As more college students enter the stage of graduation in 2021, these new tenants are looking for an affordable and professional place to live. It’s your responsibility as the landlord to provide quality housing for these applicants. By sprucing up your rentals, you can make sure you attract the right college grads to your areas.
If you need some ideas on advertising and presenting your properties, this article outlines eight different things you can do now. Follow these tips to help you become a more successful renter in the housing market.
#1 Maintain a Professional Appearance
Many landlords look for residents who have a clean background and reliable forms of income. Some of these standards can be high, and sometimes owners can forget to apply similar expectations to themselves.
Recent college graduates want to know that you will take care of the rented property. Begin your house marketing journey by establishing a good reputation of being reachable, understanding, and professional with possible applicants. When you have walk-through appointments, wear the appropriate dress and adopt a positive attitude and voice tone. By presenting yourself in this manner, you show others that you mean business and are willing to help with whatever they need.
#2 Advertise Online
Almost all graduates today use their computers and handheld devices for everything. Investing time and money into internet advertisements go a long way towards attracting new tenants.
Rental ads could include all kinds of positive information about the property, such as the amenities and the location. Make your advertisements short and to the point so that it quickly explains what you have to offer. You could pay to have them run through social media sites such as:
- Youtube
Many grads spend a lot of time on these networks. In 2020, the average person spent 145 minutes on social platforms in a single day. You can reach your target audience by using this online media to your advantage. In addition to social sites, use traditional online rental sites as well to reach as many potential applicants as possible.
#3 Check Out Your Competition
If you’re trying to find fair pricing for the location for your properties, an excellent way to do that is to find out what other owners charge. Research the different complexes or houses in the area to see what they are offering to new tenants. Some ways you could do this could be:
- Calling each unit to see what they charge.
- Visiting the physical property to inspect its condition.
- Evaluating other opponents’ advertising techniques.
You can compare and contrast what other rental units have that you don’t. Some places may have new appliances, while others cover the cost of one utility in the rent payments. By gathering information on your competition, you can make necessary adjustments that make your buildings stand out from the rest. Remeber that when evaluating comparable rental properties, there are other unseen factors that have an effect on desirablity, especially in younger generations. Ammenities, location, and walk score should all be considered when evaluating competing rentals.
Learn More: Why Marketing Your Rental’s Walkability Is Crucial During (and Post) Pandemic
#4 Finish All Renovations First
Most people have a harder time envisioning what a potential rental home can look like if they see it while it’s under renovation. Before you decide to show college grads your property, ensure it’s cleaned properly and all construction additions are complete. You are guaranteed to get more callbacks if you show off your buildings’ finished living space.
#5 Add Fun Amenities
College grads just came from an environment where social activities and other dorm perks were normal for them. You can add some similar amenities to your properties that help those new tenants feel right at home.
Things to include could be:
- Parties and events
- Lounge rooms for socializing
- Pools or hot tubs
- Giveaways
- Indoor areas for athletic equipment
Offering these services to future tenants will create interest and help set you apart from other places that don’t provide the same options. Reach your target audience by investing in some perks that come with living in your rentals.
#6 Install Safety Features
Ensure you equip the inside of your rentals with the latest safety technology, such as fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and proper locks for the doors and windows. Remember that many basic safety features are legally required in most states to ensure habitability. To give young adults additional peace of mind, consider installing additional safety features like alarms or smart doorbell amenities that allow renters to feel more secure.
It’s important to have a professional come out to test the conditions of your rentals regularly to promote the health of your future residents. These specialists perform an indoor air quality assessment to check for things like:
- Mold and water damage
- Carbon dioxide and monoxide
- Droppings from insects or rodents
Having a pest control company spray your units also helps control any unwanted visitors from coming into the area. Keeping your housing units under close supervision shows potential occupants that you care about the upkeep of your buildings.
#7 Have a User-Friendly Website
In this day and age, your chances of new residents applying through your website are high. It’s essential to modify your site to readable on both a computer and mobile devices. People are 123 percent more likely to leave a page if it takes longer than a few seconds to load, so optimizing your links to move fast will encourage applicants to stay and browse.
Keep your page updated with new information that is relevant to your properties. Different posts could be about:
- The different bedroom sizes available
- Washer and dryer hook-ups, air conditioning and kitchen appliances
- Contact information
- Waitlists and the application process
Online reviews for your rental spaces can also make a difference if you get fresh occupants. Consider offering online applications to truly appeal to the tech-savvy graduates you are hoping to attract. Work diligently to stay on top of your internet presence to attract quality graduate tenants.
#8: Use Exciting Descriptions on the Location
Whether your property is in a city or a rural area, you can use the location as a central selling point to recent college grads. When a housing unit is near a town, you could advertise how close your occupants could be to shops or restaurants. If your building is in a less populated space, describe how peaceful and relaxing it is to live in that specific place.
Each college grad will want something different once they move out of their dorms. Use your location to your advantage to reach the needs of these applicants and be positive every time you talk about it.
Attract College Graduates to Your Rental
With the right tools and information, you can expect to receive many renting applications from all kinds of university grads. Maintaining your properties and updating all online communications will help potential residents feel comfortable signing a lease with you. Work to continually improve your reputation as you strive to make a positive impression on the housing market industry.