Most of your tenants will be moving from abroad. So it's essential that your listing is attractive and trustworthy enough for them to book and pay directly, without viewing your property in person. You can build such trust by having a complete listing and profile. Listings that include detailed descriptions and images receive 3 times more tenant reservations than the ones that don't.

Here are 5 simple tips and tricks on how to polish up your profile and make it more attractive to tenants:

1. Upload at least 5 clear images

The first impression about you and your property is determined by the images you use. Pictures are essential in validating the claims in your listings.

Upload at least 1 picture for every property space (bedroom, kitchen, living room) to allow tenants to imagine the space and have realistic expectations. A picture-perfect representation of your property could increase your number of bookings by 50%.

How to take pictures of your property

For the best image quality, you should take photos of your place with a professional camera. But if you don't have one, a mid-range smartphone can get you good results as long as you follow these tips:

• Make sure your property is clean and tidy.
• Ensure the rooms are bright and well-lit. Open the curtains and take pictures in natural daylight. If needed, don’t hesitate to switch the lights on.
• Take photos from a corner of the room, rather than from a side. That gives a better perspective of the space and size.

2. Write a detailed description

Writing a complete, personal, and accurate description makes your listing more appealing and engaging. It also increases your chances of receiving more enquiries from tenants.

The description should include information about you and your property, such as what appliances and furniture are included. Don't forget to tell about their potential roommates if there're any and describe the neighbourhood, transportation options, proximity to universities, grocery stores, local hotspots, etc.

Use the description in your favour, highlighting the advantages and benefits of your property. It’s important to be honest and set the right expectations to avoid cancellations or misunderstandings.

Having a clear and detailed description also prevents doubts and reduces the number of questions from your potential tenants, saving you time in the long run.

3. Give as much information as possible

Add all the information required in the appropriate fields on the Add listing page. The more information you include, the better the quality of your listing. It will also increase the chances of your listing being viewed by tenants. Our algorithm rewards complete listings with a higher ranking on the search page.

Whenever the field requires a 'yes or no' answer, you should make a choice. If a field is left blank, it will appear as 'Unknown' and make your listing look less trustworthy.

4. Make sure your calendar is up to date

Keeping your calendar updated allows you to receive more relevant tenant requests. Your listing simply won't show to tenants whose preferred move-in and move-out dates don't match your availability.

That's also why not updating your calendar runs the risk of missing out on desired booking requests. Your listing might not show in your potential tenant's search results if the dates are wrong.

You can also synchronize your Google calendar with your listing calendar to save time by automatically updating your booking availability.

5. Make your profile look trustworthy

As with any online purchase, customers want to be sure they’re purchasing something authentic. Create a profile that's real and reliable to build trust. The more information you include, the higher the chance someone will book your place.

How to improve the quality of your profile:

• Use a recent representative picture of yourself.
• Use your real name.
• Maintain a 'response rate' above 90% and a 'response time' below 24 hours. Your response rate and response time will be displayed on your profile.
• Get more bookings on HousingAnywhere. The number of bookings you have is a sign of quality and success.

When creating new listings, always follow the rule that ‘more is more’. Include clear and bright images, give as much information as possible in the listings and on your profile, and ensure your calendar is up to date to improve the trustworthiness of your profile.

Complete listings give tenants the confidence to book your place without needing in-person viewings. Plus, you'll receive more requests from tenants that are the right match for you.