Advertise your dwelling like a pro

The year 2020 was not an easy one for rental building owners. In fact, many landlords who relied on foreign or student clientele had to adapt, finding themselves without a tenant. Some students also returned to live with their families, allowing them to vacate the accommodation without committing themselves elsewhere.

So here are a few tips to help you prepare for the rental period, which promises to be different in the current pandemic context. More than ever, make a difference by sharpening up your listings!

Make the difference with professional photos

As you already know, a picture is worth a thousand words. This step is therefore crucial and should not be neglected since it is what will make tenants want to plan a visit or simply move on to the next listing. Too often, we still see listings without pictures or with clutter, the bed undone, products filling the counters, etc. Several technologies are available such as 360-degree photography, virtual tour, HDR photo technology, etc. You have to know how to capture the tenant's attention with a few photos.

It is strongly recommended to unclutter the rooms so that the new tenants can project themselves into the apartment. The goal is to make the space neutral. For example, before your arrival, ask the tenant if it is possible to remove the entrance carpet and free up the kitchen and bathroom counters, which will make it easier to take pictures.

With great diplomacy and of course with the tenant's agreement, you can move furniture that, for example, prevents natural light from entering the room when taking pictures. If your apartment is empty, don't hesitate to use your home staging skills in order to give an impression of grandeur to your rooms. Tenants will be able to better imagine how they will arrange their furniture when they rent it out.

Do not hesitate to call upon a professional for HDR photos. The photographer will be able to provide you with several very clear and detailed photos. As they say, to each his own trade! On the other hand, if you want to do it by yourself, you can rent equipment in a photo center, which will allow you to get a more professional result than with your smartphone.

Tips and tricks when taking pictures

• Favour daylight by maximizing the lighting in each room (open the curtains and turn on the lights).
• If you have a camera, opt for the wide-angle lens and tripod to avoid blur.
• Avoid capturing your reflection in the mirror or glass doors.
• Feel free to record a video as a virtual visit.
• If possible, unclutter the rooms at the time of the photo/video shoot.
• Pay attention to the order of the display by choosing the best asset of the apartment as the first photo.
• Photograph the room from different angles
• Crop your image to make straight lines

When creating the listing, it is important to choose the order in which the photos appear. Prioritize the best asset of your apartment as the first photo (ex: kitchen, open space, large windows, etc.) and not the washroom. Then, you can scroll through the other photos to create a logical circuit of the apartment. What is ultra relevant with the Kangalou platform is that you have no limit of photos to display in your listing. Moreover, you can upload a video with ease! Very useful in this period of pandemic to limit the visits of potential tenants. So, go ahead, enhance your listings!

Describe your accommodation carefully

This part of the listing allows you to stand out by detailing what the photos cannot convey. It must be eye-catching since it is the body of your listing.  Get to the point. The ideal is to write a clear and concise description that justifies the value of your rent. The price should be relative to the location and the market price. Don't hesitate to browse the listings for rental apartments in your neighbourhood to get an idea of the prices displayed and then adapt your rent according to the strengths/weaknesses of your apartment.

Avoid long sentences and opt for short sentences in the form of a list. This method will allow the tenant to quickly perceive the essence of your offer.

Take your time when creating your listing, have it proofread by someone you trust to avoid typos and spelling mistakes. As a result, your listing will be much more professional. If you can communicate in English and French, Kangalou allows you to write your listing in both official languages. This will allow you to reach more tenants.

Tips and tricks to write a listing that will make a difference, indicate:

• Differentiating elements such as high ceilings, large windows, hardwood flooring, balcony, roof-top terrace, etc.
• The most recent renovations that have taken place in the dwelling
• The atmosphere of the neighborhood
• Lease inclusions such as electricity, cable, Internet, air conditioning, air exchanger, etc.,
• Living area in sq. ft.
• If the accommodation is furnished or semi-furnished? Appliances included or not?
• Enter the number of closed rooms
• Animals allowed or not
• Amenities such as subway, bus stops, highways, grocery store, schools, train station, parks, bixi station, etc.

The Kangalou platform offers you a selection of items already defined; you just have to tick the various features related to your apartment to enter the information. This will lighten your text.

For landlords who have difficulty renting, some may opt for a strategy by offering free rewards or inclusions to tenants who sign a lease over a 12-month period. For example, offering the first month's rent free, a Netflix subscription, Wi-Fi, electricity, cable TV, a bus/metro pass, a Bixi subscription, or even a discount at the neighbourhood training center? Be imaginative and make a difference!

Now, your listing is ready, all you have to do is choose the ideal visibility package to publish it. You can also advertise for free. By opting for Kangalou, you get access to a quality site, with an optimized marketing interface, the only site that allows you to highlight your units. You have access to intelligent packages, exclusive on the market, which will reach quality tenants.

Whether you want to reach students via social media and geolocalised sponsored publications, or international students via the rental platform available in their own country, etc., you will find a wide range of services to help you reach your target market. You can also reach the pool of tenants in search of the rare jewl on the LesPAC platform.

With several packages at your disposal, Kangalou certainly has the one that will suit your needs. Discover the packages here!