Whether you're a seasoned landlord or a first-time property manager in a college town, creating an attractive rental listing can significantly impact your ability to maximize leads.
To help you achieve this, we'll explore how to make your student rental listing stand out in the competitive housing market. This will increase your chances of finding the right student renters for your property.
Here are the key steps and strategies to create an effective student rental listing:
- Understand what student renters are looking for
- Create an eye-catching title
- Catch their attention with high-quality photos and videos
- Write a detailed property description
- Provide unit-specific information
- Offer 3D tours
- Include contact information
- Update and refresh
Understand What Student Renters Are Looking For
Before you even start creating your listing, you need to know what student renters want to tailor your listing to them. Student renters look for these factors in student housing:
- Affordability
- Location
- Online marketing
- Individual leases
- Flexible lease lengths
- Safety
- Wi-Fi
- Laundry
- Furnished units
- Common spaces
Now that you know what to highlight and include in your listing, it’s time to create it.
Create an Eye-Catching Title
The title of your property is the first thing any potential student tenant will see online, so make sure your title is eye-catching and highlights a desirable feature or amenity. For example, you could write:
"Furnished 3BR 10 minutes from XYZ campus — All Utilities & Wi-Fi Included."
Catch Their Attention with High-Quality Photos and Videos
Besides the title, photos and videos are the first way that student renters will be introduced to your off-campus student housing. So taking high-quality photos that capture the eye of those searching is the key to getting leads. It helps student tenants imagine living on your property.
They want to see every inch where they might live, so take pictures and videos of all bedrooms, bathrooms, amenities, the kitchen, the living room, and any other rooms in your rental. It's also a good idea to take pictures outside to give potential tenants a complete picture of where they could live.
Good lighting is the best way to take amazing pictures and videos, so ensure the time of day is right, the curtains are open, and the lights are turned on. Ideally, if you can take photos and videos of your rental furnished or at least staged, it assists viewers in envisioning themselves in the space.
For videos, ensure there isn’t any unnecessary noise in the background of your video.
Write a Detailed Property Description
Writing a detailed property description is essential to capture leads and ensure all potential tenants receive the correct information about the property. It is vital to include the specific information about your property that students are looking for.
Be transparent about the price
The price should be easily found by student renters looking at your listing. Clearly state the rent and if the price is per bedroom or for the entire rental. Also list any fees you charge such as application fees, security deposit, etc.
Price transparency is becoming more important for renters; Apartments.com reports that 83 percent of renters want to see the total price (the monthly rent including all fees that apply). Consider including all the fees in the price as that helps student renters determine if your rental fits their budget.
If you would like to be even more thorough, include the income requirements and if tenants can have guarantors or co-signers. Many college students rent with roommates, have their parents help pay for rent, or otherwise need assistance meeting the income requirements.
Specify rental terms
Be transparent about the rental terms and conditions so student renters know what is expected of them.
Clearly state the monthly rent, security deposit, lease duration, additional fees, policies, rules, and what will happen if they are not adhered to. This helps prospective student renters make informed decisions and know the standards they must uphold.
Since this may be their first time renting, students aren’t as familiar with the ins-and-outs. It’s a good idea to give them a rule sheet and discuss the expectations and the consequences of not following them. Some common rules to include are:
- Quiet hours
- Guest stays
- Smoking
- Parking
Include lease type and length
Clearly state and highlight the lease length term(s) and types of leases you offer on your listing, so it is one of the first pieces of information that student renters see. They look for rental terms that suit them best like flexible or short lease terms to match the university schedule.
According to Taylor Casey, the University Relations Manager with Off Campus Partners, nine-month leases are an excellent option for students since they could move in at the beginning of the school year and leave at the end.
The two main lease types for landlords renting to students are individual leases or joint leases:
- Individual leases are separate leases for each tenant to sign. This option is ideal for many students as they don’t want to be held accountable for roommates. However, it can be more work for you as you have to manage multiple leases instead of one.
- Joint leases are a single lease that is signed by all roommates. One person may be the main tenant with the others as co-signers. Many students look to live as a group and find this lease type just as attractive as individual leases.
Highlight student-focused amenities and features
Students look for specific amenities and features that typical rentals lack. Their needs and priorities often significantly differ from regular tenants. Some student-focused amenities they look for are:
- Furnished rentals
- Wi-Fi included
- Utilities included
- Laundry options
- Common spaces
Casey recommends including "student-focused amenities: computer lab, free printing, study rooms, proximity to campus, pool, fitness center, events (especially if there's free food)." If you use Off Campus Partners, these amenities will be included on your listing if you put them in.
Describe the Neighborhood
The neighborhood surrounding your rental is just as important as the property itself, so describe what restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and parks are nearby.
When you list on Apartments.com and Off Campus Partners, there will automatically be an interactive map and list of nearby points of interest, such as shopping, groceries, restaurants, transit, airports, parks, military, and colleges.
To further help student renters identify how far it is to these points of interest, the actual distance and walk or drive time is included. How easy it is to get around the neighborhood via different methods is told through the Walk Score®, Transit Score®, Soundscore®, and Bike Score®. All of this is automatically generated to save you time but still provide a great description of the area to student tenants.
Provide Unit-Specific Information
According to a survey conducted by Apartments.com, 99 percent of renters believe it is important to see unit-specific pricing and details. Unit-specific details are seen as trustworthy and reliable, helping student renters search confidently for off-campus student housing.
Tip: Be sure to actively update your listing with each available unit or room, including the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, specific photos or videos of the unit, price, 3D tour of the exact unit, and when the unit will be available.
Offer 3D Tours
Just as photos and videos help renters picture themselves in your rental, 3D tours provide that benefit more effectively. They allow potential renters to explore a property from their phone or computer to make sure it fits their wants and needs.
There are plenty of students who move states to go to college. Many only consider places with 3D tours as they may not be able to tour in-person but still need to find student housing before the semester starts.
Luckily, creating a 3D tour is easy as you can do so with just your phone. There’s no need for any fancy equipment, as long as you have your phone and a Premium listing on Apartments.com, you can show off your home through a 3D tour.
Include Contact Information
If a potential tenant decides they like a property, they'll want to contact you to inquire more. So be sure to provide your preferred contact method, whether that be phone number or email address.
Most college students prefer texting; if you are comfortable with this, write that in your description and include the same phone number.
Be responsive as well. According to Apartments.com, 83 percent of renters want a response by the end of the next day or sooner. Follow up with them after a few days once they have toured to see if they have any more questions or would like to apply.
Update and Refresh
Once your property is live, be sure to update and refresh your property at least once a month. Do this by adding updated units, pictures, and videos. If you don't have any units available, make sure you remove them from your advertisement, so you don't have disappointed potential student tenants who call ready to see your rental.
Find and Screen Student Renters on Apartments.com
Creating an effective student rental listing is essential for attracting the right tenants and maximizing leads. Another important step is screening applicants on Apartments.com to make sure they are the right fit.
By following these steps and presenting your property in the best possible light, you'll increase your chances of finding ideal student renters who will enjoy their college years living at your property.
FAQ
Where should I advertise my student rental?
Rental search apps are the main way that students find housing, so list on Apartments.com and Off-Campus Partners. It doesn’t hurt to advertise your property on social media as well, with links directing them to your listing.
Can I require cosigners or guarantors?
Yes, many landlords require co-signers or guarantors for students without sufficient income, a credit or rental history, or a job. It's common to ask for a parent to co-sign or be a guarantor on the lease.
What can I do about noisy tenants?
Set clear lease terms about noise, include quiet hours, and consider periodic property checks. Open communication and prompt enforcement of rules are key.
This article was originally published on September 22, 2023.
