I find myself in an unusual position. I have a 1390 Sq ft three bedroom home, brick on a slab, with one bathroom. Over the past 12 days I have communicated with dozens and dozens of duds. Maybe even close to 100. Out of that huge number I have shown the house to about 9 of them. ( several no shows also ). Those are the only ones that got past my screeening by lying about something on my prescreen questions. I have had 5 apps so far, and rejected all of them. This is a track ranch house , fresh grey paints inside, new kitchen, cherry allure floors that look impressive, new ceramic in the dining and kitchen. New windows, it’s a great loking house, but that one bathroom is killing me. I am priced at 1245, have a dozen other houses in the same area that are all 3-2-2, and I am getting on average $1325 per month. Don’t have any trouble finding acceptable tenants in those. What can I do besides adding another bathroom to this house to attract a decent tenant? The average house in this town is $450k, mine is only about 160k. --75.141.xxx.xxx

Spring/tax refund anticipation loan season is just around the corner mid-January. Stay strong! It's hard, I know...I've got 2 vacancies right now, but I do have a reasonably qualified person moving in on or before Dec 22nd. She's already paid the holding fee so even if she bails I'm getting 6 weeks of rent for holding for 2 weeks. --173.19.xx.xxx

Sid, luckily, this house is only 4 minutes from mine. I have nothing else to do except watch Andy Griffith reruns. Lock box showings don’t allow me the opportunity to smell the prospects. I no longer will rent to a smoker. Too many times of having to oil base kilz the entire house to cover the smell, not to mention the smell that gets in the air ducts. I enjoy interviewing these prospects in person, a lot of the time they will mention something that will help me when processing an app. One that was looking promising on Saturday, as I was walking them out the door I smelled the smell. No sir, I don’t want that smell in my houses. Could be a good time to sell, prices are overinflated in this area anyway. --75.141.xxx.xxx

There is a reason that NOBODY builds 3 BR houses with 1 bath anymore. Because NOBODY would buy them. Renters aren't that different. They don't want a single bath either. --68.156.xx.xx

Will someone qualified rent it for $1? Then you need to lower the rent to some where between $1 and $1245 --166.137.xx.xxx

It's been like this my last 45 years of being a landlord. --75.22.xx.xxx

--72.172.xxx.xx

With your kind of numbers, Sell It. --71.13.xx.xxx

Are you close to Beaumont? --173.26.xxx.xx

That way you get the profits as well as the higher rent. --23.121.xx.xxx

what is your target market ? --166.137.xxx.xx

My husband found himself homeless with the hurricane and moved in with a couple guys. While he was trying to find a place, he doesn’t look on Zillow or Facebook or any of that. It’s all word of mouth. They are renting a dump, it’s 3 bedroom and 2 bathroom. Has a pond behind the house with his crocodile friend. Anyway, with all the gas plants being built, maybe there’s a way to appeal to iron workers and welders working on the road? Hubby is paying $650, his part, and so altogether the house is $1950. I was going to come visit right after Christmas but he said House has bugs and well water not suitable to drink and doesn’t want his kids in it. Point of what I’m saying is, hubby takes whatever he can get to live in. There’s 2,000 employees, maybe you can attract the on the road workers. This job started July 2016 and goes to Feb 2018 --173.26.xxx.xx

Just keep going, that sounds normal. --97.34.xxx.xx

Thanks for the responses. So many questions, I’ll try to answer. It’s located in a suburb of ft worth. Adding a second bath would be a challenge since it’s on a slab. Target market is anyone that passes my requirements, which in this case may be too much. Being December could be the biggest issue. I have several 3-2-2s that are occupied by single individuals. Ideally , that is what would work best here. I have advertisements on every site possible, however just removed the Facebook marketplace, that seemed to be where most of my disqualified contacts were coming from. If I would accept aggressive breed dogs, I could rent this house for 1400 easily. As we are currently renewing lability insurance, I have learned there isn’t one ins company in tx that will cover them. At least January is just a couple weeks away --75.141.xxx.xxx

Cherry wood and gray walls would not be my personal favorite. How about a light beige area rug to improve the light and airiness? --73.33.xxx.xxx

How about advertising it as a 2 bedroom with a den? That might attract a different group of lookers. --131.151.xxx.xxx

Barb. Thanks! That actually sounds like a good idea. I think I’ll give that a shot! --75.141.xxx.xxx

If it is a season issue, I would drop the rent, then sign a lease for 6 or 18 months, and at renewal, increase the rent to the market rent. --50.4.xxx.x

TCU graduate students or employees ? --104.218.xxx.xx

Best of luck and please share what happens. --107.142.xxx.xx

Best of luck and please share what happens. --107.142.xxx.xx

--108.87.xx.xxx

PS: You don't have to spend any money to upgrade your property to make it more "acceptable." You just have to shift the direction of your advertising to be seen by the people you want to have as tenants. --108.87.xx.xxx

I am a mechanical guy and share the idea about getting another half or whole bath, but it may be worth getting some quotes if you are unable to do this work yourself - sitting empty watch Andy Griffith reruns or sitting empty getting a second bathroom, what is the price for the interior work? When you finish it may make a rocket in the resell market, why not sell and get 2 or 3 places easier to fill and refill... --76.188.xxx.xx

--68.51.xx.xxx

BRAD --68.51.xx.xxx

My advice: re-write your online ads and put in the headline something that will attract the applicants that you want live in you rental. Your '1 bathroom' house is NOT an issue and don't make it an issue. Quit thinking new bathroom construction and start thinking changing your online marketing. --68.63.xxx.xxx

Make sure your ad highlights the features your target market is looking for. Nearby employers, restaurants, and attractions should be listed in the ad. Good quality pictures of your new kitchen, floors, windows, etc. Make sure they can clearly see why this house deserves the rent you are asking. This is a slow time of year, so hang in there. The lack of a 2nd bathroom hurts this home, but that is why it is $80 less. Are you priced similar to other 3/1 homes in your area? --73.102.xxx.xx

Like David said, if you are looking to accept other dog breeds, try State Farm. --73.102.xxx.xx

--99.56.xx.xx

We just added a bathroom to a slab house. We tried jackhammering the floor but it was not going well, so we elevated the floor and yes, we will have a small step up to the bathroom, but it's fine. --173.22.xx.xx

The place actually has a 4th room that I NEVER call a bedroom, just a "bonus" room that people usually use for their office or playroom. --71.175.xxx.xxx