Why does a rental property owner need a web site?
More than anything else, the Internet is a great communication tool. With a web page you can communicate so much more than a tiny classified ad in the newspaper. You can include pictures, detailed information about your rentals and other elements that will help the prospective renter choose you as their next landlord. A web site does not make sense for all landlords, but for many it does. In the United States, approximately 44 million people are online, with more coming every day. But I can get a free web space somewhere else.
That's true, and if you choose to go that route, that's great. Without a "pointer" to your web site, though, how will people find it? What is easier for a prospective renter to remember, http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/7529/ or www.mrlandlord.com/rentals? MR. LANDLORD's FOR RENT web site is a tool for renters to find a Certified Professional Landlord in their area. Renters care about finding a quality landlord, too - and as the site develops it will become a resource for renters nationwide. If you would like to develop your own site yourself, we would be happy to provide a link to it from the FOR RENT site for $15/month. If you'd like to have your web site created by the same professionals that create the MR. LANDLORD site - then we should talk.
The big web page firms charge anywhere from $100 to $250 PER PAGE for designing web sites - this is an incredible value. How will renters know to look for the MR. LANDLORD FOR RENT site?
When you place your tiny classified ads, be sure to include the website - www.mrlandlord.com/rentals - in the ad. (You will still need to use standard classifieds to a certain degree, not everyone has access to the Internet - YET.) Also, we will be encouraging the real estate groups that we work with to use some of their reserves to help promote their member's sites. Press releases to radio, television and the newspaper are also great for generating traffic - we'll even help you or your real estate group produce one (coming in August). OK, I've decided to get a web page. Why MR. LANLORD?
The big commercial sites (www.rent.net, for example) won't touch the individual hard-working landlords and landladies. MR. LANDLORD has been your resource to improve your cash flow through the newsletter, reports, books and tapes - and now MR. LANDLORD can help you make use of the Internet to help fill your vacancies or sell your homes! When will MR. LANDLORD'S FOR RENT site be operational?
The basic site structure is up and ready to view at www.mrlandlord.com/rentals
By August 1, 1998 the website will be suitable for presentation to renters nationwide. I urge you to ACT NOW and get your site up and running so that you won't miss a single opportunity to find a quality renter! What do I do next?
Contact Chris Gardner at Gardner Business Services via email at webmaster@mrlandlord.com. Let him know which type of site you are interested in; you will receive instructions on how to submit the information for the web page. To keep your costs down for services rendered, we try to keep most of our communications in electronic format. You can also catch Chris hosting the Landlord chat every Wednesday at 9pm Eastern Standard Time. |
