Your well-kept, affordable, beautiful, and insured property lying vacant does not generate income. As a landlord, finding tenants quickly is crucial to mitigating losses. However, it can be daunting to find potential renters if you are not using a marketing tool.
With the diverse number of listing platforms, it can be hard to navigate the growing world of property listing agencies. But finding the right site that gives your property a wider audience and connects you to qualified tenants makes all the difference. This blog is to help you reach more potential renters by reviewing the ten best places to list rental properties.
Best Places to List Rental Property
Rental advertising has evolved as customers use online marketing tools to find rental properties. You are missing out if you are still stuck with traditional marketing tools like newspaper ads and real estate signage. With more people online, leveraging online marketing strategies to list your property is best.
According to statistics, in 2021, many Americans used the internet to search for homes, with 55% of those going to view the homes. Nevertheless, with almost 20% of tenants in the USA defaulting on their rent, it's imperative that you find a listing site that will link you to great renters.
Below is an in-depth review of the best places to list your rental property to help you make an informed decision.
Hemlane
With one click, Hemlane will list your rental to most of the rental websites to get 99% of tenant eyeballs on your advertisement. You can also share the listing to Craigslist and FB Marketplace through a link, since those two websites don't allow for syndication. The best part is, their rental advertising to 8+ rental listing websites is 100% free for you
Once the tenant inquiries come in, Hemlane will automatically respond with texts and emails to get the prospective tenants scheduled for a showing. You can also opt into their services and connect to a leasing agent or use their self guided tour technology. With their comprehensive applications and tenant screening (background, income, credit and eviction reports), you will receive everything needed to make a decision on whether a tenant is objectively qualified for your rental. Hemlane makes finding and placing a tenant a breeze.
Pros
- Starts with a free plan
- Email and text notifications in app to tenants
- Advertises to more listing websites than others
- Add on: self guided tours and/or connection to leasing agents
Cons
- Does not automatically list to Craigslist
- Leases are part of their paid plan
Avail
Avail is an effective place to advertise your property, as the site allows you to create your listings and then distribute them to other rental platforms. Moreover, Avail allows you to share the listing on social media and engage applicants as you organize showings. All that is free, whereas a premium plan costs $5.00 per monthly unit. However, when you opt for the free plan, your tenants are charged $ 2.50 for bank transfers.
To help avoid surprises with your tenants, Avail provides background history checks that cover eviction, criminal, and credit history for $30 each. Avail offers credit history and nationwide criminal background and eviction checks.
Pros
- Has a free plan
- You can reach more prospects as it syndicates listing to other platforms
- It has more screening tools compared to other sites
- It has tools to streamline property management
Cons
- It's not available on the mobile app
- Tenants are charged when you are on a free plan
Zillow
Zillow has been around for years and is among the most popular list site, with 60 million monthly visits, according to Statista. If you want to reach a wide breadth of prospective renters, Zillow is among the best places to list your rental property, as it has high traffic. Zillow has a user-friendly system that you can use to update the information at any time.
During publishing, Zillow enables you to highlight amenities that appear through search filters. You get free first publishing but pay $ 9.99 for subsequent listings. In addition, Zillow runs background checks on applicants.
Pros
- Allows easy access through a mobile app
- It is a high-traffic site for property owners, buyers, and renters
- Has a user-friendly interface
- Allows you to update information about your property
- Has price suggestions that smooth the process
Cons
- Only the first listing is free
- It’s expensive for the paid listing
Related Reading: How Much Can I Rent My House For?
Apartments.com
Apartments.com is a reputable list site that features other types of properties, such as townhomes, condos, duplexes, etc., despite its name. With this site, you are more likely to find serious applicants, as the site charges them to apply. It is also free to list, but a premium plan option exists.
The site partners with seven other sites, with whom they syndicate your listing to drive traffic. Apartments.com runs free, comprehensive credit reports and background checks to help you find the most suitable tenants. Although your applicant’s reports are free, the site charges the applicant. Apartments.com allows for precise tracking of expenses, which you can then export to your accountant for tax preparation.
Pros
- Features apartments, condos, and townhouses
- Landlords get serious applicants who pay to apply
- The site organizes applicant screening, online tours, lease signing and rent collection.
- Has a mobile app for easy use
Cons
- Tenants pay to apply and for reports
Airbnb
If you want to advertise temporary accommodations, Airbnb is your ideal platform. Airbnb was founded in 2007 and will link your property with individuals seeking short-term accommodations. Airbnb has high traffic, with millions visiting the site daily.
To use Airbnb, you must upload great photos of the property you are listing and the charges. One of the perks of using Airbnb is that it allows you to customize a listing according to your specific requirements. Moreover, the site helps set competitive prices to benefit your listing.
Although the listing is free, the site charges a service charge of 3% for every reservation.
Pros
- It’s easy to use
- Free listing
- You can adjust your prices
- Has high traffic
Cons
- You need to monitor market prices
Zumper
Founded in 2012, Zumper is an effective listing option that makes the rental process flawless. It is an easy-to-use system that makes finding apartments easy. Zumper allows you to publish for free, screen tenants' credit scores and eviction histories, and collect rent online.
Moreover, the listing is automatically added to another site to reach more potential renters. Zumper's simplified rental process matches tenants with property owners and landlords.
Pros
- Offers renters real-time listing
- The landlord-to-renter matching makes the process easy.
- Offers online screening and rent collection
- Offers free listing
Cons
- Does not offer financial and maintenance tracking, unlike other sites
- Has a smaller audience compared to other listing platforms
Craigslist
Craigslist is a well-known platform for finding rentals, and easy for landlords to freely list rental property. It is free, user-friendly, and effective in giving your property exposure. However, unlike other platforms, Craigslist does not offer screening, management, or rent collection tools. Craigslist also has many fraudulent users that can re-upload your property images, posing as their own.
Pros
- Has high traffic
- The platform is free to use for both renters and landlord
- It's popular and has a wider audience
- Easy to post and edit listings
Cons
- Limited features and no screening tools, unlike other platforms
- Prone to spam or scams listings as it is unregulated
- The listings are not in real-time
Trulia
Trulia is one of the Zillow group's largest and most useful listing platforms. It has advanced search filters that help renters navigate the site and narrow their search. The site enables real-time listings and has more than 20 million monthly visits. Trulia has a mobile app to help with easy sales and rentals.
Pros
- A large audience of renters
- Offers comprehensive listing options, including free and paid
- Search filters help streamline searching for renters
- Provides tools for landlords to manage listings and applications
Cons
- Paid listing is expensive
Apartment List
Apartment List is ideal for busy renters who prefer a convenient approach to searching for an apartment. Users answer a few questions about the size and type of apartment they prefer, and the platform’s algorithm generates a list of the top matches. The answers narrow down the list of apartments, making finding one easier. The platform's unique approach generates qualified leads, making it an excellent choice for landlords and property managers.
Pros
- Has mobile app
- Free to list
- Tenants can customize searches
Cons
- It's costly to list after finding a tenant
Related Reading: How Much Does Landlord Insurance Cost in Each State?
Realtor.com
Using Realtor.com widens your listing's audience, as it is popular with over 40 million monthly visits. It's easy for tenants to search properties with listings in real-time. Additionally, as a landlord, you benefit from the software that helps you engage leads. The site also has links to financial calculators, which tenants and landlords can use.
However, Realtor.com only allows licensed agents and no sale-by-owner listings, reducing competition.
Pros
- It's available in a mobile app for easier engagement
- It's free
- Has software to help engage leads
- The site has a wide range of browsing options from the listing database available.
- Reduced competition
- Wider audience reach
Cons
- No option for 'sale by owner.'
HotPads
HotPads is a listing site focusing on rental properties such as homes, apartments, condos, and for-sale homes throughout the United States. The site has a user-friendly interface that caters to both landlords and tenants. Additionally, it has tools to help with management and rent payments.
It is free to list your property unless you want a premium plan that costs $29.9 and lasts 90 days. The fee is inclusive of screening for background and credit history. Being on the premium plan positions your property high on the search results, and you get insights on pricing.
Pros
- Your listing is syndicated on other platforms for a wider reach
- Has screening and rent payment tools
- The site provides online payment to landlords
Cons
- Background history excludes rental history
How Can You Choose the Best Rental Listing Sites?
Before deciding on the best rental listing site for you, there are a few considerations. The first is the cost and fees associated with listing a particular site. While most listing sites are free, others take a commission from the rental fee. Others may add the fee the longer the property stays on the market.
Another important consideration to make is the user experience. Invest in a listing site that is easy to navigate and one that allows for filtering results depending on preferences. Listing sites with screening and management tools are a big plus for your rental business.
Additionally, a reputable listing site with positive feedback is better at helping you meet your rental goals. Opt for high-traffic sites to reach more potential customers and skip those with complaints and negative reviews. With the best place to list your rental property, you list, then sit back and manage inquiries.
Bottom Line
Online listing sites have revolutionized the rental business, and the benefits of using them to find tenants cannot be overemphasized. Many listing sites have different features to accommodate all landlords and property owners.
With most of them charging no fee to list, others take a commission from the rental fee and provide screening checks. Every landlord and renter needs a listing site for safety, convenience, and effective renting and leasing.
Along with the best places to list your rental property, you must get property insurance from the best in the market. Contact Steadily and get a landlord insurance quote in minutes.
FAQs
Can I manage my rental listings across multiple platforms simultaneously?
Managing rental listings across multiple platforms can be a time-consuming task if done manually. However, there are tools and services available that can help streamline the process and enable you to manage your listings more efficiently. Here are a few options: Listing Management Services: Some companies offer listing management services specifically designed for rental property owners. These services allow you to create and manage your listings on multiple platforms from a single dashboard. You can update property details, availability, and pricing in one place, and the changes will be automatically synchronized across all the platforms you've chosen to list on. Channel Managers: Channel managers are software tools that integrate with various listing platforms and help you manage your listings centrally. They provide a unified interface where you can create and update listings, synchronize availability calendars, and handle inquiries and bookings. Channel managers are particularly useful for owners who list their properties on vacation rental platforms, as they can help manage multiple bookings and avoid double bookings. Property Management Software: If you own multiple rental properties, investing in property management software can simplify the process of listing and managing your properties across multiple platforms. These software solutions often include features like centralized listing management, automated synchronization, and reporting tools to track the performance of your listings. Before choosing a method or tool for managing your rental listings, consider factors such as the number of properties you own, the platforms you want to list on, and your budget. Research and compare different options to find the one that best suits your needs and allows you to efficiently manage your rental listings across multiple platforms.
What is the most cost effective rental property listing platform?
The cost-effectiveness of rental property listing platforms can vary depending on several factors, including the type of property, location, target audience, and the platform's pricing structure. It's important to note that while some platforms may offer free or low-cost listing options, they may charge additional fees for premium features, such as enhanced visibility, tenant screening, or advertising boosts. Consider your budget, target audience, and the features that are important to you when determining the overall cost-effectiveness of a rental property listing platform.
What is the best property listing platform for landlords?
Determining the "best" property listing platform for landlords can depend on various factors such as the type of rental property, target audience, location, budget, and personal preferences. However, several platforms are popular among landlords for their wide reach, user-friendly interfaces, and robust features.These platforms are known for their reliability, extensive features, and user-friendly interfaces. However, it's important to research and evaluate each platform based on your specific needs, property type, target audience, and location before making a decision.
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