crafting a property listing. Add emotion to inspire prospective tenants to read further. Mentioning the unit’s features using vague terms isn’t likely to attract renters!


Talk about the unique elements in your rental home! This will increase interest and motivate renters to finish reading the entire property listing.


Create a Compelling Headline


Headlines are what make readers give ads a second glance. If you manage to attract a prospective tenant’s attention and inspire them to read the full property listing then you’ve succeeded! Your headline should engage your audience and make them want to find out more about your rental unit.

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Headlines are a key part of attracting prospective renters when there are numerous other property listings online. You can mention your rental’s location and its best features in your headline. Additionally, you can include the architectural style of the home to encourage prospective renters to find out more!


Avoid using exaggeration when constructing headlines. This can put people off and sound insincere. For example, try to avoid writing your headlines in all capital letters - it can make readers feel like they’re being yelled at. 


Be sure to remember that headlines should be short, direct and clear!


Use Descriptive Words when Describing Your Property


Create a list of the top features in your rental unit. Make a list of words that will help readers visualize themselves in your property before they book a viewing. It’s important to choose descriptive words that spark interest as this will make potential renters want to reach out to you!


Using emotive language can move detached readers into action. Having a positive tone will help you overall, but be cautious about overusing exclamation points. It can ruin the rhythm of your ad description and make you seem aggressive to some readers.

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When you use effective language in your property description, you begin to create a narrative that renters will love! The description should be cohesive and combine essential information about the property with an interesting story that readers will want to learn more about.


Emphasize Your Rental's Unique Features


It’s important to talk about the chief selling points of your rental home. These details should appear in the first few lines of your ad. Even if you think that your property is basic, finding out what its best feature is will make it stand out from similar rentals in your area.


For example, if you have energy-efficient appliances or smart home systems installed, it can play a big part in attracting renters!


Keep Your Ad Short but Detailed


Descriptive words are vital but you don’t have to write about the property extensively. Your target audience will likely lose interest if presented with a large block of text. Be aware of your word count and try to write less than 200 words per listing. 


This may feel limiting but be sure to cover the basics, such as the location, size and rent price for the property. It’s also essential to include the number of bathrooms and bedrooms. If there is a garage, always include it in the ad. Each of these examples is common information that renters want to know about early on!

how to write a property listing

You can also briefly talk about your property’s amenities such as kitchen upgrades or high-end furnishings. If applicable, include your unit’s proximity to other cities or schools. Other conveniences found nearby such as restaurants, and famous attractions are also great to mention!


Avoid Using Negative Language


It’s important to set the right tone from the start! Even if your rental isn't a luxury property, avoid describing its flaws at length. Your listing should focus on the positive as your goal is to attract renters.


Basically, by not using a negative tone, you inspire more interest in your rental and are more lightly to book property showings. Highlighting what makes your unit charming will make prospective tenants inspired to view the unit. Just be sure to remain truthful while crafting your advertisement.


Use Promotions to Drive More Curiosity and Excitement


Offering a promo is a great way to create interest in your property. If you want to fill up vacant rentals quickly, running promotions is a tried and true strategy. You can have rent discounts for the first month of tenancy or offer one month rent-free. This inspires prospective renters to learn more about your rental space.


Just remember, promotions should be included at the end of the ad copy.


Don’t Forget to Proofread


Before releasing your ad to the public, take time to proofread and edit. Read your listing with a critical eye. You can even ask someone with more expertise to review it so you can make quality revisions.

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It’s always best to spot mistakes before listing and correct them in advance rather than publishing an ad with mistakes that will turn off prospective tenants. Take constructive advice well so you can present a strong copy! It’s best to ask for help from those who are experienced in writing real estate ad copies. They’ll be able to easily pinpoint areas for improvement!


Bottom Line


To gain a wealth of prospective tenants, you’ll need to write solid property descriptions for your listings. This will give you an edge over other rental owners and will improve your ROI in the long term.


However, writing property descriptions can be tricky! If you want to market your rental and gain a high-quality tenant quickly, Dawson Property Management can help!


Reach out to us today!

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