New Year.. New Plan

Sidney * In my area, we have a rental season because of the "school year"...prime rental season is May through July....then, the shadow rental market comes into play with unsold properties being rented....If a property is not rented by mid-Sept, I start reducing the rent $50 every 2 weeks; I post DAILY on our local Craigslist EARLY in the morning using postlet HTML AND there is a link to my website in the listing description.  I no longer use our local print media; however, I do offer a Realtor referral fee of $250 funded from my one-half of one months leasing fee....In these times, these fees are attractive to many agents and I pay them promptly once the lease is signed.

Pricing the property RIGHT; having it look in PRISTINE condition * attractive & clean are MUSTS.  I always have a NEW front door mat at the entry (any old one goes to the back/garage entry doors) and I get to any showing appts EARLY, spray Carpet Fresh, turn on the lights, install fresh/new toilet paper and open blind

HOW the property looks for the first impression of the prospect is VERY IMPORTANT!!!  I've rent properties at greater rent BECAUSE they looked AND smelled clean and fresh.

Wallace S. Gibson CPM * 40 years of property management experience to serve you....http://VAHomes4Rent.com

I agree with you Sidney.  Owners can be their own worst enemy and should listen to experienced property managers like you and Wallace.

I showed a townhouse property last Sat AM - it was the first one the couple saw in their 3 day trip to our area to find new rental housing....they rented my unit after viewing 20+ small homes and townhomes.  They have a small dog and she does not have a job here yet so they were specific about what they can afford.  My unit is CLEAN, the lights were on/blinds open and the place smelled CLEAN (thank you Carpet Fresh). 

HOW a property looks and SMELLS is almost as important as the rental rate....I have a concierge service that delivers my keys to properties prior to tenant move-ins and they area REALLY worth it to make sure vacant units are clean, the heat is ON and the icemaker is working!!!