Student Rentals in Brantford

[flanabum]

Is there anyone else doing student rentals in Brantford ??? I recently purchased a property close to the downtown (on Alfred St ), and trying to rent it to students. I have it advertised on www.kijiji.ca and www.places4students.com .....it is advertised for aug1 and so far, no interest. I don`t understand , because I also have property in Guelph and gettting tons of interest from students for aug. 1.
Any input, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
( My ad states $430-450 per room - includes utilities, laundry, cable , internet, phone , and even long distance)
Sue

 

[housingrental]

I`m familiar with Waterloo student rentals and not Brantford but I`d guess:
1) You should be looking for a September 1st start date, most WLU students are on May or September lease starts
2) You should be posting ads at the school`s web listings - most students look there. (I rarely post at places like kijiji, craigslist, etc.. )
3) Check to see if you`re location is suitable - WLU students are often very very location sensitive to the point that many won`t rent something farther than a ten minute walk to class.

 

[flanabum]

QUOTE (housingrental @ Jun 23 2008, 11:55 AM) I`m familiar with Waterloo student rentals and not Brantford but I`d guess:
1) You should be looking for a September 1st start date, most WLU students are on May or September lease starts
2) You should be posting ads at the school`s web listings - most students look there. (I rarely post at places like kijiji, craigslist, etc.. )
3) Check to see if you`re location is suitable - WLU students are often very very location sensitive to the point that many won`t rent something farther than a ten minute walk to class.

Thank you for the input !
I was told that the only school site for off campus housing for Brantford is www.places4students.com .....are you aware of others??

Sue

 

[DonCampbell]

Hi,

The best marketers know that it is best to go where your market is and speak their language. I ALWAYS pretend that I am my target renter when I jump on Google. I start typing in what they would type in looking for my property (i.e Student rental in Brantford, etc etc). That`s where I would advertise.

Also, you`ll find an uptake in demand for student rentals in Late July and early August.

 

[housingrental]

Hi,

The best place to post is at the schools site - try www.wlu.ca
You should then also try:
Student sublet boards at universities
See if there`s anywhere to post papers with the part that rips off or brouches in the off campus housing area at the school
You should also be able to get some nice response from both ads, and classified ads in the chord.
Large for rent sign on property if it`s on a street with lots of traffic will help.

The last places you should be worried about is the smaller ad websites and craigslist etc.. You`ll attract a lot of non students.

For WLU especially I start renting as soon as November for the next September and generally students keep coming at all points (I`ve rented during September for September start dates before). I`d recommded you set your self up to start re-renting next year in November if possible. Also be very conservative at this point - get it filled, if you miss September you might be sitting on 4 months of vacancies - so drop rent in August or offer rental incentive if response hasn`t been there to ensure occupancy. Whats nice about student renters is they generally don`t stay on for long and you don`t have to worry getting someone in at a low rent who could stay 15 years.

From a marketing prospective you might want to lower your rental price in a second ad for inclusive of utilities but not included phone, etc.. then offer these extra`s at viewings for an extra price - I`ve found that sometimes renters scan for something below a certain price even if it`s on the whole cheaper.

 

[DarrylFlint]

One other critical item to remember...my research has suggested that right now there is an approximately 15% surplus for student rentals in Brantford. That doesn`t have to be a bad thing, you just have to be different than everyone else! Have you place bandit signs near the school? My best lead for Fanshawe students in London has ALWAYS been a for rent sign on the front yard. Just have patience they will show up...some years they are just later than others.