5 Apartment Advertising Tips for Subletting Success

By Julia Dunn on June 4, 2015

If you’re a college student living in an off-campus apartment, you might be wondering what to do if you need to leave your apartment before your lease expires. Life doesn’t always follow a calendar, and sometimes students need to move out of their apartments for the summer or for job opportunities and internships out of town.

If this sounds like your situation, subletting might be a great solution for you!

Many students choose to sublet their apartments at some point during springtime, allowing other students in need of housing to stay in their apartment during the summer months. Students commonly sublet due to financial need, if they are unable to break their lease.

You may be wondering how to go about advertising your apartment if you do decide to sublet. Do not fear! Check out these effective strategies to find a tenant as soon as possible.

1. Post Widely on the Internet

Write an attractive blurb explaining your housing situation, and post it on social media outlets you normally use, such as Facebook. If your university has a Facebook group designated for housing listings, utilize this! Through groups like these, you’ll be able to reach out to thousands of students needing housing who might be interested in your offer. Include brief details about your circumstances, and most importantly, include details about your apartment itself.

Describe the layout of the rooms, any special or unique aspects of your space that make it stand out compared to other apartments, cool activities around the neighborhood that are easily accessible from your apartment’s location, any amenities included such as washers and dryers, and anything else about your apartment that you think will entice apartment-seekers.

Image Via: www.wikihow.com

There are a number of websites at your disposal for advertising your apartment, the most specific being Sublet.com, which solely exists for the purpose of marketing rental properties such as apartments up for sublet. You can also utilize Craigslist.org as a free online platform for posting about your apartment, or even Uloop.com, which has a section of its website devoted to subletting!

Image Via: www.uloop.com

**Bonus Tip: Don’t forget to include your contact information in your post so people can let you know they’re interested in subleasing your apartment. Post a reliable phone number or email address (or both) that you check regularly so potential tenants can keep in contact with you.

2. Connections, Connections, Connections

Image Via: blog.storage.com

This may seem obvious, but one of the best ways to let people know you’re subletting your apartment is to talk to them! Let your friends, family, and acquaintances know that you’re looking to sublet, and if anyone expresses interest, invite them over to see your place if at all possible.

People are more likely to pursue your apartment if they have a positive experience with you, and especially if they are afforded the chance to see the apartment in person. Subletting your place to someone you already know is especially convenient because your tenant will be more familiar and trustworthy. Spread the word and reach out to the people in your life; you never know who might be looking for apartment housing!

3. High-Quality Photos

Don’t post a subletting ad online without photos of your apartment! Visuals are key attention-grabbers, and photos are usually more memorable than just text alone. Post photos of your apartment that are flattering and showcase positive aspects of your apartment. Take multiple pictures of the rooms, walls, views, and external appearances from various angles to give potential tenants a comprehensive glimpse at what you are subletting.

**Bonus Tip: Clean your apartment before you photograph it! Nobody wants to live in a pigsty apartment, so take this opportunity to spruce up your place and straighten the furniture prior to photographing and showing people around your place. Appearances are everything when it comes to housing.

4. Posters and Flyers

Design a well-crafted poster or flyer with key details about your apartment. Due to the minimal space you have on a small flyer, be mindful of which details you include. Limit your text to just a few concise selling points, plus contact information, the approximate dates you’d like tenants to move in and out, and how much it costs for them to temporarily sublet your space.

Include a photo that will grab people’s eyes as they’re walking down the street. Post these flyers around your town in public posting spaces such as bus stop bulletin boards or in store windows (always ask permission first!)

5. Newspapers

Does your local newspaper have a housing section? Write a small blurb about your apartment for the newspaper in town, and they will post it in their housing section. Usually it costs a small amount of money to put an advertisement in a newspaper, but it will likely be worth it if you end up finding a tenant this way!

Still need help or advice on how to sublet or market your apartment? Seek support from the housing office at your university’s campus. Even if you live off campus, college housing offices are invested in helping all students with housing whether they live on campus or off, and they can give you  even more tips on how to find a tenant in your specific town.

Visit storage.com’s article “The Complete Guide to Subletting Your Apartment” for more tips and advice on how subletting works and how to most effectively advertise your apartment.

Best of luck in your subletting endeavors!

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