How to find landlords of properties? In this article we will share a few great ideas to help you find landlords in your local market.
Those of us in the estate agency business have been aware for some time now that it’s a landlords market out there. With more people renting and George Osborne and the finance sector still making it difficult for the average UK individual, couple or family to get a mortgage (Help to Buy notwithstanding) renting out property is still big business these days.
Landlords are aware of this of course and so can afford to be choosy. As an estate agent then how are you going to raise your profile so that it stands head and shoulders above those of your competitors?
Well, here are a few suggestions that, were you to implement even some of them, would definitely give you some height:
Get found online
Our first entry on how to find landlords of properties is one that relies on your digital marketing skills. Like most people who are looking for something these days, new landlords will also turn to Google when they need an estate agency to help them rent out their property.
The way your company can start appearing on page one of Google (and other search engines) for your area is to engage in plenty of targeted online activity.
That means getting an SEO check of your website to ensure it has the correct keywords, phrasing and some valuable backlinks (you can hire a freelance SEO expert reasonably cheaply via a freelance website).
You should also be adding new and unique content to your website on a regular basis – a blog is a great way to do this (again, get your SEO expert to set one up if you haven’t already). In your blog write posts landlords would want to read – such as those offering advice.
Make sure you make use of social media by creating a Facebook page, Twitter and Google plus account. You don’t have to post repeatedly on them – maybe three times a week. Social media activity counts towards your search engine points score so it’s important that you use it. And anyway it’s free!
Get out there and network
Still need more ideas on how to find Landlords of properties? How about networking? It’s an old tried and tested method and it still works. Join your local chamber of commerce, rotary club, business networking group. Yes, these activities take time but think of the number of individuals – who may know potential landlords – that you’re coming into contact with.
Do some door-to-door marketing
Letting landlords know you’re around and willing can be done via a leaflet through their letter box. There’s every chance there is a potential landlord sitting there considering whether or not to rent out his or her home but unsure of how to go about it. Your leaflet could seem like a ‘sign’ that it’s time to go ahead.
Try some PR
Unlike paid-for advertising, PR (or public relations) is promoting your company in a newspaper or magazine for free via their editorial section. How do you do this? Sponsor a local football team or offer a prize for a competition at a nearby primary school and get your photo taken handing it over.
Then send that photo into your local newspaper with a press release containing your name and facts about the competition (try and get your company logo in the photograph too).
Hold a seminar
Would your local council provide a list of private landlords in the area? If so, invite them to a free talk where you’ll give them up to the minute legal and miscellaneous advice that it’s important for them to know.
That way you’ll get to know their names as well as put yourself across as an expert. It also gives you an opportunity to introduce yourself and pass on your business card should they need help when their current tenants move out.
The above are only a handful of suggestions for finding landlords. There are many more of course and it’s not possible to implement them all at once anyhow.
Why not pick a couple of items from our list and put them onto your To Do list for the following month? It certainly can’t hurt to try them out – and it may just bring those much sought-after landlords banging on the door of your estate agency.