Realestate.com.au recently put together an interesting resource guiding agents on marketing listings on their website.
It covers the following points:
Photography
76% of consumers on realestate.com.au told us that professional photography helps a listing stand out*
Best image first, most frequented rooms next
Consider the order of images:
- Living spaces
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Bedrooms
- Outdoor space
Add your market’s lifestyle element. Think location, shopping, entertainment, schooling and transport
Don’t skimp on imagery because it’s a rental
Reuse professional photos when reletting or selling
*Source: Residential Consumer Omnibus, July 2016
Hero Image
First impressions count so feature the best image first
Drawcard or not, external shots show tenants what they’re getting
Transparency builds trust – viewers question what’s not visible
Floor Plans
50% of consumers tell us that a floorplan makes a listing stand out*
Floorplans can create a lifestyle picture in a tenant’s mind
Include a North arrow showing orientation
*Source: Residential Consumer Omnibus, July 2016
Video
Effective video tells a story
Flow from room to room, highlight indoor/ outdoor living
Pan the property and offer a street view
Point out local amenities and transport
Property Information
Provide tenants with key information
- weekly rent price
- availability date
- property address
Promote location and lifestyle
Focus on factors such as shopping, transport and
distance to city
If you are advertising an apartment, include
- what level the apartment is on
- shared amenities
- number of units in the complex
Inspection Times
28%* of tenants say an improvement to listings would be to see Inspection times online
Property Description
One third of tenants tell us that poorly written copy is one of
their biggest frustrations* when searching realestate.com for
rentals.
Focus on features first. Try dot point form to make it easier for
tenants to “check off” features they are looking for
- swimming pool, gym, bedrooms, bathrooms.
Use verbs: solve a problem, relax in the tranquillity,
smell the coee…
Explain benefits not just features of the listing
Apartment buyers are likely to look for:
- what level the apartment is on
- shared amenities
- number of apartments in the complex
*Source: Residential Consumer Omnibus, March 2016
A few additional pointers:
NEVER use your smart phone for photography.
Don’t include unit numbers in your listings – we get local councils calling our office, the ATO, etc, often checking up on undeclared rental properties as well as other agents trying to contact owners to steal listings. Don’t risk your owner’s privacy – leave the unit numbers off.