Hi there,
Welcome to the third article in my #rentingseries, where I have been shining a little light on the rental market. I talked about the inventory being low, I made an announcement that I would love to assist renters in finding a home, and now I bring you ten reasons why your rental listing is not renting.
- The listing agent is not answering their phone or email.
This one might shock you, but I dare you to have your neighbor inquire on the listing. Not only do potential tenants have a hard time reaching the listing agent, but I, as a realtor struggle too. - The listing agent used their iPhone 5 or Galaxy 3 to photograph your listing.
You might think I am lying here, but refusing to hire a professional photographer is the biggest reason why a house is not leasing. It not only prevents your home from being clicked on, but it speaks volumes about the listing agent. - You might not be realistic about your rental criteria.
Most tenants are renting because they cannot buy. There are other ways to determine if a tenant is going to be a good one, without starring their credit score dead in the face. - The listing agent doesn't have the property in CSS.
CSS is Centralized Showing Service, and all the professional photographers use this scheduling service. It is the most convenient to use (quick and easy). 80% of the listings use this, and then all scheduled properties are within the app. - The listing agent is not creatively marketing it.
This one is my bread and butter folks. I recently used some secret-sauce marketing efforts, which led to 40+ inquiries on one home and leasing it all home within one week! - The listing needs a deep clean.
It really is important to make that positive first impression. If you give someone that “dirty” feeling, they will be reluctant to live there. - The listing is currently occupied by tenants, making it hard to show, or unpresentable during showings.
I know this can't always be avoided, but the easier a home is to show, the easier it will be to lease. - The listing does not come with appliances.
Depending on the price point of home, many tenants are hoping for a home that has a washer/dryer and refrigerator included. - The listing is not pet friendly.
Sixty-eight percent of U.S. households, or about 85 million families, own a pet. I can understand not wanting to house pets in your rental property, but this can be a reason why a property hasn't leased in a timely fashion. - The listing is lacking updates.
Every single house that is updated or renovated, and within a certain price range, just flies off the market. I recently got $200 more for a renovated listing, than the exact same home next door. - The actual listing in the MLS is lacking details about the home or has inaccurate information in the listing.
It is extremely important to view your listing before or once it has gone live. Typos or assumptions might sneak into the listing, deterring people from renting the home. - The application fee is too high.
I have seen real estate agents charge over $50 per applicant before. I am not sure how, where, why, they get that number. I personally use mysmartmove.com. It completes a background check, a credit check, and an eviction check, all for $38-$40. And often times they have coupon codes. - The listing is overpriced.
Not only is it important to look at previously listed comparable homes, but it is almost smart to look at actively listed comparable homes. And I recommend looking outside that particular neighborhood, since the inventory is low. Most people that rent aren't restricted to a single neighborhood, but a particular area or school
So I hope you have found this information helpful!
We are so happy you found our little corner of the interwebs. We look forward to y'all reaching out to us. We love to answer questions and welcome them. Recently we created some local maps, and you can download those by clicking the image/link above. Below, you will find an index of some very helpful information to assist you in learning more about the Houston suburbs. If you are relocating to our neck of the woods, we hope you reach out to us, because we would love to help you by being your local realtor and friend. Hugs, Jo.
Thoughtfully written for you by Jordan and the Jo & Co. Team.
We are Waiting for You
If you are looking to relocate to the Houston Area, we would love to meet you, and hear your story. Below you will find all of my contact information, as well as some homes for sale in the area. We truly look forward to hearing from you! P.S. Don't forget to check out our YouTube Channel!
If you are overwhelmed..
Now if you are feeling overwhelmed on where you should plant your roots, I would love to talk to you. You can schedule a call with me by click this link: http://byjoandco.com/call or just send us an email: [email protected]. There are some amazing communities all over the Houston suburbs. In this post, https://search.byjoandco.com/blog/best-neighborhoods-in-houston/, I deep dive into all the different suburbs/neighborhoods that you might want to consider, and why. There are many resources here, so please reach out if you are curious what to look at next! Thank you for trusting us.
Links to check out..
➟ Our YouTube Channel :: http://byjoandco.com/youtube
➟ How do property taxes work in Texas? :: http://byjoandco.com/propertytaxesintexas
➟ Things to do in The Woodlands :: http://byjoandco.com/inthewoodlands
➟ Safest Neighborhoods in Houston :: http://byjoandco.com/safesthouston
➟ Best Neighborhoods in Houston :: http://byjoandco.com/bestneighborhoods
➟ Houston Texas Where to Live :: http://byjoandco.com/houstontexaswheretolive
➟ First Time Texas Home Buyer :: http://byjoandco.com/firsttimetexasbuyer
What next?!
• Download our Moving to Texas ebook! http://byjoandco.com/movingtotexasebook.
• Download our Where to Live in Houston Texas ebook! http://byjoandco.com/wheretoliveebook.
• Schedule a phone call or appointment with us! http://byjoandco.com/appointment.
• Email us! [email protected].
• Looking for a buyer’s agent? Fill out our buyer questionnaire! http://byjoandco.com/q.
• Ready to find your dream home? Search, http://search.byjoandco.com.
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: http://byjoandco.com/youtube.
Visit the Jo & Co. YouTube Channel
At Jo & Co. we know that most people struggle with the home buying or selling experience. We are a brokerage, real people, that do more for you, by being with you every step of the way, so that you plant your roots in the right soil. One way that we go above and beyond is with the content we share on YouTube. Click the photo below to explore our channel.