How to Build Renter Interest in Winter Months
So your former tenant has decided to move out during the winter months leaving you with an empty rental that needs to be filled. We know that finding any tenant for your rental during these cold winter months can be difficult, especially if you have specific requirements you are looking for as a rental owner.
We want to show you that, especially with decreased demand during winter, using a knowledgeable and experienced property management company will make all the difference in getting your property rented with a good tenant and keeping it rented all through the next winter too.
Here are some of our tried and true methods to find you a great, long-lasting tenant, even in the cold and winter months.
How We Can Help You Find a Good Tenant in the Winter
- Improve your online listing: The first step in finding a tenant in the winter is to start with the first thing that they interact with, your online listing.
While it is important to have beautiful warm-weather photos on your listing, even in the winter months, adding some beautiful winter photos will go a long way to helping a potential tenant want to view your property. Winter photos establish realistic expectations for when potential tenants first view the property in person. If visitors are expecting a huge leafy tree when they arrive, and see just bare branches, that can start the visit off with unmet expectations. But when we prime the expectations with winter views, it allows potential tenants to keep a positive and open mind.
Another photo tip we use to improve your listing is by featuring a spring photo. Those beautiful spring photos encourage potential tenets to look forward to the optimism of spring. We want them to be looking forward to what your property will offer them in the coming optimistic spring.
Another aspect of your listing to update is bringing attention to the positive winter aspects of your property. Do you have a cozy fireplace? Let’s point out the ease of access to plowed roads. What is your property’s proximity to school for snowy mornings? (Ex: parents want to know that their kids can get to school safely on snowy mornings) These property-specific advertisements will draw potential tenants’ attention to the best winter aspects of your property and greatly increase the chances that they will choose your property over any others.
- Focus on Outdoor Appearance: It is very important to us to keep your property in excellent shape. We know that potential tenants can drive by at any time to view your property. We keep your sidewalks, driveways, and other outdoor areas cleared and cleaned, especially after any snow or storms. We want potential tenants to feel the safety and comfort that your property provides.
- Focus on Indoor Appearance: Now, we won’t go overboard, but a few tastefully placed decorations go a long way toward enticing renters to your property. We want them to tap into the positive holiday vibes when they enter and tour your property.
What if You Still Can’t Find a Renter?
So, what if you have implemented all of the above methods and are still struggling to find a good tenant for your property? After all of our other methods have failed, that is when we will recommend some bonuses. For example… We might spice up your listing with an offer of the first month of utility reimbursement, or a $150 grocery gift card. Maybe you can add an updated new appliance (that you were planning to do sometime soon anyway), or an early week or two to allow them to start moving in. Helping entice those good renters with a little reward will help us get your contract signed and a happy tenant in your property.
How to Keep Your Property Rented in the Winter
We wanted to touch on how using our company can also set you up so that you hardly ever even need to find a tenant in the winter.
We make sure your property is rented all winter by focusing on keeping your current tenets in the property. When we are setting up your rental leases, we make sure that contracts do not end in the sparse months. Summer leases are offered for at least 9 months, ending in April or May. If we start a winter lease, we offer an incentive upfront to make sure it doesn’t end before May. Using these planning methods while setting up a lease helps you avoid a lot of the hassle.
There are, of course, always unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances that will land you in a place of having to evict a renter or have a month-to-month lease that doesn’t renew (again, we try to offer a three-month lease if we know we are approaching the holidays). In those circumstances, we head up to the top of the article and use our “find a good renter” tactics.
If you have a property that you are trying to be rent in these winter months, please reach out to us. We are ready to fill your property with a tenant that will keep you happy all year long and into next spring.
Links
https://www.naborly.com/blog/find-tenants-winter-months
https://www.appfolio.com/blog/the-best-ways-to-market-your-properties-in-the-winter/
https://www.losangelespropertymanagementgroup.com/4-smart-ways-market-rental-property-winter/
