Landlords: Advertising online

[john70t]

1)- What website do you use for advertising?
I saw Padmapper dotcom but didn't try it.
It uses some kind of $30 Experion reporting system that applicants set up and pay themselves.
Equifax(actually all three) ruined my credit for 11 years and wouldn't even send me forms to contest it.

I did list on Apartments dotcom. (aka apartmentfinder/move/doorstep/westsiderentals)
It changed my phone number on the ad. I called the number and left myself a voicemail.
"Ok so it conceals my ID."
A great idea or..?

Here is where it gets F.C.C. sketchy:
-I check my email and it says "click here to hear your voicemail".
-To access my phone company voicemail, I have to click thru a special javascript link inside their email?
-Wait wut?
-So instead of routing the entire call thru my phone company, apparently they've re-routed my phone and voice data storage entirely through their own network.
-I did not agree to that.
-It's a bit creepy and possibly illegal.

There were many hundreds of views for my ad, but not a single person got it from that company.
Everyone who toured said they found my ad on Craigslist.
I didn't any email directly either. Weird.


2)- Renting to foreigners?
Specifically from Canada.
If something went wrong and they skipped town, I'm not sure about the reciprocation/legal service process north of the border for civil disputes.
Anyone dealt with that?

[aigel]

Craigslist. It is free and well frequented here in the Bay Area. But that may not be as commonly used in your area? I would not use a pay for service if it can be avoided. CL is no strings attached and now allows enough images to get a good ad across. Plus, it hides all your personal information - relatively safe.

G

[porsche4life]

In most markets you will be able to get it rented advertising on Craigslist and or Zillow.

[JavaBrewer]

I advertised our 3bdrm/2ba Santa Barbara home on CL and Realtor. Got a ton of initial interest and showings but no commitments (1 yr lease min). It wasn't until I put the home into a property management company that the home was quickly leased. Maybe more common for the area...IDK.

[LakeCleElum]

I hired a Prop Mgt. Co just to find my a tenant and get them in. As I live 90 miles away, it was hard for me to run back and forth to show the house.

For the fee on one months rent, the Mgt company: Advertised, showed, did background/credit check, wrote the lease and collected the rent/damage deposit. Very reasonable and always got great tenants.

[Bugsinrugs]

I use "Hotpads" . Don't know if it's available everywhere.

[jorian]

As others have stated CL should do the job. Unless the property is commercial or special use. I have used CL for years and have had good results. Bad tenants are usually my fault (not enough due diligence) and not CL's.

[WPOZZZ]

I use CL, too. When I do showings, it is one or two on a specified date/time. It isn't first come/first served. The person that gets it passes the rent multiplier and has the best credit scores/work history.

[billybek]

If you are advertising for Canadian tenants, use Kijiji. No one uses Craigslist up here anymore...

[HardDrive]

We have a rental in Seattle. We don't advertise, because when we have people move out, word gets around, and we have renters contacting us 4 months before the place is even available.

[group911@aol.co]

Zillow and it will cross post to Craigslist and it's free