How to Market Your Rental Property for Maximum Exposure

Marketing a property requires more than just putting a “for sale” sign in the front yard. You need to actively pursue potential renters where they spend time. But in today’s world where attention is limited, listings that don’t stand out get ghosted. Marketing a rental property for maximum exposure requires capturing attention beyond just a glance.

Below are proven ways to make your rental listings stand out:

1. Highlight features that sell

It’s crucial to highlight the features renters want rather than describe your property as “nice” or “beautiful.” Tenants don’t always care about things like new paint or excessive renovations. Most tenants value amenities like rentable storage, an in-unit washer and dryer, conference rooms, access to high-speed internet, off-street parking, and proximity to public transportation and grocery stores. These features should be listed prominently to attract applicants.

2. Post listings to social media

People spend a lot of time on social media every day, which makes it the perfect place to advertise your rentals. Post virtual tours, walk-throughs, and stunning photos on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Facebook targeting relevant groups and with hashtags.

Most renters search online for a new place to live and many specifically want to see property tours, the neighborhood vibe, and management reviews. You can highlight your best reviews in your posts and link to your video tour hosted on YouTube.

3. Lead with amazing photos

The first photos in your listing should be the living room or kitchen, not the front yard. Showing the inside of your property is more likely to draw people into your listing. Sometimes people skip looking at listings based on exterior photos alone. Leading with your best images will help you attract more potential tenants.

“Too often, landlords underestimate how much presentation influences demand. Great marketing is more than just filling out a listing form—it’s about selling the lifestyle that comes with the home,” shares Ryan Schwab of Estate.co. “When you combine strong visuals with thoughtful details about amenities and location, you create a narrative that renters connect with. That’s what makes the difference between a listing that sits and one that fills quickly.”

4. Set details on listing platforms

There are a lot of individual details you can set for your listings on various platforms, and it’s important to set all of them. For example, you can select amenities, lease terms, plot size, and pet policies. If you skip adding these details, your listing won’t show up in searches where a user has specified a preference. For example, if you don’t mark your rental as “pet friendly,” then people searching the site who check the “pet friendly” box won’t see your listing.

5. Get the rent price right

Rent shouldn’t be arbitrary. If you set rent too high you won’t get many applicants. If it’s too low you’ll leave money on the table and risk attracting low-quality tenants.  Use local rent analysis reports to determine rent rather than your gut. Listings priced competitively rent faster.

If you aren’t getting any inquiries after a week, you might need to adjust your price. Sometimes individual circumstances factor into pricing as well. For example, if your property is nearly identical to another home, it might seem fair to charge the same amount of rent. But if you don’t have the same amenities or there’s something that makes your property less desirable, you may need to lower the rent.

6. Embrace offline methods

Offline listings aren’t dead. Make sure you take advantage of word-of-mouth by asking friends and family to pass on your listing. Many properties get rented quickly this way. It also helps to distribute flyers at community hotspots or host an open house. People like seeing homes in person even after they’ve looked at photos.

7. Tailor your pitch to the renters you want

While you can’t indicate a preference for groups like “young professionals,” “families,” or “single people” without violating Fair Housing laws, you can use specific keywords that your ideal renter would find attractive. Keywords like “pet-friendly,” “near transit,” and “garage + yard” will help the right people find your listing in Google and platform-specific filters.

In your listing, craft a description that sells. For example, emphasize the private yard, walkability, and amazing kitchen with words that sell rather than a boring list of specs.

8. Hire a property manager

If you don’t want to do the work yourself it helps to hire a property manager. They’ll have the experience required to market your listings in all the right places to attract the quality tenants you deserve. On the back end, they’ll screen your applicants to high standards to ensure you get the best tenants.

Market smart

Even the most amazing rental in the world won’t sell itself. To get maximum exposure, you need high-quality visuals, compelling messaging, accurate pricing, and a strong reach. By taking the time to craft an attractive listing and posting it in the right places, you’ll have your property lease in no time.