Marketing can be pretty magical when it’s done right. 

You get your vacant home rented quickly by great tenants and for the most amount of rent that the market will bear. 

If your marketing plan is flailing, however, or you don’t have any strategy at all, it can feel like a huge waste of time and resources. 

Let’s make it count. We have some marketing tips based on our experience as successful property managers in San Jose. We’re able to keep vacancy times low and attract well-qualified renters in part because of our outstanding marketing reach. 

The marketing landscape for rental properties keeps evolving, so you need to stay updated on the latest trends and techniques to improve your chances of landing the right tenants. 

Here’s how we list, advertise, and promote your investment home on the San Jose rental market. 

Start Strong with High-quality Photos and Videos

We talk about the importance of good marketing photos all the time. 

Why does it matter? Because those photos get the attention of your tenant long before your written description does. It’s what they look at first when they’re scrolling through listings on sites like Zillow, Trulia, and HotPads. 

Most tenants begin their rental property search online. Therefore, you need to provide high-quality photos and videos of the rental properties to showcase their best features. Consider hiring a professional photographer to take clear, well-lit, and attractive photos of your property. This is worth the money it may cost. If a professional photographer isn’t in your budget, just make sure you’re taking the best possible photos. And, take a lot of them. Many rental sites allow you to post a dozen pictures or more. Make sure you include photos of:

• The kitchen. This is of major importance to most tenants, so market your kitchen to prospective renters. Make sure the photo shows a well-lit space that’s clean and functional. You want appliances that match and floors that look easy to keep clean.
• Bedrooms. Again, make sure the lighting is on point and take photos at the right angles so that the bedrooms look sizable. Don’t forget to include a picture of the closet, especially if it’s a walk-in closet. 
• Bathrooms. Bathroom photos should feature the tub, the toilet, and the sink. If there’s a linen closet, extra storage, or a great window – showcase that, as well. 
• Common areas and outdoor space. Your living room should be included as well as any dedicated dining areas or outdoor patios and balconies. 

Photos will give prospective tenants a good idea of what they’ll see when they come for a showing. Even better, create a virtual video tour of the property to give prospective tenants an immersive viewing experience. This will help them decide whether or not your property is a strong contender. 

Leverage Social Media to Market Your San Jose Rental Home

Everyone has an opinion on social media. You might think it’s terrible, but it shouldn’t be avoided, especially when you have a home for rent. 

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be an excellent marketing tool for rental properties. Consider creating separate and unique profiles for your rental property business on these platforms and engage with potential tenants by regularly posting photos, videos, and property descriptions. These posts can attract the attention of potential tenants and encourage them to schedule in-person tours of your properties.

Another benefit to social media marketing is that you can reach a much larger audience. When you post about your property on Facebook or Instagram, you can invite likes, shares, and comments. People in your network may share the listing with their network, and before too long, you’ll have doubled the number of people who have seen your home for rent. Someone is likely to be looking for a new rental. Or, they’ll know someone who is looking. 

Optimize Your Property Listings

When listing your rental properties on websites like Rentals.com, RentCafe, Zillow, and Apartments.com, ensure that your property descriptions are concise, accurate, and highlight the best features of the property. 

Use strong adjectives to evoke an emotional response from tenants and don’t forget those keywords that tenants might use in their searches. They’ll narrow their search based on budget, square footage, and neighborhood. 

Additionally, consider highlighting any unique amenities of your property, like in-unit laundry appliances, a swimming pool, or access to parks and nature.

Offer Referral Bonuses to Your Network 

Word-of-mouth is an effective marketing strategy for San Jose rental properties. Therefore, motivate any existing tenants you work with to refer potential new tenants by offering referral bonuses. You can offer a discount on rent payment or other rewards to tenants who refer other people who eventually sign a lease with you. This referral scheme can help you acquire new tenants quickly, and at a lower cost by using your existing tenant base to market your properties.

You can do the same with real estate agents or vendors you might work with. The more people who are helping you find a tenant, the quicker the process will move. 

Partnering with local businesses can also be a great way to reach potential tenants in the local area quickly. Consider partnering with local employers to offer employees preferential rental rates. Additionally, you can work with relocation companies who might be helping people come to San Jose to live. These partnerships can help create a demand for your properties, leading to increased demand.

Marketing your rental properties can feel like a challenge since there are so many platforms to cover and so many competing properties out there attracting tenants. 

Don’t overcomplicate it. By utilizing high-quality photos and videos, social media, and optimizing your rental listings, you can make your listings attractive to potential tenants. Referral bonuses and partnerships with local businesses can also help you reach a wider audience.