Hello everyone

I am currently taking the course to get my license to rent apartments in New York City. I’ve started contacting management companies and private landlords to build inventory. My biggest concern is how to start getting apartment seekers to contact me. Besides placing ads in local newspapers and on craigslist I have no clue on how to get prospects. I know those two methods will not be nearly enough to start getting me calls. Any advice and methods would be greatly appreciated.

blog with local keywords

Do you really need a License in New York to just do Rentals ?

In Vermont, unlicensed persons can engage in Rental and Leasing activities and sell Businesses and Mobile Homes that do not involve the conveyance of land.

Of course, you can also become a New or Used Car Salesman without a License too . . . . maybe even a Mortgage Broker !

I'm not a Legislator; but I'd say these would be areas we could tighten up and, of course, generate some additional revenue for the State Coffers. Our Boys down in Montpelier usually have more rules than others; so I was surprised to hear you talking about having to get a License in New York just to do Rentals.

Most newspapers are expensive and outdated. Most renters are searching properties on the internet. What role are you going to play??

Are you just getting paid to help locate a property and do the lease or provide ongoing monthly management? New York if I remember has really strict rules that must be followed and alot of red tape.

Why not consider regular sales??

If you really want to do rentals here is what you do. Go to google searchwords tool and find out the most searched term for renters in your area. Create a lead capture page when they fill out info that will put them into a contact manager and then redirect them to a website dedicated to just renters for New York.

After you do SEO optimization for the keyword terms,blogs,
videos,newfeeds,etc. you will start moving up search results and start getting hits.

Get involved with social networking sites and placing one way links to drive traffic to your website.

Craigslist is where renters go to look.

[b]Thanks to everyone’s advice. [/b]

[b]Vermont,[/b] According to NYS Law anyone that negotiates a sale or rental of real property must be licensed. The only people who do not need a license to rent apartments is employees of the building management or owner’s property who rents apartments in the company’s buildings.

[b]Super_Realtor, [/b]I will be paid to help locate apartments and assist in the lease signing. In most cases when dealing with a management company their office will complete the lease however, I do need to be present to assist my client. For private landlords I will need to complete the lease and yes in New York there are rent guidelines that must be strictly adhered to. I’ve been studying these guidelines since the start of my course so that I can be knowledgeable when dealing with clients and landlords. As far as advertising I plan to use craigslist. I’ve also been searching for additional online resources to advertise with. I will create a website separate from my Broker’s site which will contain the blog Perky_realtor advised me to start.

Also thank you for your advice on how to start building a database of clients. I hope you don’t mind me asking a follow up question. You mentioned that I should create a lead capture page and then redirect them to a site dedicated to renters for New York. Can you clarify this method to me? I know what a lead capture page is but I’m a little confused by what you mean when you say to redirect them to a site for New York renters. I’m sorry to be such a novice but any help will be greatly appreciated.

The idea is niche marketing. If you have just ONE website for buyers,sellers,investors,renters,and on and on it is unfocused.

So you would create a website just for renters like www.newyorkrenters.com etc.

You would make the website THE RESOURCE site for renters to go to for finding properties. You would offer to put up properties for free on your website to draw renters. You could also convert some of the renters to lease purchase or also options down the road for sales depending on the rental type.

Then drive a bunch of traffic to that site with one way links,blogs,newsfeeds,etc.

If you have one website with so much stuff on it for everyone it's hard to find what they need quickly and effeciently. By having rich content of only that subject it will get ranked better as well for those keyterms as being more of a match.

Thank you for explaining.