If you don’t use a real estate agent to fill your vacancies then you’re going to need to know all about effective marketing.  A vacant property is a drain on your finances and can become a problem unless you can get it rented quickly.  Knowing how to advertise a property will help you fill vacancies quicker.

Having an advertising plan may seem a little over the top, but spending time devising a strategy for dealing with vacant property is going to be part of your daily life.  Having an established plan in place allows you to get things rolling in the shortest amount of time.

Advertising placement is as important as the message you put on it.  If you have Port Royal homes for rent then you need to advertise in Port Royal.  If you have Naples luxury houses for rent it makes sense to advertise there.  You also need to consider the audience.  Luxury homes attract a certain type of client.  One that is unlikely to see an advert in the window of a hardware store or in a local free paper.

You are going to need to advertise where a client is likely to see it, so on a real estate website, luxury property website, up market magazine or on a golf club notice board.  Anywhere the type of client you want might frequent.  Make sure you advertise on at least a few property websites.  Many searches are now conducted online, or at least begun online.  By maximizing your exposure there, you’re more likely to attract a tenant.
It also pays to know the market when advertising.  Making sure the rent is keenly priced or at least competitive is essential in minimizing vacant time.  You can’t arbitrarily set fees, deposits, management costs and other sundries without seeing comparable charges for other properties in your area.  Your tenant will be doing their research, you should too.

The wording of the advertisement is also key.  As well as highlighting the USP, or Unique Selling Points of the property, set the language and the tone so it appeals to your target audience.

Also don’t forget to use word of mouth.  The best advertising can come from satisfied tenants.  Offer them a fee for spreading the good word and setting you up with a new tenant.  A small reward is appealing to even the richest tenants.

Don’t forget a For Rent sign.  Port Royal rentals aren’t too classy for a sign by the side of the road.  Passing traffic is a great way of finding new tenants or spreading the word about a vacancy.  Just be sure to include all the pertinent information, including a method of contacting you.

Effective advertising is all about putting yourself in the mind of your audience.  Spend a while in their shoes in order to learn how to sell to them effectively.  By doing this you can spend the least amount of time and money on marketing, for the best return.