Marketing Your Rental Through Online Listings
Marketing rentals with Rentec Direct is a quick way to showcase available properties on your website and syndicated sites, helping to fill vacancies quickly.
This article reviews:
- Describing Your Property
- Syndicating (Publishing) Your Rental
- How to Provide an Application Link to a Potential Tenant
- Frequently Asked Questions
Tip: Click on the quick-links above to jump to the steps
Describing Your Property
The marketing page is the hub of information used to list your available rentals, and where leads and prospective tenants search. This is also where you choose to list your properties on your website, syndicated sites, and if you allow online rental applications.
The following steps will guide you through entering your marketing information, search criteria, and listing your available properties.
In your Rentec Direct account:
- Click on Properties
- Right-click on a property and choose Marketing Info
- Under Property Identification, enter details of the location
Description - Describe the property, try mentioning the best features and criteria highlights like Pet Friendly, Wifi included, Security lighting, close to public transportation, etc., first to capture attention.
Tip: Need help with your description? Click on the Generate Description tool and let ChatGPT use your search criteria to create a captivating description in as little as 30 seconds.
- Bedrooms and Bathrooms
- Enter the number of Bedrooms and Bathrooms. If you will be listing with Zillow and affiliates, indicate half baths as a decimal (1.5)
- Studios - If you do not want Bedrooms and Bathrooms to be reflected on your website, enter 0 Bedrooms and 0 Bathrooms. (This is great for Studios and Commercial Properties)
- Search Criteria - This information is shared with syndicated listing sites and your Rentec Direct website for prospective tenants and leads to find properties with features they are looking for.
- Searchable Features that are unique to that property and may be included on your lease (Age 55+, Animals Allowed, Rental Assistance Okay etc.,)
- Search City - Begin entering the City and select the City/State from the list
- Pictures -
- Add Pictures - Click on Browse to upload from your device, drag and drop pictures, or use File Sharing to add photos that have been uploaded to your file library
- Edit or Remove Pictures - Right-click on an image to access a context menu of options that allow you to download, set it as primary, change the order, rename, rotate, or remove the file.
- Publishing - This is where you select where you want the listing to show and if you accept online applications.
- Publish Online Listing - Select this to display the rental on your Rentec Direct Enhanced Website for prospective tenants and Leads or your website if you are using your domain.
- Accept Online Applications will display an Online Applications link on your Rentec Direct website
Enable Syndication - Select this to send your listing to the most popular Syndicated Sites.
System Note: New clients will be prompted for ID verification the first time they apply for or use tenant screening, online payments, and syndication. Once ID is validated, all three services can be applied to or accessed without additional verification from Rentec Direct.
Resources - Syndicating
- This Property's Public Page - Click on this link to view what your listing will look like (see example below)
- All Public Listings - Click on this link to view the prospective tenants search filter and all currently published properties (see example below)
- Craigslist listing to preview or set up your Craigslist ad
- Click on Save Changes
Provide an Application Link to a Potential Tenant
Potential tenants can easily view and apply for your published rentals online.
There are two ways a potential tenant can access your online application:
- Direct them to your website
- Copy and paste the web address for This Property's Public Page or All Public Listings
(Below is an example of This Property's Public Page with a link to Apply Online)
(Below is an example of All Public Listings with a search filter for leads and prospective tenants and a link to Apply Online)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q) How long does it take for my listing to appear on syndicated sites?
A) New clients syndicating to third-party sites for the first time experience a four-day delay for security purposes. After that, new listings, changes, and removals of listings can be visible on syndicated sites within 72 hours. If you don't see your listing within 72 hours, these troubleshooting tips will help you find the solution: Syndicated Sites | Why Is My Listing Not Showing Up?
Q) How long does it take to remove a listing from my website and turn off the online application?
A) Once the options are unchecked and saved, listings are removed from your website immediately
Q) How do I stop a listing or turn off application access?
A) You have full control over your listings. To turn off any option, simply use the steps above to uncheck the appropriate box and Save Changes.
Q) How can I add a link to a video walkthrough
A) Adding a video walkthrough is an advanced option. Provide the following code to your website designer <ahref="https://example.com">link text</a>
Q) Do syndicated sites list commercial properties through Rentec Direct?
A) Syndication works excellently to promote your residential properties across multiple sites, but is not designed for commercial properties
System Tips:
- Learn more about the types and formatting of Photos for Property Advertising
- Learn more about adding photos from your File Library with File Sharing
- Enter a URL to create a clickable link on your listing site for video tours
- Not All features are available to clients on the older Legacy website. Easily transition to the Enhanced Website to enjoy all the features your website has to offer. Learn more about how to Build Your Own Enhanced Website
- Entering 0 Bedrooms and 0 Bathrooms will cause bedrooms and bathrooms to not be reflected on your Enhanced Rentec Direct Website.