Best Home Rental Site Features

In today's fast-paced world, finding the perfect rental property has become remarkably easier thanks to technology. It’s now simpler than ever to search for a rental home online. Aggregator sites like Zillow.com are popular places to start, but that’s only the very beginning of the process in many cases.

There are still plenty of “mom and pop” landlords out there who likely don’t have their own website to provide information about their home(s) for rent. However, more sophisticated property management companies that own a significant number of homes typically have full websites with state-of-the-art features to help with your rental home search – and beyond.

Whether you follow a link from a site like Zillow or visit a property management company’s website directly, there’s plenty of technology out there to help you. Some of the most helpful features include:

Advanced Search Filters: The best home rental websites allow users to refine their searches with various filters. You can specify your budget, desired location, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and other crucial factors to quickly narrow down your options.

High-Quality Photos and Virtual Tours: A picture is worth a thousand words, and the top rental sites understand this. They provide high-resolution images and, in some cases, virtual tours, allowing renters to get a good sense of the property before even scheduling a visit.

Accurate Property Descriptions: Comprehensive property descriptions are essential. They include details about the property's features, amenities, and any special conditions, helping you make an informed decision.

Interactive Maps: The best home rental sites – like the one you’re on now – integrate interactive maps that show the property's location, nearby schools, parks, and essential services, making it easier for renters to assess the neighborhood.

Customer Testimonials: Reading reviews from actual residents can give you valuable insights into the owner and the overall rental experience. Look for these testimonials about the real-world resident experience.

Saved Searches and Alerts: You can set up saved searches with your preferences, and the platform will notify you when new listings matching your criteria become available. This feature saves you the time and effort of checking the site repeatedly.

Contactless Applications: Online applications, virtual tours, and electronic document signing have become standard. These capabilities expanded in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to streamline the application processes and minimize physical contact.

Community and Neighborhood Information: Some platforms provide information about local communities, including demographics, safety ratings, and schools. This can be particularly useful if you're relocating to a new area.

Of course, once you’ve found the right rental home for you and made the move, technology is still there to make your life easier. The top property management companies offer online features like:

Secure Online Payment Systems: It’s convenient, quick, and easy to make rent payments online. The most up-to-date property owners offer online payment options that guarantee secure payments, in addition to being simple and hassle-free.

User-Friendly Mobile Apps: As an extension of a property management company’s website, a mobile app is another easy and convenient way to pay rent and manage your account.

Online Platform for Submitting Maintenance Requests: An online system for submitting maintenance requests puts convenience at your fingertips. For example, our very own FirstKey Maintenance System (FMS) lets you submit maintenance requests, schedule maintenance appointments, and track the status of your request.

Online Help Center: When you have a question related to your rental home, a property management company’s online knowledge base may have the answer for you, quickly and conveniently. You may even be able to submit a question, and someone will get back to you with an answer.

In conclusion, the top single-family rental home providers offer many helpful features through their websites. With advanced search options, high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and other tools, these platforms make renting more convenient and efficient than ever. As you navigate the world of online rentals, be sure to take advantage of these features to find the ideal home that meets your needs and preferences.

And once you become a resident, you also may enjoy further online conveniences like making payments, submitting maintenance requests, and more.

Look for all these things from the owner of your home when searching and making your decision. Choosing a home owned by a company whose online capabilities include all these features will result in a more positive resident experience for you!