by Hafidha Sofia

Created on: September 24, 2007

There are several key benefits to using the Internet to rent a house or apartment. Advertising rental properties online allows you to write clear and detailed descriptions of your rental. It's also up-to-the-minute advertising. Once the unit is rented, the ad can be removed - sparing you from the aggravation of having to say, "Sorry, it's already rented" over and over.

In addition to this, using the Internet to find tenants is inexpensive and will save you time. You'll be able to answer questions and screen out many prospectives without having to pick up the phone. Reply to questions at night or early in the morning - whenever it's convenient for you.

To receive the most responses in the shortest amount of time, post your ad where the majority of potential renters will look. While the days of leisurely skimming the Sunday classifieds at the breakfast are largely over, even small town newspapers will have an online version of their classified ads. Different rate plans exist, but expect to pay between $20 to $50 for a two-week, online listing.

If you live in a larger city, Craigslist.com is a great, FREE option! People of all income brackets and backgrounds use Craigslist classifieds to search, sell, rent, and buy. Visit Craigslist.com and see if your city is listed. Warning: the activity on a Craiglist rental site is high - be prepared to receive phone calls or emails within a few hours of the ad's appearance on the site!

Now that you've figured out where to place your ad online, you'll want to write an ad that gets your unit rented right away.

5 Tips for Writing a Terrific Rental Ad

1) Shine a Light On It - First, imagine YOU lived in your rental, and someone you'd just met asked you, "Tell me about your home." If the unit's in a busy, commercial district, you might describe it as being "near everything," or in the "center of town." If there are lots of children playing in the street, it might be "family friendly." You'd also describe all the best features of the unit, like the fireplace or low cooling costs.

2) Compare - Read other ads for units that are similar to yours. In light of their ads, does your unit sound competitive to the others out there? Doing this will also remind you of key points you might have forgotten to mention: such as the all-important "washer/dryer in the unit."

3) Be Honest - Tell the truth about the rental. If it's got poor exposure, don't describe it as "bright and sunny." Never underestimate the potential renter's attention to detail! They will question you about everything offered in the ad. If they feel you've misled them, you'll have wasted their time and your own.

4) Show, Don't Just Tell - Post photographs! Apartment hunters are usually in a time crunch. If they have only one hour to look at units during their lunch hour, why should they call you? If you need to borrow a friend's digital camera or have your tech-savvy niece post the photos for you, then do it! Use photographs that convey the style of the home, and its best features.

5) State the Obvious - Don't forget the nitty gritty: Where is the unit located? How many bedrooms and baths? Are you charging a security deposit? Don't just sweep the readers off their feet with your wonderful descriptions - get down to business and seal the deal!

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