According to my friends out there who manage single-family rentals, vacancies are high, rents are dropping and it’s tough to find qualified applicants. Gaining an advantage in this atmosphere is more important than ever and going green may be just what the doctor ordered.
Emphasize Savings
Your homes may rent for the same price as the place next door, but will actually cost a prospective resident less per month in utilities due to water and energy efficient upgrades.
Made in the U.S.A.
According to the Home Performance Resource Center, most caulking, sealants, windows and HVAC systems currently used in home energy retrofits are made in the United States! Buying American rather than from overseas lowers transport and distribution energy outlays too.
Clearing the Air
You don’t have to be one of the 25 million asthma sufferers to appreciate a less toxic environment. If you used no or low-VOC paints and sealants, shout out that you care about your residents and their loved ones. Parents and pet owners may be particularly attracted by the thought of living in a lower toxicity house.
Safe for Children & Other Living Things
Advertise that your integrated pest management system and landscaping maintenance do not rely on pesticides or chemical fertilizers, making your yard even more appealing to parents and pet owners.
Kids Are Impressionable
Just as previous generations worried about Commies or mutual assured destruction, today’s children are inundated with the horrific prospects of global warming. If children are on tour with their parents, you may want to discuss how the energy efficient improvements will make it possible for residents to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, don’t be surprised if the kids themselves bring up the subject.
Tout Your Transit
If the rentals are close to public transit, take advantage of the inherent marketing opportunities. If transit is limited in the area, make life easy for renters by providing a list or map with the property’s approximate distance to certain amenities or cultural attractions.
Green Areas & Community Practices
You can also print out your Google Bike Maps pages to entice prospects with local bike paths and nearby trails. If your neighborhood has a Green Advisory Council, a Friends of the Parks, Library or Bicycle club, hand them a list of their potential new green neighbors.
Few property managers will be touting the benefits you can, allowing your rentals to stand out from the crowd and attract higher quality applicants. As an added bonus, the perception of a cleaner, greener indoor environment has been shown to result in longer tenancies. And let’s not forget the personal satisfaction of knowing that you are doing the right thing.
Any other marketing ideas? We’d love to hear them.