Why is my rental property getting no love from prospective tenants?
September 14, 2015 8:03 AM Subscribe
I'm in a very tight rental market in a Denver suburb. There is a 96% occupancy rate and I'm hearing people are having a tough time finding places to rent. I'm not getting much interest. Why? See my listing after the jump.
My condo is very unique with high ceilings and a cool loft and office. When people see it they love it. This was true of me and the 2 people that have seen it. One I lost to a better location closer to his son's school. The other just disappeared. I just dropped the price from $1650 (Zillow's) estimated rental price to $1550. Here are the listing I have on Zillow, Craig's List and Apartments.com
http://www.apartments.com/3600-s-pierce-st-denver-co/8ns9313/
https://denver.craigslist.org/apa/5193569746.html
https://postlets.com/posts/15131342/review
Why am I not getting much interest? My monthly cost per square foot is lower than most others in the zip code at $1.10 sq/ft and many others are above $1.30.
My condo is very unique with high ceilings and a cool loft and office. When people see it they love it. This was true of me and the 2 people that have seen it. One I lost to a better location closer to his son's school. The other just disappeared. I just dropped the price from $1650 (Zillow's) estimated rental price to $1550. Here are the listing I have on Zillow, Craig's List and Apartments.com
http://www.apartments.com/3600-s-pierce-st-denver-co/8ns9313/
https://denver.craigslist.org/apa/5193569746.html
https://postlets.com/posts/15131342/review
Why am I not getting much interest? My monthly cost per square foot is lower than most others in the zip code at $1.10 sq/ft and many others are above $1.30.
The photos are uninspiring in general, and in particular I wouldn't start with that exterior shot.
posted by crazy with stars at 8:15 AM on September 14, 2015 [14 favorites]
posted by crazy with stars at 8:15 AM on September 14, 2015 [14 favorites]
My take on it is that people looking for a 2br rental would rather pay less money for a 2br with less space than pay for your extra large 2br. Not that you should lower the price but simply realize that you are appealing to a certain market niche that isn't as common. Also, someone in that price range could easily find a place with hardwood floors and/or rent an entire townhouse (albeit one that is probably slightly smaller than your place).
Finally, the big requirement people tend to have is "lots of light." If it doesn't look like your rental has that from the pictures, then people may pass it over.
posted by deanc at 8:16 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Finally, the big requirement people tend to have is "lots of light." If it doesn't look like your rental has that from the pictures, then people may pass it over.
posted by deanc at 8:16 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Most of your photos make the place seem like a dark cave. Can you open all the blinds and the windows or add some hidden ambient lighting so your photos are more like the one of the living room and the fireplace that's all bright and stuff?
posted by Hermione Granger at 8:17 AM on September 14, 2015 [10 favorites]
posted by Hermione Granger at 8:17 AM on September 14, 2015 [10 favorites]
Have an honest friend walk through and tell you if it smells.
posted by magnetsphere at 8:17 AM on September 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by magnetsphere at 8:17 AM on September 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
If I had to guess, I would say it's that everything in it looks very dated and old-fashioned -- the furniture, the wallpaper, the drapes, even the paint looks kind of dull and worn. The mix of furnished and unfurnished rooms in the pictures is also a little odd.
Something that also struck me, though I don't know how much people would be looking this close -- it says it's open floor plan, and the floor plan looks open, but then in that picture of the washer and dryer, it looks like a passthrough kitchen rather than an open one. Which makes me wonder if there's something hinky with the listing.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:17 AM on September 14, 2015 [21 favorites]
Something that also struck me, though I don't know how much people would be looking this close -- it says it's open floor plan, and the floor plan looks open, but then in that picture of the washer and dryer, it looks like a passthrough kitchen rather than an open one. Which makes me wonder if there's something hinky with the listing.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:17 AM on September 14, 2015 [21 favorites]
I don't have knowledge of the Denver rental market, but one thing that came to mind is that (as Cecic and others have just alluded to) your photos could be better. The cost of hiring a specialized real estate photographer should be $100-300, and could easily be recouped in a month or two of rental income.
When I sold my most recent home, our realtor hired a photographer, and I was astonished at how good they made the place look. It almost seemed like cheating.
posted by EKStickland at 8:17 AM on September 14, 2015 [6 favorites]
When I sold my most recent home, our realtor hired a photographer, and I was astonished at how good they made the place look. It almost seemed like cheating.
posted by EKStickland at 8:17 AM on September 14, 2015 [6 favorites]
There's no kitchen photo and the bathroom looks very cramped.
posted by Ideefixe at 8:18 AM on September 14, 2015 [15 favorites]
posted by Ideefixe at 8:18 AM on September 14, 2015 [15 favorites]
There are a few things that would make me pass this over. 1: Carpet, I hate carpet. 2: 2br is not as desirable as 3br, esp. when a 3br could be had for the same price. And 3: I've lived in one of those loft apartments before, and if you're living with others, it's really a lot less desirable than having rooms with walls, with the same amount of space. It's really hard to get away from noise made by others in those loft apartments.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:18 AM on September 14, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:18 AM on September 14, 2015 [7 favorites]
Do you allow pets? What kind?
Places that allow dogs (especially here in Colorado where it seems EVERYONE has a dog) are a huge plus and often harder to find. You might even be able to charge more.
posted by mochapickle at 8:18 AM on September 14, 2015 [7 favorites]
Places that allow dogs (especially here in Colorado where it seems EVERYONE has a dog) are a huge plus and often harder to find. You might even be able to charge more.
posted by mochapickle at 8:18 AM on September 14, 2015 [7 favorites]
I think it might be a pretty individual thing, but me? I love the space, angles, and loftiness! However, the fixtures and interior just seem dated. I'd be bummed, but I really wouldn't rent a place with carpet, dated wallpaper, brass fixtures, and borders around doors.
I know you can't exactly replace carpet with hardwood on the cheap, but maybe you could scrape the wallpaper in the bathroom, update as much of the brass to stainless steel (it's a rental, don't go too fancy), etc? Also, you could get all of the furniture out of there, because, to me, they add to the datedness. The apartment lends itself nicely to the mid-century/French Industrial styles people are into these days, but it's only close—no cigar.
It would be a STUNNING space with hardwood floors and updated fixtures, but on a budget, I'm sure you could get it a lot of the way there!
Also, better and warmer pictures with no clutter whatsoever (shampoo bottles, furniture).
Hope this isn't offensive! There's really no accounting for taste.
posted by functionequalsform at 8:20 AM on September 14, 2015 [12 favorites]
I know you can't exactly replace carpet with hardwood on the cheap, but maybe you could scrape the wallpaper in the bathroom, update as much of the brass to stainless steel (it's a rental, don't go too fancy), etc? Also, you could get all of the furniture out of there, because, to me, they add to the datedness. The apartment lends itself nicely to the mid-century/French Industrial styles people are into these days, but it's only close—no cigar.
It would be a STUNNING space with hardwood floors and updated fixtures, but on a budget, I'm sure you could get it a lot of the way there!
Also, better and warmer pictures with no clutter whatsoever (shampoo bottles, furniture).
Hope this isn't offensive! There's really no accounting for taste.
posted by functionequalsform at 8:20 AM on September 14, 2015 [12 favorites]
Honestly, it is because you are in south Lakewood.
Kids that want to rent and have that kind of budget want to live in Denver proper and they can find cool places, and otherwise you can still find houses in the burbs with a mortgage less than the rent you are asking (I know I did.. and it has hardwood floors).
posted by cakebatter at 8:24 AM on September 14, 2015 [12 favorites]
Kids that want to rent and have that kind of budget want to live in Denver proper and they can find cool places, and otherwise you can still find houses in the burbs with a mortgage less than the rent you are asking (I know I did.. and it has hardwood floors).
posted by cakebatter at 8:24 AM on September 14, 2015 [12 favorites]
Also, you don't include a pic of the kitchen. That's one of the first things I go looking for.
posted by functionequalsform at 8:25 AM on September 14, 2015 [12 favorites]
posted by functionequalsform at 8:25 AM on September 14, 2015 [12 favorites]
If I can't see the kitchen, I'm not even going to be interested, because that's an important room to me.
The institutional carpet makes me sad.
The shot from the staircase down to the living room makes that room look teeny-tiny, while the better-looking room photo (same room? It's hard to tell.) doesn't have furniture in it, so it's impossible to tell exactly how big it is.
The bathroom looks depressing. Get some pictures with lots of light, even if you have to rent some studio lights to do that.
posted by xingcat at 8:25 AM on September 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
The institutional carpet makes me sad.
The shot from the staircase down to the living room makes that room look teeny-tiny, while the better-looking room photo (same room? It's hard to tell.) doesn't have furniture in it, so it's impossible to tell exactly how big it is.
The bathroom looks depressing. Get some pictures with lots of light, even if you have to rent some studio lights to do that.
posted by xingcat at 8:25 AM on September 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
I agree that the place looks dated over all. Also, carpet is a deal-breaker for me, period.
posted by smich at 8:34 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by smich at 8:34 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Remove the photo with the snow and only show the other two exteriors.
Reshoot the small room with more light.
Take a couple well-lit photos of the kitchen.
posted by Elsie at 8:35 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Reshoot the small room with more light.
Take a couple well-lit photos of the kitchen.
posted by Elsie at 8:35 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Agree with those who say you need pictures of the kitchen.
Carpet is a dealbreaker for me. I dislike it, it's much more difficult to keep clean, and my partner has bad allergies. It's easy enough in our area these days to find a place without any carpet, so I would pass on this listing without having a look.
Honestly, everything in the listing looks dated and worn, including the fixtures, trims, flooring, and windows. From the pictures here, it looks like the place hasn't been painted in a long time.
posted by futureisunwritten at 8:38 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Carpet is a dealbreaker for me. I dislike it, it's much more difficult to keep clean, and my partner has bad allergies. It's easy enough in our area these days to find a place without any carpet, so I would pass on this listing without having a look.
Honestly, everything in the listing looks dated and worn, including the fixtures, trims, flooring, and windows. From the pictures here, it looks like the place hasn't been painted in a long time.
posted by futureisunwritten at 8:38 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Call it a 2-3 bedroom right up top if legal occupancy rules allow it. We found spaces that advertised like that very desirable when we were looking, because it meant it was a larger unit and that we could have family visit easily. Is it furnished? The shots aren't consistent and I didn't see it mentioned. Also not mentioned: pets. One way or the other, both have been a filter for me when I'm looking.
The exterior shot is super depressing. The first picture should be what I'd want to come home to. The one with the fireplace is fine, and the more architechturally-interesting exterior shot on a sunny day is better too. Start with something different than a big dark blank wall in the snow. A bunch of the walls look dirty; might just be shadows or something but it's not appealing.
posted by tchemgrrl at 8:38 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
The exterior shot is super depressing. The first picture should be what I'd want to come home to. The one with the fireplace is fine, and the more architechturally-interesting exterior shot on a sunny day is better too. Start with something different than a big dark blank wall in the snow. A bunch of the walls look dirty; might just be shadows or something but it's not appealing.
posted by tchemgrrl at 8:38 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Use a cover picture that doesn't have snow.
posted by theora55 at 8:39 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 8:39 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
In addition to the above, when I read the phrase 'Home shows great!" I think that's a read flag. It sounds to me like "You can't even see the mold!" or "You won't figure out until you move in that there are squirrels living in your floor/the roof leaks/the neighbours suck/ there's a night-time only amtrak station in the basement."
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:45 AM on September 14, 2015 [11 favorites]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:45 AM on September 14, 2015 [11 favorites]
I think maybe fewer pictures, too, if you can't get new ones. Less really is more & the idea is to get people to come see it, anyway.
Main photo: Empty living room, fireplace, staircase
Second photo: External shot in summer
Third: Empty upstairs bedroom with vaulted ceiling showing off that pretty toasted almond paint color
Fourth: Floor plan.
That's it.
If you can get one of the kitchen on a sunny day, that would help. Also it looks like there's a deck & if there's a way to get a picture of the deck (if the view is nice).
posted by mochapickle at 8:47 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Main photo: Empty living room, fireplace, staircase
Second photo: External shot in summer
Third: Empty upstairs bedroom with vaulted ceiling showing off that pretty toasted almond paint color
Fourth: Floor plan.
That's it.
If you can get one of the kitchen on a sunny day, that would help. Also it looks like there's a deck & if there's a way to get a picture of the deck (if the view is nice).
posted by mochapickle at 8:47 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Its just kinda blah. There's no wow factor, nothing to make it stand out and as others have mentioned - no photo of the kitchen?! No picture of the kitchen, I'm moving on. Kitchens are a big deal to a lot of people these days
I don't think the carpets are a deal breaker but they're adding to the "blah" look of the pictures, are they brown or grey? There's no light, there's no colour. I don't think the place looks worn or run down but it doesn't look inviting.
If you do only 1 thing, get it professionally photographed. Put photos on all your listings, not just craigslist (not sure why you've put the most effort into that one compared to the others) and lead with the most attractive shot, not the exterior (which, no offence, looks like a massive shed - leading with the exterior is fine if you have an attractive exterior but you don't)
posted by missmagenta at 8:47 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't think the carpets are a deal breaker but they're adding to the "blah" look of the pictures, are they brown or grey? There's no light, there's no colour. I don't think the place looks worn or run down but it doesn't look inviting.
If you do only 1 thing, get it professionally photographed. Put photos on all your listings, not just craigslist (not sure why you've put the most effort into that one compared to the others) and lead with the most attractive shot, not the exterior (which, no offence, looks like a massive shed - leading with the exterior is fine if you have an attractive exterior but you don't)
posted by missmagenta at 8:47 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Nth that carpeting is a turnoff and that replacing it with hardwood would be a really good idea. (Engineered wood is cheaper, though, and I think better-looking than plain laminate.) The decals or vine painting on the wall around the door leading to that bedroom or sitting room is quite dated. The curtains (and rod) in that one room, too - take them right out, and get rid of the chair as well - they look like they've just been forgotten. Bathrooms could definitely do with updating as well, if you can afford that.
If you're not in a student-friendly area, I think professional couples might be interested. But in that case, for 1550, I think you'd need really need to update - they'll likely be expecting new condo-level finishings. Even the cheapest stuff at Home Depot these days would bring it up to those expectations.
posted by cotton dress sock at 8:50 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you're not in a student-friendly area, I think professional couples might be interested. But in that case, for 1550, I think you'd need really need to update - they'll likely be expecting new condo-level finishings. Even the cheapest stuff at Home Depot these days would bring it up to those expectations.
posted by cotton dress sock at 8:50 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm someone who could care less about floors and what looks up to date, so I could see potentially looking at a place like the one you have.
However, I am all about price and I wonder if your listing price is not consistent with the local market? Because when I look within the zillow map for what is available in your area, a few things immediately popped out:
-Other 2 bedroom places were ~$1250 to $1350. Only blocks away and more than one complex (this is where I would go as a Scrooge).
-The other places in those lower price ranges had amenities, such as gyms, pools, etc. (not sure if I would pick a place based on that, but I bet people some tenants would go to the cheaper place that offers it). Does your place have any shared amenities? List them.
-All the other places were pet friendly and had amenities for pets listed on their pages, too.
posted by Wolfster at 8:55 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
However, I am all about price and I wonder if your listing price is not consistent with the local market? Because when I look within the zillow map for what is available in your area, a few things immediately popped out:
-Other 2 bedroom places were ~$1250 to $1350. Only blocks away and more than one complex (this is where I would go as a Scrooge).
-The other places in those lower price ranges had amenities, such as gyms, pools, etc. (not sure if I would pick a place based on that, but I bet people some tenants would go to the cheaper place that offers it). Does your place have any shared amenities? List them.
-All the other places were pet friendly and had amenities for pets listed on their pages, too.
posted by Wolfster at 8:55 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Even if you can't change out the carpet, more light would help, as would vacuuming it so it looks uniform. That shot of the bedroom with the chair in it looks awful - the chair sucks, but the carpet has all kinds of traffic lines on it that make it look either dirty or worn out. Vacuum the carpet properly (uniformly out the room as you back out of it) and light the rooms better.
You've taken a few pictures of what you have and you're not seeing in your own place what people look for. If updating it isn't an option (although may get you the $100 a month more you initially wanted) then I think the real estate photographer (or even staging) would work well for you.
With staging I would consider it (I have no idea how much it costs) and also you need to either get ALL the furniture out of shot or furnish it properly (staged). At the moment it looks half-assed and bare. Also, agree that no shot of the kitchen (especially with so many pictures) is a red flag for me.
posted by Brockles at 8:57 AM on September 14, 2015
You've taken a few pictures of what you have and you're not seeing in your own place what people look for. If updating it isn't an option (although may get you the $100 a month more you initially wanted) then I think the real estate photographer (or even staging) would work well for you.
With staging I would consider it (I have no idea how much it costs) and also you need to either get ALL the furniture out of shot or furnish it properly (staged). At the moment it looks half-assed and bare. Also, agree that no shot of the kitchen (especially with so many pictures) is a red flag for me.
posted by Brockles at 8:57 AM on September 14, 2015
What does a 2-bedroom in this part of town actually go for? Not what Zillow recommends, but what are other people charging? What did previous tenants pay? What are you paying in mortgage and condo fees?
I don't know Denver that well, but a 2 bedroom for $1500 that's not in the hippest neighborhood and is only so-so in terms of aesthetic appeal seems pretty steep to me. I live in Los Angeles and I'm pretty sure I have friends paying less for comparable apartments in cuter and hipper neighborhoods.
I just went to Craigslist to look at other 2-bedrooms in Lakewood and found a nicer place with three bedrooms for the same amount you're charging. It was recently renovated, too, and looks more up to date than your place does.
posted by Sara C. at 8:58 AM on September 14, 2015
I don't know Denver that well, but a 2 bedroom for $1500 that's not in the hippest neighborhood and is only so-so in terms of aesthetic appeal seems pretty steep to me. I live in Los Angeles and I'm pretty sure I have friends paying less for comparable apartments in cuter and hipper neighborhoods.
I just went to Craigslist to look at other 2-bedrooms in Lakewood and found a nicer place with three bedrooms for the same amount you're charging. It was recently renovated, too, and looks more up to date than your place does.
posted by Sara C. at 8:58 AM on September 14, 2015
I'm thinking that at that size, you're probably trying to shoot for the luxury rental market, but without luxury finishes (hardwood, new kitchen, marble counters, stainless steel appliances), and / or a different location, you may not be appealing to that market. Just a guess based on my apartment hunting in other cities, though.
posted by salvia at 9:00 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by salvia at 9:00 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
You love it because it it yours. If only two people have come to view it, said it was great and then walked away, you have a problem. They could have just been being nice, They have nothing to loose by being "nice". If it has only shown twice in the last month, in such a tight market, your condo is not attractive, at least not in the pictures. Sorry for being so blunt.
The condo looks dark and old. The wallpaper seems very dated and appeals to a very small market. Looks like a retired cat lady condo with the older furniture and the cat tree etc. in the pictures.
Obviously, there were cats in the condo. Are you allowing pets? Showing that there were pets can be a turn off to people with allergies.
People can be turned off by the furniture not knowing if it stays of if it goes.
In the shot down to the living room, it looks like the carpet has been patched as there is a mismatched area along the kitchen. Could just have been because there was a carpet runner there but I hate guessing.
The floor plan drawing is not right according to the pictures. In the floor plan drawing, the kitchen looks open to the living room but in the pictures, it is a pass through.
There are no pictures of the kitchen but if it is as dated as the bathrooms, you have a problem.
Laundry looks like it opens to the small hallway that leads to the bathroom but actually opens into the living area.
You say the heating is forced air but in at least one photo, I can see the electric baseboard heating.
Once I start seeing things that don't add up, I pass. Some people may even feel it is a scam.
posted by BostonCannuck at 9:00 AM on September 14, 2015 [7 favorites]
The condo looks dark and old. The wallpaper seems very dated and appeals to a very small market. Looks like a retired cat lady condo with the older furniture and the cat tree etc. in the pictures.
Obviously, there were cats in the condo. Are you allowing pets? Showing that there were pets can be a turn off to people with allergies.
People can be turned off by the furniture not knowing if it stays of if it goes.
In the shot down to the living room, it looks like the carpet has been patched as there is a mismatched area along the kitchen. Could just have been because there was a carpet runner there but I hate guessing.
The floor plan drawing is not right according to the pictures. In the floor plan drawing, the kitchen looks open to the living room but in the pictures, it is a pass through.
There are no pictures of the kitchen but if it is as dated as the bathrooms, you have a problem.
Laundry looks like it opens to the small hallway that leads to the bathroom but actually opens into the living area.
You say the heating is forced air but in at least one photo, I can see the electric baseboard heating.
Once I start seeing things that don't add up, I pass. Some people may even feel it is a scam.
posted by BostonCannuck at 9:00 AM on September 14, 2015 [7 favorites]
Also, if only two people have come to see it, that probably means it's priced too high. If it were a smell, say, then you'd get people coming but not choosing you.
posted by salvia at 9:03 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by salvia at 9:03 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Your listing makes me think you aren't familiar with being a landlord, which would make me nervous (would things ever be fixed, would you skip town with my deposit, etc). In particular:
-no kitchen photos (gas stove is a requirement for many people)
-no info re pets
-no info re credit/application process or upfront costs (1st/last/deposit) or length of lease
-"home shows great" and "open floor plan" but pics show a pass through kitchen
-no info on utilities
-no info on you - are you the handyman/super? Who will be answering emergency repair calls at midnight? Do they even live in the area?
The carpets would be a deal breaker for me, but maybe not for others.
I'd say your price is still high, depending on which utilities, if any, are included. But see what happens with an updated listing.
posted by melissasaurus at 9:03 AM on September 14, 2015 [6 favorites]
-no kitchen photos (gas stove is a requirement for many people)
-no info re pets
-no info re credit/application process or upfront costs (1st/last/deposit) or length of lease
-"home shows great" and "open floor plan" but pics show a pass through kitchen
-no info on utilities
-no info on you - are you the handyman/super? Who will be answering emergency repair calls at midnight? Do they even live in the area?
The carpets would be a deal breaker for me, but maybe not for others.
I'd say your price is still high, depending on which utilities, if any, are included. But see what happens with an updated listing.
posted by melissasaurus at 9:03 AM on September 14, 2015 [6 favorites]
The wallpaper and the stenciling say to me "This house has not been painted since 1990." A new coat of paint could make a huge difference. Also get rid of the photos with furniture. And add a photo of the kitchen.
I know nothing about your local market, but those are the things that stood out for me (I am also on team "no carpet, especially if there have been cats").
posted by mskyle at 9:09 AM on September 14, 2015
I know nothing about your local market, but those are the things that stood out for me (I am also on team "no carpet, especially if there have been cats").
posted by mskyle at 9:09 AM on September 14, 2015
Response by poster: New paint and carpet are going in this week. I thought I might list it before it was ready in the event that somebody may like the place and take it.
posted by 4Lnqvv at 9:14 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by 4Lnqvv at 9:14 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't know about the relative valuation, but those pictures need to be reshot. It looks dingy and dark in the present shots, and really boring.
Get a friend with a good camera who knows lighting and how to compose a shot. Failing that go get a pro photographer who specializes in real estate to shoot the place. It will be well worth the couple hundred bucks.
posted by bonehead at 9:15 AM on September 14, 2015
Get a friend with a good camera who knows lighting and how to compose a shot. Failing that go get a pro photographer who specializes in real estate to shoot the place. It will be well worth the couple hundred bucks.
posted by bonehead at 9:15 AM on September 14, 2015
As someone who has had to strip many rooms of wallpaper in the past, I have an instant visceral reaction to dated wallpaper. It colors my view of an entire home. Fortunately your wallpapered room isn't that big -- you could probably strip it in a weekend.
Swap out the fixtures. The bathroom ones are really dated, but you can probably pick up new ones for around $50 each and it would be a huge improvement. Also, have a plumber swap out your faucets. The plastic knobs also scream 70s/80s to me. A more modern ceiling fan would help, too.
You say that it has new paint, but you have an old stencil around one door. So it looks like old paint. Do you have a more recent pic? The skirted chair and quilt rack in that picture reminds me of my grandma's assisted living apartment, and not someplace for a young family or professional couple.
If you're going to leave bath products out for a shot, make sure they are fancy ones.
And it does look dark! Can you go back and take pictures on a bright, sunny day? Possibly supplement the existing lights with some bright work lights?
posted by Ostara at 9:16 AM on September 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
Swap out the fixtures. The bathroom ones are really dated, but you can probably pick up new ones for around $50 each and it would be a huge improvement. Also, have a plumber swap out your faucets. The plastic knobs also scream 70s/80s to me. A more modern ceiling fan would help, too.
You say that it has new paint, but you have an old stencil around one door. So it looks like old paint. Do you have a more recent pic? The skirted chair and quilt rack in that picture reminds me of my grandma's assisted living apartment, and not someplace for a young family or professional couple.
If you're going to leave bath products out for a shot, make sure they are fancy ones.
And it does look dark! Can you go back and take pictures on a bright, sunny day? Possibly supplement the existing lights with some bright work lights?
posted by Ostara at 9:16 AM on September 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
A bunch of the walls look dirty; might just be shadows or something but it's not appealing.
You're absolutely right. It would almost certainly be much better looking with lights/flash and something better than a cell-phone camera.
posted by bonehead at 9:18 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
You're absolutely right. It would almost certainly be much better looking with lights/flash and something better than a cell-phone camera.
posted by bonehead at 9:18 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
My monthly cost per square foot is lower than most others in the zip code at $1.10 sq/ft and many others are above $1.30.
Cost per square foot is not usually very relevant for a residential renter. We look for a place with a number of bedrooms and we expect a certain size for that. If it smaller than we expect, we won't rent it. If it is much bigger than we expect, we probably aren't going to pay a big premium for that. Especially if it's otherwise not a premium property (hot location, good finishings).
posted by grouse at 9:18 AM on September 14, 2015 [9 favorites]
Cost per square foot is not usually very relevant for a residential renter. We look for a place with a number of bedrooms and we expect a certain size for that. If it smaller than we expect, we won't rent it. If it is much bigger than we expect, we probably aren't going to pay a big premium for that. Especially if it's otherwise not a premium property (hot location, good finishings).
posted by grouse at 9:18 AM on September 14, 2015 [9 favorites]
Agreeing with a lot of previous reviewers:
1. That first shot of the exterior end of the unit, straight on, that looks like a giant brown barn: that is super ugly. Delete it. Use the other shot where there's more variation to the architecture, even if it's not where your tenant would usually be entering.
2. Remove "Home shows great" from your wording. That instantly makes me think, "shows great, so what is hidden or not-so-great?"
3. Remove "You will love..." from your wording. It's a turn-off, and can sound condescending. How do you know what I will love?
4. Stencilling on wall and dingy paint = turn-off.
5. Old crystal-knob tap handles, and pink flowered wallpaper, need to go.
posted by Ardea alba at 9:31 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
1. That first shot of the exterior end of the unit, straight on, that looks like a giant brown barn: that is super ugly. Delete it. Use the other shot where there's more variation to the architecture, even if it's not where your tenant would usually be entering.
2. Remove "Home shows great" from your wording. That instantly makes me think, "shows great, so what is hidden or not-so-great?"
3. Remove "You will love..." from your wording. It's a turn-off, and can sound condescending. How do you know what I will love?
4. Stencilling on wall and dingy paint = turn-off.
5. Old crystal-knob tap handles, and pink flowered wallpaper, need to go.
posted by Ardea alba at 9:31 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Certainly take out the phrase "home shows great" - why would a renter care how it shows? This is a phrase for selling a rental property to an investor, nobody wants to buy a place you're going to sell to a new landlord with them in it, which is exactly what that looks like.
And yeah, Zillow is an estimation engine based on scraped data, and is not accurate enough to do comps. If 2br units with amenities that accept pets and don't have carpet are going for $300 less than this down the street, you need to have something to offer that justifies that amount.
You must at least know somebody who's got a DSLR, ideally someone who's enough of a hobbyist or part-time pro to have an inflatable flash baffle or an umbrella light stand. Some of those photos look like crime scene shots, and there's definitely too many.
And here's my quick rewrite of your Craigslist copy:
This loft-style end unit features vaulted ceilings, a large master bedroom with en suite bathroom and walk in closet, 2nd bedroom plus large 2nd living area upstairs in the loft. [One sentence about the kitchen.] Main floor den could easily be transformed into a third bedroom or home office. [N'xN'] balcony area, gas grills allowed. A large, open, grassy area right outside the door is perfect for play. [Describe on-site amenities, including parking - how much, what kind, and how far from the door if that's not disappointing news.] [Fresh paint and carpet as of 9/15.] Property managed by owner. Family friendly community, with easy access to shops, dining, public transportation, major highways, and trails.
[$xxxx/month, $yyyy deposit, [type of pets] up to X lbs welcome with $zzz deposit/pet rent. Available now.]
Renters really couldn't give a rat's about the marketing jargon. Tell them what they'll get. I'm only leaving that last sentence because it's code for "there's a bunch of kids and families here so if you are students or DINKS who are going to move and buy when you're ready to have kids, you may want to pass because they'll be playing outside your door."
posted by Lyn Never at 9:32 AM on September 14, 2015 [8 favorites]
And yeah, Zillow is an estimation engine based on scraped data, and is not accurate enough to do comps. If 2br units with amenities that accept pets and don't have carpet are going for $300 less than this down the street, you need to have something to offer that justifies that amount.
You must at least know somebody who's got a DSLR, ideally someone who's enough of a hobbyist or part-time pro to have an inflatable flash baffle or an umbrella light stand. Some of those photos look like crime scene shots, and there's definitely too many.
And here's my quick rewrite of your Craigslist copy:
This loft-style end unit features vaulted ceilings, a large master bedroom with en suite bathroom and walk in closet, 2nd bedroom plus large 2nd living area upstairs in the loft. [One sentence about the kitchen.] Main floor den could easily be transformed into a third bedroom or home office. [N'xN'] balcony area, gas grills allowed. A large, open, grassy area right outside the door is perfect for play. [Describe on-site amenities, including parking - how much, what kind, and how far from the door if that's not disappointing news.] [Fresh paint and carpet as of 9/15.] Property managed by owner. Family friendly community, with easy access to shops, dining, public transportation, major highways, and trails.
[$xxxx/month, $yyyy deposit, [type of pets] up to X lbs welcome with $zzz deposit/pet rent. Available now.]
Renters really couldn't give a rat's about the marketing jargon. Tell them what they'll get. I'm only leaving that last sentence because it's code for "there's a bunch of kids and families here so if you are students or DINKS who are going to move and buy when you're ready to have kids, you may want to pass because they'll be playing outside your door."
posted by Lyn Never at 9:32 AM on September 14, 2015 [8 favorites]
Have you tried using an agent? I'm a small landlord and found that Craigslist and its ilk never ever netted me a tenant, whereas my agent has never failed to find me a tenant and only once has he failed to have a new tenant for me before the old one moved out.
posted by crush-onastick at 9:52 AM on September 14, 2015
posted by crush-onastick at 9:52 AM on September 14, 2015
I can read "Family friendly" as many things: There are lots of grade-school-age kids hanging around to play with; it's safe for kids to play outside around here because traffic is calm; this community is very white/protestant and especially there are no gay people.
Unfortunately when a hate group adopts a euphemism to hide behind, the rest of us have to start avoiding it. I'd ditch any mention of "Family" and say in plain language what you mean about the community.
posted by fritley at 9:56 AM on September 14, 2015 [6 favorites]
Unfortunately when a hate group adopts a euphemism to hide behind, the rest of us have to start avoiding it. I'd ditch any mention of "Family" and say in plain language what you mean about the community.
posted by fritley at 9:56 AM on September 14, 2015 [6 favorites]
Great that you're painting and replacing the carpets. Please get rid of the wallpaper in the bathroom--it's very dated. And I would just get the furniture out--it's not doing you any favors.
You definitely need better pictures when that's done. The pictures you have are poorly lit and make it hard to see what color everything is. No picture of the kitchen is a dealbreaker to me.
Is the study a legal bedroom? If not you could note that it could be used as a 3rd nonconforming bedroom. A 3-BR place is going to be more appealing to a lot of people even if they do end up using it as a study.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 9:58 AM on September 14, 2015
You definitely need better pictures when that's done. The pictures you have are poorly lit and make it hard to see what color everything is. No picture of the kitchen is a dealbreaker to me.
Is the study a legal bedroom? If not you could note that it could be used as a 3rd nonconforming bedroom. A 3-BR place is going to be more appealing to a lot of people even if they do end up using it as a study.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 9:58 AM on September 14, 2015
Definitely get rid of "shows great." If I were a prospective renter I would interpret that to mean that you were cutting and pasting this copy from the write-up you made to send to realtors, because your primary goal is to sell the condo. I would suspect that if I signed a lease I would soon be asked to keep the place in showable condition and schedule around realtor visits, and that I would likely be asked to move out (or live in a house under renovation) once you found a buyer.
posted by contraption at 10:05 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by contraption at 10:05 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
After more thought, I'm pretty sure that the two shots of the living room (#3 and #4 on the craigslist ad) can't be of the same actual space. #3 has a fire sprinkler on the ceiling above the sliding doors that I can't see in #4, and #4 has a large grate on the wall above the couch that I can't see in #3.
I assume #3 -- the far superior image -- is a marketing shot for the condo complex as a whole and is some other living room in the complex, whereas #4 shows the actual unit. Anyway the discrepancy would make me a little suspicious.
posted by crazy with stars at 10:09 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I assume #3 -- the far superior image -- is a marketing shot for the condo complex as a whole and is some other living room in the complex, whereas #4 shows the actual unit. Anyway the discrepancy would make me a little suspicious.
posted by crazy with stars at 10:09 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Retake the photos with good lighting and every trace of your personal belongings removed. That bathroom shot of the shower with all your stuff in it makes it look cluttery/yucko (also, remove the flowers). No weird chairs and wooden rail things in rooms, no extra mirror and candles. Make it totally clean and empty. Take photos that don't make it look dark and cavey - if you can't manage to get those shots, hire someone who can. The market may be hot, but if you're not in the hottest area and your condo looks dated, you won't get the bites you want.
posted by quince at 10:14 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by quince at 10:14 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Definitely need a picture of the kitchen.
For a renter, more important to have big words that say "washer+drying in unit!" than to have a picture of the laundry room (current photo is neither impressive nor awful, just a documentation)
"... the main floor den could easily be transformed into a third bedroom"
So label the ad as a 3BR, if that means adding a door or a wardrobe, or maybe just writing "bedroom" on the map. (This inspires the question of who you want to be living in your apartment, are you hoping for a family with kids, two well-off single people, a collection of 3-4 students, what? Tailoring your ad slightly may help, right now the words are more like a realtor trying to sell the place as an investment or longer-term, than trying to convince someone to live there for a year.
posted by aimedwander at 10:18 AM on September 14, 2015
For a renter, more important to have big words that say "washer+drying in unit!" than to have a picture of the laundry room (current photo is neither impressive nor awful, just a documentation)
"... the main floor den could easily be transformed into a third bedroom"
So label the ad as a 3BR, if that means adding a door or a wardrobe, or maybe just writing "bedroom" on the map. (This inspires the question of who you want to be living in your apartment, are you hoping for a family with kids, two well-off single people, a collection of 3-4 students, what? Tailoring your ad slightly may help, right now the words are more like a realtor trying to sell the place as an investment or longer-term, than trying to convince someone to live there for a year.
posted by aimedwander at 10:18 AM on September 14, 2015
All the interior decoration aside; your place is listed at too high a price. I spent a couple of minutes on Padmapper looking at listings near you (and when you're in as suburban a location as you are "near" is a pretty big area). There were plenty of places going for hundreds of dollars less. Your unit looks to me to be in the low end of the market; dated finishes etc. that everybody else has talked about. There, price is a huge factor. The massive size of your unit is not as big a selling factor as you think - my girlfriend and I are moving this month, and we saw a listing for a place a couple of blocks from the one we chose; it was 50% larger than the standard-sized one we picked (and a little more dated) for the same price. We looked at it and decided that we didn't have enough furniture to fill the place, so moving there would cost us thousands of extra dollars in furniture, and then we'd never be able to move back to a smaller apartment in the future.
The loft situation is a tough sell for a lot of multi-bedroom rental households: roommates would find noise bleeding from the upstairs to the downstairs so there would be little value to the separate upstairs loft space; families with a young child wouldn't want to have their bedrooms on different levels of the house; two partially separate areas would be good for a multigenerational household, except that the master bedroom is on the lower level but you can't give Grandma the room at the top of the stairs.
If you were renting in the luxury end of the market, then all that space is a positive, but it's going to take more than new carpets and paint to move into the luxury end.
Also, the main photo shows that not only is it a colossally ugly building, but the photo isn't current due to the snow. This implies frequent turnover or a lax landlord, or something that's been sitting on the market for months (but it can't be the last, because a desperate landlord would be dropping the rent).
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 10:19 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
The loft situation is a tough sell for a lot of multi-bedroom rental households: roommates would find noise bleeding from the upstairs to the downstairs so there would be little value to the separate upstairs loft space; families with a young child wouldn't want to have their bedrooms on different levels of the house; two partially separate areas would be good for a multigenerational household, except that the master bedroom is on the lower level but you can't give Grandma the room at the top of the stairs.
If you were renting in the luxury end of the market, then all that space is a positive, but it's going to take more than new carpets and paint to move into the luxury end.
Also, the main photo shows that not only is it a colossally ugly building, but the photo isn't current due to the snow. This implies frequent turnover or a lax landlord, or something that's been sitting on the market for months (but it can't be the last, because a desperate landlord would be dropping the rent).
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 10:19 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Another small nitpick on your description text: please please do not call your neighborhood "desirable." That's real-estate speak for "just outside the actually desirable part of town." The hippest areas have no need to call themselves desirable. If people want to live in your neighborhood, it will be desirable for them. If not, calling it desirable won't convince them otherwise.
posted by serelliya at 10:53 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by serelliya at 10:53 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
rentometer is showing that rate as off the charts.
I would not recommend any updates that take serious capital investment besides the carpet. The wallpaper in the bathroom and the decals are not something that people will leave over. The issue is the price. Everything else in that neighborhood is renting at $950-$1200. You're 25% over that.
I personally own 2 rentals and can tell you that it doesn't matter how awesome your place is, the reason that they would consider your rental is the location (and price). If there are cheaper options with similar features, you're going to lose out. You should only make the updates that are necessary to compete with the rest of the properties in your market. If you add high end updates, you will never rent the location for the price that it will take to recoup the cost.
posted by kookywon at 10:54 AM on September 14, 2015 [8 favorites]
I would not recommend any updates that take serious capital investment besides the carpet. The wallpaper in the bathroom and the decals are not something that people will leave over. The issue is the price. Everything else in that neighborhood is renting at $950-$1200. You're 25% over that.
I personally own 2 rentals and can tell you that it doesn't matter how awesome your place is, the reason that they would consider your rental is the location (and price). If there are cheaper options with similar features, you're going to lose out. You should only make the updates that are necessary to compete with the rest of the properties in your market. If you add high end updates, you will never rent the location for the price that it will take to recoup the cost.
posted by kookywon at 10:54 AM on September 14, 2015 [8 favorites]
Price is too high, which is self-evident by it not being rented. Carpet is a deal breaker for me and many other people.
posted by tremspeed at 11:04 AM on September 14, 2015
posted by tremspeed at 11:04 AM on September 14, 2015
Depending on how hands-on a landlord you want to be, you may find it useful to work with a real estate management company to rent and manage your condo. They can advise you on prices, staging, and pretty much anything else you want to do with the place, and make the whole process a lot less hassle (and a lot less personal.) I can recommend the Lakewood-based management outfit I rent a condo from as being professional and easy to work with as a renter; MeMail me if you'd like the pointer.
(And yeah, for me as a Denver-metro renter, the cost of that place would just be too much when I could rent a place in a brand-new building for the same price, and it wouldn't be in Lakewood. That said, you know what your expenses are and what you can afford to gain or lose on the place.)
posted by asperity at 11:06 AM on September 14, 2015
(And yeah, for me as a Denver-metro renter, the cost of that place would just be too much when I could rent a place in a brand-new building for the same price, and it wouldn't be in Lakewood. That said, you know what your expenses are and what you can afford to gain or lose on the place.)
posted by asperity at 11:06 AM on September 14, 2015
Ehhh, you're pretty far out of town. A young single renter or no-kids couple—the demos I see being potentially interested in that floorplan—can find a nicer space in Five Points for $1600. A family, who might be interested in Lakewood, wouldn't go for that floorplan. The together with the price, you have sort of an awkward combination that doesnt have super-broad appeal.
posted by peachfuzz at 11:14 AM on September 14, 2015
posted by peachfuzz at 11:14 AM on September 14, 2015
Most of your photos make the place seem like a dark cave. Can you open all the blinds and the windows
What I noticed was in the photos with the blinds open, the windows were severely blown out and the rest of the room looked darker.
Hiring a real estate photog to get some nice shots will be worth it.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:19 AM on September 14, 2015
What I noticed was in the photos with the blinds open, the windows were severely blown out and the rest of the room looked darker.
Hiring a real estate photog to get some nice shots will be worth it.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:19 AM on September 14, 2015
If you're willing to put money into it I would recommend getting rid of the carpet. I hatehatehate carpet and would hate renting a place out especially since I would not be able to change it. You might also want to consider adding molding if possible. It makes a huge difference to the look of a home. Also the bathroom has too much stuff in it. I think people want to imagine their own stuff not anyone else's.
posted by mokeydraws at 11:20 AM on September 14, 2015
posted by mokeydraws at 11:20 AM on September 14, 2015
You have carpet and a cat tree in the living room photo. I have cats. I love cats. But if I saw the combo of carpet and cat tree, I wouldn't even look at it. Overall, you need to be much more thoughtful about the photos - what is that handle bar at the bottom of the steps. Why is there all that junk in the shower (which looks sort of dirty). What is that hole in the wall by the dryer.
But ultimately, you're priced too high.
posted by 26.2 at 11:23 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
But ultimately, you're priced too high.
posted by 26.2 at 11:23 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'm not in Lakewood (bit further north) and I'm not in the market for a rental, but I'd consider that layout to be ideal for my family, because we have one kid and I work from home. Given that floor plan, we'd use the second room on the main floor as a bedroom for the kiddo (so we were all on the same floor) and the upstairs bedroom as an office. I know quite a few people who work from home and all of them would find a home office with a closing door on a separate floor to be a huge plus.
Your write-up doesn't immediately suggest that set-up, though. Are you shying away from calling the second room on the first floor a "bedroom" because that's actually in violation of local rental regulations, or are you just going off of the received wisdom that a room without a closet can't be a bedroom? That's probably worth checking into; if you can label that a bedroom in your advertising without running afoul of rental law for your municipality, I think you'd be better off labeling both rooms downstairs as bedrooms and the room upstairs as bedroom #3 or an office. I am not a tenant lawyer but my understanding is that rental law/regulation doesn't always match up to how the county assessor or builder designated the rooms, so you may have flexibility here in describing that room.
posted by iminurmefi at 11:33 AM on September 14, 2015
Your write-up doesn't immediately suggest that set-up, though. Are you shying away from calling the second room on the first floor a "bedroom" because that's actually in violation of local rental regulations, or are you just going off of the received wisdom that a room without a closet can't be a bedroom? That's probably worth checking into; if you can label that a bedroom in your advertising without running afoul of rental law for your municipality, I think you'd be better off labeling both rooms downstairs as bedrooms and the room upstairs as bedroom #3 or an office. I am not a tenant lawyer but my understanding is that rental law/regulation doesn't always match up to how the county assessor or builder designated the rooms, so you may have flexibility here in describing that room.
posted by iminurmefi at 11:33 AM on September 14, 2015
Oh, one other thing: this may seem counterintuitive, but I don't like "I can be available to show the property any time" (though maybe this is standard in your market).
First it comes off a little desperate -- I start asking, what am I missing but everyone else is seeing?
Second, I would much prefer a particular showing time, even one as general as "Saturday morning." If I have to make an open-ended appointment to see the unit it feels like I'm inconveniencing you and now owe you a favor -- not a situation I want to be in as I negotiate a lease.
posted by crazy with stars at 11:38 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
First it comes off a little desperate -- I start asking, what am I missing but everyone else is seeing?
Second, I would much prefer a particular showing time, even one as general as "Saturday morning." If I have to make an open-ended appointment to see the unit it feels like I'm inconveniencing you and now owe you a favor -- not a situation I want to be in as I negotiate a lease.
posted by crazy with stars at 11:38 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm paying $100 less for a comparable 2 bed 2 bath with a garage in Lowry.
posted by masters2010 at 11:46 AM on September 14, 2015
posted by masters2010 at 11:46 AM on September 14, 2015
I agree the place looks okay, so you must be charging too much for rent.
One small other issue: I was genuinely confused by some of the wording. In my understanding, a "condo" is something you own, an "apartment" is something you rent. So I'd change "condo" to "apartment" in the Craigslist ad. The other thing is that I wouldn't refer to the place as a "home". I associate this term with a house only. And definitely scratch the sentence "Home shows great." That's weird and out of place for many reasons.
posted by tecg at 11:50 AM on September 14, 2015
One small other issue: I was genuinely confused by some of the wording. In my understanding, a "condo" is something you own, an "apartment" is something you rent. So I'd change "condo" to "apartment" in the Craigslist ad. The other thing is that I wouldn't refer to the place as a "home". I associate this term with a house only. And definitely scratch the sentence "Home shows great." That's weird and out of place for many reasons.
posted by tecg at 11:50 AM on September 14, 2015
Kill the carpet and the wallpaper. Laminate flooring and new paint.
posted by slateyness at 11:51 AM on September 14, 2015
posted by slateyness at 11:51 AM on September 14, 2015
Instead of getting new carpet next week -- can you get engineered wood or hardwood floors? That combined with some fresh paint (and remove that very old wallpaper border) and some half-decent updated lighting fixtures from Lowe's will help SO much.
posted by barnone at 12:23 PM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by barnone at 12:23 PM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Not that this is really fixable, but in terms of what I would see if I were looking at this unit: despite the large number for square footage (for a 2-br), all the rooms are actually quite small because it's not, IMHO, well laid out and it's chopped up into a bunch of small, awkward spaces. The bedrooms are small. The kitchen is small. The living room looks very cramped and hard to lay out because it's in the middle of the traffic path to the upstairs and the balcony. Like, I'd rather have one decent-sized living room than one little one without room for even 2 pieces of upholstered furniture and a long narrow loft above it. Also, it takes a keen eye, but it seems like some of the photos don't match up with the floor plan. Two of the shots of the living room seem to show the fireplace on opposite sides of the room, although perhaps there's some weird flip thing that happened with the image.
posted by drlith at 12:33 PM on September 14, 2015
posted by drlith at 12:33 PM on September 14, 2015
^ I think the same thing is happening with the kitchen. On the floor plan it's open to the living area, in the photos I think there is a wall and a bar.
posted by 26.2 at 12:57 PM on September 14, 2015
posted by 26.2 at 12:57 PM on September 14, 2015
I live in a place where I have to pay 2x your asking price for less than half the square footage and without several of your amenities, so if your condo were here I'd be emailing you in 2 seconds. That said, as an experienced renter, here's my guess, in line with many others, in order of importance:
-no kitchen picture, are you hiding a terrible kitchen? what kind of stove?
-no pet info
-no neighbor info
-no application info
-carpet is terrible for lots of people (allergies, pets, kids)
-yes, it looks dated (but I wouldn't care)
Here's what people care about in apartments, in my experience: does the kitchen meet their needs, is their laundry, is it quiet, are there carpets, do you take pets, is it family-friendly (you do say that it is), and how much do you have to pay up front.
posted by Cygnet at 1:44 PM on September 14, 2015
-no kitchen picture, are you hiding a terrible kitchen? what kind of stove?
-no pet info
-no neighbor info
-no application info
-carpet is terrible for lots of people (allergies, pets, kids)
-yes, it looks dated (but I wouldn't care)
Here's what people care about in apartments, in my experience: does the kitchen meet their needs, is their laundry, is it quiet, are there carpets, do you take pets, is it family-friendly (you do say that it is), and how much do you have to pay up front.
posted by Cygnet at 1:44 PM on September 14, 2015
I would pass this by because it has carpet and the walls either look dirty or have wallpaper. Repainting and taking better photos would definitely help. I prefer listings that have at least 15 pictures on them. Some sites even let you sort from pictures high>low, so you might consider more pictures (especially of that kitchen. I really want to know right away if a property is gas or electric.)
posted by headspace at 2:15 PM on September 14, 2015
posted by headspace at 2:15 PM on September 14, 2015
I think it needs a repaint and a new carpet (or at least a professional carpet clean). I also want a place that is either fully furnished or totally unfurnished, not a few oddments that I have to work around. Just to get people to come and have a look I'd suggest a tweak of those photos to make everything look a bit brighter and lighter...
posted by intensitymultiply at 2:43 PM on September 14, 2015
posted by intensitymultiply at 2:43 PM on September 14, 2015
As the kid of former landlords who took photos for listings like this at times, i actually don't think the problem is so much this listing. I think, although i'm not familiar with denver, that you're not in as desirable of a location as you think.
My apartment was posted in a misspelled listing full of typos with NO PHOTOS and a couple harsh requirements. It got a lot of applicants, and was rented(...to me) the same day it was posted. A lot of other people were disappointed, and the unit nextdoor also rented in a day with a similarly crappy listing. The difference is, it's in a very hot neighborhood and was a good deal.
I'm also nthing that you want to advertise this as a 3 bedroom with that den. EVERYONE is doing it now. My friends just rented a "3 bedroom" where one of the bedrooms doesn't have a window(but it has a closet, and it's large). Several of my friends moved to denver for a few years for various reasons, and mentioned having similar places there.
I think the photos and other recommendations could help, but i think you need to be advertising this as a 3 bedroom and probably charging less.
The reality is a super shitty ad would be getting tons of replies in that sort of market if the price was right. The ad really doesn't matter. A lot of the people i know were super stoked to find their place from a shitty ad because it meant it wasn't totally swamped. The other thing to note is, yea, this doesn't seem like a super hot location. But places in shitty locations in seattle, which is similarly a sellers/landlords market right now, do rent fast when they aren't awkwardly priced out of the top of the market.
Yea, mention the w/d in unit and take better photos, but you need to advertise it as available for more people to cram into and charge less. And really, just say that study "would also work as a bedroom" or just outright list it as a 3 bedroom, or a 2-3 bedroom(what i'd do). Make people think you'd be ok with 3-4 people(or a couple and 2 other people or something) living there and you'll probably get more bites.
That's the reality of what happens to semi-dated looking places like this. You charge less, and accept more people living in them. Tweak the listing to seem amenable to that, and lower the price, and it'll likely go fast. You're probably just going to have to accept that because it's a weird floorplan, this just isn't worth what the square footage should hypothetically command.
posted by emptythought at 2:58 PM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
My apartment was posted in a misspelled listing full of typos with NO PHOTOS and a couple harsh requirements. It got a lot of applicants, and was rented(...to me) the same day it was posted. A lot of other people were disappointed, and the unit nextdoor also rented in a day with a similarly crappy listing. The difference is, it's in a very hot neighborhood and was a good deal.
I'm also nthing that you want to advertise this as a 3 bedroom with that den. EVERYONE is doing it now. My friends just rented a "3 bedroom" where one of the bedrooms doesn't have a window(but it has a closet, and it's large). Several of my friends moved to denver for a few years for various reasons, and mentioned having similar places there.
I think the photos and other recommendations could help, but i think you need to be advertising this as a 3 bedroom and probably charging less.
The reality is a super shitty ad would be getting tons of replies in that sort of market if the price was right. The ad really doesn't matter. A lot of the people i know were super stoked to find their place from a shitty ad because it meant it wasn't totally swamped. The other thing to note is, yea, this doesn't seem like a super hot location. But places in shitty locations in seattle, which is similarly a sellers/landlords market right now, do rent fast when they aren't awkwardly priced out of the top of the market.
Yea, mention the w/d in unit and take better photos, but you need to advertise it as available for more people to cram into and charge less. And really, just say that study "would also work as a bedroom" or just outright list it as a 3 bedroom, or a 2-3 bedroom(what i'd do). Make people think you'd be ok with 3-4 people(or a couple and 2 other people or something) living there and you'll probably get more bites.
That's the reality of what happens to semi-dated looking places like this. You charge less, and accept more people living in them. Tweak the listing to seem amenable to that, and lower the price, and it'll likely go fast. You're probably just going to have to accept that because it's a weird floorplan, this just isn't worth what the square footage should hypothetically command.
posted by emptythought at 2:58 PM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
It looks really expensive to heat....and I couldn't tell if utilities are included or not but maybe I missed that in your listings.
posted by lakersfan1222 at 4:27 PM on September 14, 2015
posted by lakersfan1222 at 4:27 PM on September 14, 2015
(Looks like heat is included)
posted by lakersfan1222 at 4:37 PM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by lakersfan1222 at 4:37 PM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I would be put off by the living room pictures that don't all seem to be of the same room, and no kitchen picture. The floor plan is good to have, but I can't tell how all the rooms map to it.
I also need to know if you'll allow pets, so if you do -- and the cat furniture makes me think you will -- please say so in the ad.
On preview, emptythought is right on. I would totally have moved into that place with a few roommates.
posted by mgar at 6:24 PM on September 14, 2015
I also need to know if you'll allow pets, so if you do -- and the cat furniture makes me think you will -- please say so in the ad.
On preview, emptythought is right on. I would totally have moved into that place with a few roommates.
posted by mgar at 6:24 PM on September 14, 2015
I see that you are planning on putting in new carpet. But even if you weren't, I think having it thoroughly steam cleaned first to give it that uniform look is really important. As is it struck me as people had just moved out.
I think it's a really cute looking place and would loook great if done up but agree with those who said it looked a bit drab and if I had other choices would go for them instead.
When I was buying a house I was conscious that real estate agents were turning on all the lights to make them look super bright but even with that knowledge the brightness was appealing.
posted by kitten magic at 6:25 PM on September 14, 2015
I think it's a really cute looking place and would loook great if done up but agree with those who said it looked a bit drab and if I had other choices would go for them instead.
When I was buying a house I was conscious that real estate agents were turning on all the lights to make them look super bright but even with that knowledge the brightness was appealing.
posted by kitten magic at 6:25 PM on September 14, 2015
The pictures, in general, do it no favors. I like the green outside shot, but other than that, most of them make the house look small to tiny. Maybe see if you can borrow a camera that will take wider shots?
Also, where's a pic of the kitchen?
posted by stormyteal at 9:22 PM on September 14, 2015
Also, where's a pic of the kitchen?
posted by stormyteal at 9:22 PM on September 14, 2015
One thing that I think nobody has mentioned is that, at least IME, split-level lofts are pretty much always cheaper per square foot than non-lofts. You get more square footage for the same footprint because it's bi-level. But the tradeoff is that the loft space is generally not as desireable for all the reasons other people have mentioned. So the fact that the cost per square foot is slightly lower than average doesn't mean much, and if you're using that as a way of convincing yourself your apartment is a good deal, you're not being realistic.
posted by phoenixy at 9:20 AM on September 15, 2015
posted by phoenixy at 9:20 AM on September 15, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by cecic at 8:13 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]