Every property owner and manager knows that in order to effectively market your building and sign more leases, you have to list your vacancies on apartment listing platforms. You’ve probably tried all the popular ones — Zillow, Trulia, and Zumper. But one rental listing site you might not have tried yet is Facebook Marketplace.
That’s right — property owners and managers can list vacancies on the social media giant’s marketplace. But is it worth listing a property for rent on Facebook Marketplace? Read on to learn more.
Navigate this guide:
- Can I post real estate on Facebook Marketplace?
- Is Facebook Marketplace good for apartments?
- How do I list a property for rent on Facebook Marketplace?
Can I post real estate on Facebook Marketplace?
Yes, you can post real estate on Facebook Marketplace. In 2017, Facebook launched a “Housing” category in its Marketplace, allowing real estate agents and property managers to post rental listings.
At this time, it’s completely free to post a rental on Facebook Marketplace. There are also no commission fees.
Is Facebook Marketplace good for apartments?
Facebook Marketplace is a good place to post apartment and rental listings because it increases exposure and generates leads for free. It’s also quick and easy to post a rental listing, making Facebook a great platform to market your property.
Since launching its Marketplace in 2016, Facebook has reported that one in three Americans use the platform. So, needless to say, there are millions of people skimming the Marketplace every day. And since Facebook started honing in on property rental listings in 2017, more and more people have been using Marketplace to find an apartment.
In fact, Facebook Marketplace has slowly been dethroning Craigslist as the go-to apartment hunting tool nationwide. While plenty of rental listing sites have gained popularity over the last several years, Craigslist has remained a staple for its free listings and easy posting process. But now, people are starting to use and trust Facebook more.
Facebook Marketplace beats out Craigslist for a few reasons:
- People already use Facebook for other purposes, and the Marketplace platform is easily accessible.
- Facebook lets users see the poster’s Facebook profile, which builds trust.
- There are more people actively using Facebook than Craigslist.
Why you should list rentals on Facebook
- Large audience: Facebook is the largest social media network, boasting roughly 3 billion users worldwide. So, you’ll enjoy high visibility when you post to the Marketplace.
- You can boost a listing: If you want to maximize exposure, you can pay to boost a listing. Boosting essentially increases the number of people who see and engage with your post.
- Simple conversions: If a prospect is interested in your rental, they can quickly and easily contact you, request a tour, or save the listing to revisit later. You’ll receive the prospect’s contact information to save in your CRM.
- Partnership with other listing services: Facebook Marketplace has announced partnerships with leading apartment listing services such as Apartments.com and Zumper. So, this means you can publish listings on a platform like Zumper and they’ll be automatically posted to Facebook, too.
- Showcase multiple units in one building: Facebook Marketplace allows you to publish multi-unit listings if there are multiple units available in the same building.
How do I list a property for rent on Facebook Marketplace?
Posting a rental on Facebook Marketplace is simple, and anyone on your team can do it.
There are only five steps to listing an apartment on Facebook:
- Set up your account
- Create a listing
- Add photos and details
- Choose your publishing options
- Respond to leads and inquiries
Step 1: Set up your account
As of 2021, it appears that only select businesses can sell on Facebook Marketplace through their business page. All other sellers who create a listing on Marketplace must use their personal Facebook profiles.
As a result, you’ll likely have to list your rental properties on Marketplace via your own personal Facebook profile. So, either log into your Facebook account or create one for free.
Pro tip: Consider creating a secondary Facebook account that you’ll use strictly for publishing rentals. That way, you can keep things separate from your personal account.
Step 2: Create a listing
Once you’re logged into Facebook, follow these steps to create a listing:
- Navigate to the Marketplace from the side menu or by typing “marketplace” in the search bar.
- Click ‘Sell Something.’
- Click ‘Homes for Sale or Rent.’
Step 3: Add photos and plenty of details
Now, you’ll have the opportunity to describe your unit(s), attach photos, and provide details about the unit.
- You can add up to 50 apartment photos. Make sure they’re bright, clear, and high-resolution. And include photos of both the unit and the building’s interior and exterior.
- Generate a title for the listing. Keep it short yet descriptive — for example: “[#] Bedroom Top-Floor Apartment in [Neighborhood]”
- Answer all the drop-down questions (such as number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, and price)
- Write a thorough description. Include details about the unit itself and the building — the more the better! Also include details about when the unit is available.
- Select which amenities are available from the options Facebook provides.
Step 4: Choose your publishing options
You’ll obviously want to publish your listing to the Marketplace, but you can also opt to post the listing in up to 20 groups.
After you publish, you can opt to boost the listing. When boosting a rental listing, you can either select your budget with Facebook’s recommended campaign duration or choose a custom option.
How to set a custom campaign:
- Click ‘Select custom budget and duration.’
- In the Duration section, click (+plus) or (-minus) to select the number of days you want the ad to run.
- In the Total Budget section, use the slider to set your budget. Or, click the pencil icon to type in a number. The budget you set will be the amount of money you pay in total for the ad campaign.
- Optionally, you can also edit the audience for your ad. This lets you define the location that you want to target with your boosted listing.
Step 5: Respond to leads and inquiries
Now that your rental listing is live, wait for the leads to come in!
When a prospect reaches out to you with questions or to request an apartment tour, you’ll receive a simple form with the prospect’s contact information and other relevant details.
Remember to respond quickly and professionally to all inquiries. After all, the resident experience begins before a resident even signs a lease.
Watch how ButterflyMX works:
How to post a rental on Facebook Marketplace through a listing site
In 2017, Facebook announced its partnership with listing sites like Zumper and Apartments.com to automate Facebook Marketplace rental advertisements.
Depending on how many buildings or units you want to advertise, manually listing each one could be extremely time-consuming. But many platforms now make it easy to automatically syndicate your listings.
The process of syndicating your listings from one listing platform to Facebook Marketplace depends on which platform you’re using. For many platforms, the process is automatic. For others, you may have to opt into syndicated listings. Check with the listing platform you use.
Facebook Marketplace rules for rental listings
Before posting any apartment or rental to Facebook Marketplace, familiarize yourself with Facebook’s rules and policies. Violating any of these policies could result in your listing not being approved or getting deleted after it goes live.
Adhere to these two key policies:
- Your listing description and photos must match.
- Listings that discriminate against a protected class or violate any sort of tenant screening laws can be reported and removed from Facebook.
Step up your property marketing with Facebook Marketplace
Whether your goal is to generate more leads or sign leases faster, posting a rental on Facebook Marketplace is a great solution. Your target prospects are probably already on Facebook, so why not take advantage of that? With just five simple steps — or connecting your account to a listing platform you already use — you can have your vacancies published to Facebook in no time.
FAQs
How do you use Facebook Marketplace step by step? ›
- Tap. in the top right of Facebook.
- Tap. Marketplace.
- Tap Sell at the top.
- Add a title and price, and select a category.
- Tap Add photos to include photos from your phone or take a new photo.
- Tap Publish to publish your Marketplace listing.
1234 means "1 Thing 2 Say 3 Words 4 You (I Love You)". 1234 is a form of shorthand used in texts or instant messaging with the meaning "I Love You." 1234 is typically used when the sender wishes to add emphasis to their declaration of love, often when responding to a similar expression of love or an act of kindness.
Are rentals on Facebook Marketplace legit? ›Fake rental scams
You can find some great rentals on Facebook Marketplace. However, you can also run into plenty of phony listings. These fake rentals try to lure you in with misleading pictures and too-good-to-be-true rent prices.
So, what is a rental marketplace? A rental marketplace is an online platform where users can rent various types of properties from each other or from a platform itself (see the types below). P2P (peer-to-peer) platform with a mediator.
How do I avoid Facebook Marketplace fees? ›There are no listing fees and, in most cases, Facebook won't take a cut of your sale. However, there is now one exception to this. If you choose to send items directly by post via Facebook Marketplace, rather than exchanging the products in person, you'll have to pay a 5% fee.
How much does Facebook Marketplace charge? ›When you make a sale, we deduct a fee from your payout automatically. We call this a selling fee. The selling fee is 5% per shipment, or a flat fee of $0.40 for shipments of $8.00 or less.
How much does it cost to list on Facebook Marketplace? ›FAQs About Facebook Marketplace
Facebook will not charge you a listing fee for selling items on Facebook Marketplace. However, there are selling fees involved. The selling fee is 5% per shipment or a flat fee of $. 40 for shipments of $8 or less.
- Apartment Finder. ...
- ByOwner.com. ...
- Craigslist. ...
- 7. Facebook Marketplace. ...
- HotPads. ...
- Oodle.com. ...
- PadMapper. ...
- Realtor.com.
How to avoid being scammed when renting on Facebook Marketplace. Watch out for common signs of suspicious posts such as vague messages, low prices, lack of photos, and no contact information. Be sure to thoroughly check the contact information on a listing, as this is usually the best way to identify a scam.
What does $$ mean on Facebook? ›$ = Inexpensive, usually $10 and under. $$ = Moderately expensive, usually between $10-$25. $$$ = Expensive, usually between $25-$45. $$$$ = Very Expensive, usually $50 and up.
What are red flags on Facebook Marketplace? ›
Here are some red flags for Facebook Marketplace scams: Sellers offer suspiciously low prices for high-ticket items. Sellers refuse to meet in person. Buyers or sellers try to take the conversation outside of Facebook Messenger.
Should I give my address on Facebook Marketplace? ›Never give out your phone number, address, passwords, or send money, devices, and other gifts directly to someone who you don't know in person. Get details about the condition of the item.
How do you know a rental scammer on Facebook? ›It is extremely important to avoid being scammed in the first place. These are some common red flags: Watch out for common signs of suspicious posts such as vague messages, low prices, lack of photos, and no contact information.
How do you tell if someone is scamming you rent? ›- The listing is littered with errors. ...
- The price seems too good to be true. ...
- The property is listed on a free website. ...
- Not being able to see the property in person. ...
- There's no screening process for you as a tenant. ...
- You're being pressured to pay quickly. ...
- There's no lease agreement.
Get the terms of your rental in writing, including fees, rent, and maintenance. Get a copy of the lease, signed by both you and the property owner/manager. Do a search on the owner, real estate management company, and listing. If you find the same ad listed under a different name, that's a clue it may be a scam.
What is the 1% rule for rental? ›The 1% rule of real estate investing measures the price of the investment property against the gross income it will generate. For a potential investment to pass the 1% rule, its monthly rent must be equal to or no less than 1% of the purchase price.
How do rental sites work? ›A renting website is where an owner rents out a less used product, which another person would want to use temporarily. Per day charges are updated by the owner which is paid by the person renting the item.
What is the safest payment method for Facebook Marketplace? ›Don't transfer money directly into a seller's bank account. Instead, offer to use a secure person-to-person payment site, such as PayPal or sending and receiving money in Messenger.
Does Facebook Marketplace report to IRS? ›Your sales may be subject to IRS tax reporting if you sell with shipping on Facebook Marketplace. Download your 2022 sales report to see your sales from 2022. When you sell with shipping on Marketplace, you may receive certain tax forms to help file your taxes.
Does Facebook Marketplace take money from you? ›We charge a selling fee of 5% or a minimum of $0.40 for each item purchased with shipping and checkout. We have this fee to help cover the cost of payments processing, customer support, and Purchase Protection. Keep in mind that: The selling fee is deducted from any payments you receive.
Is selling on Facebook Marketplace worth it? ›
It's great to sell exciting, trendy stuff, but reliable ecommerce best-sellers tend to fly under the radar. Facebook Marketplace is a great place to sell everyday household items like furniture, cleaning supplies, books, and glassware. There will always be demand for these kinds of products.
What is the best platform to sell online? ›- Shopify — Best for influencers and small businesses.
- eBay — Best for expensive items.
- Amazon — Best for international trade.
- Flippa — Best for selling online businesses.
- Sellfy — Best for selling digital products.
- Facebook Marketplace — Social media marketplace.
- Craigslist — Best for local use.
Whenever your ad costs reach your payment threshold, we'll charge you that amount. Your monthly bill date is when we charge you each month for ad costs that don't quite reach your payment threshold.
How do you pay for things on Facebook Marketplace? ›You can use a credit card, debit card or PayPal account to buy items with checkout on Facebook or Marketplace.
How much should I sell my stuff for on Facebook Marketplace? ›Pro tip: Marketplace buyers will always try and knock some money off, so make sure to factor that in. A good general rule is to take the absolute lowest price you're willing to accept and add 20% to 30% to it. This way, you'll have more room to negotiate.
Is cash safe for Facebook Marketplace? ›When you're buying or selling an item on Facebook Marketplace, cash or an e-transfer at the time of the exchange are the best options to use. If you pay for an item via e-transfer before picking it up, you run the risk of the person not showing up and not receiving your item.
How do I advertise my rental property? ›- Focus on property presentation. ...
- Use high quality photos. ...
- List your property with a real estate agency. ...
- Advertise on rental websites. ...
- Advertise in print media. ...
- Use social media. ...
- Offer incentives.
- Zillow Rental Manager. When most landlords start searching where to list rental property, Zillow is one of the most commonly discovered sites! ...
- Cozy. ...
- Zumper. ...
- Apartments.com. ...
- Move. ...
- RentDigs. ...
- Apartment List. ...
- Craigslist.
- Must have the title – 'TO-LET' or 'RENT' in capital letters.
- Must include the detail of accommodation.
- Must include the amenities.
- Accessibility to the market, bus stop, airport, railway station can be included.
- Must include expected rent.
- 'I hate my current landlord' Every potential landlord is going to ask why you're moving. ...
- 'Let me ask you one more question' ...
- 'I can't wait to get a puppy' ...
- 'My partner works right up the street' ...
- 'I move all the time'
Is renting on Facebook safe? ›
If you are on Facebook Marketplace looking for rental properties, be wary of fraudulent activities by scammers posing as owners. Whilst not everyone is a scammer on Facebook Marketplace, it is better for prospective renters to consult with a real estate agent at their business office location.
How can I avoid getting scammed for an apartment online? ›Working with a professional and licensed leasing agent or property management company who are familiar with the rental market and inventory is the most surefire method to avoid rental scams. Agencies must be licensed in many locations, and they will know if something seems unusual.
What make your rental application stand out? ›- Rental history.
- Current or previous employment.
- Parental guarantee letters if you are a student receiving money from your parents.
- Information on pets if you have them.
- Info on who will be renting with you and how many months you would like to lease the property.
- Any references that are valid.
The answer is quite simple–investing in rental properties is the best investment for 2023. More specifically, the best types of real estate investment are long term and short term rental properties. Why are such types of real estate properties the most profitable?
How do you attract the best tenants? ›- Establish Clear Tenant Criteria. ...
- Write a Compelling Listing. ...
- Perform Regular Maintenance. ...
- Thoroughly Screen Applicants. ...
- Encourage Referrals. ...
- Increase Value With Add-Ons. ...
- Remain Flexible and Reachable. ...
- Use a Property Manager.
Facebook listings use a lot of abbreviations and lingo to make transactions. An example is FCFS which means first come first serve. A lot of times sellers do not what to hold an item. If there are multiple people who are interested they are going to sell it to whoever can come to pick it up first.
What do the 3 dots next to a name on Facebook mean? ›You share a friendship page with every friend, whether you have shared photos and posts or not. To view a friend's friendship page, go to their profile, select the three dots in the lower-right corner of their cover photo, and then select See Friendship.
What does the M in front of Facebook mean? ›M is named for MI6 secretary Moneypenny (also known simply as M), who assisted Agent 007 in the James Bond movie series. The name may have been chosen as a reference to its namesake's professionalism.
How do I post on Facebook Marketplace without getting flagged? ›- Avoid using sales-y words like "free", "prize", "sale", "cost", "offer", "winner", "dollar", etc.
- Don't have words that are all uppercase like "MORE INFO" or "PLEASE READ".
- Don't use a dollar sign ($) in your post.
- Use hashtags sparingly.
How this scam works: A scammer contacts a seller on Facebook Marketplace, expresses interest in their product and asks the seller to provide a phone number to prove that they are a real person.
How can you tell if someone is sketchy on Facebook Marketplace? ›
- The listing offers a suspiciously low price for a high-demand item. ...
- The seller will not meet you in person or let you see the item before purchase. ...
- The seller asks you to pay using gift cards for eBay or another company.
Guard your personal information.
You don't need to give someone your phone number to make a sale on an online marketplace. Be sure you know who you are speaking with before you share it. Never give out your phone number in public social media posts.
Read our tips for buying and selling responsibly on Marketplace. Starting January 1, 2022, we'll ask you for your tax information, such as your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN), if you haven't provided it to us already.
What should you not do when selling on Facebook Marketplace? ›- Not a real item: Anything that isn't a physical product for sale. ...
- Services: Selling services (example: house cleaning) on Marketplace isn't allowed. ...
- Description and photo don't match: The photos of the item must match the description and title of the listing.
In order to get paid, you must mark your item as shipped and enter a tracking number. You have 3 days to mark the order as shipped. Our system will automatically cancel the order if it hasn't been marked as shipped, regardless of any agreement made with the buyer.
What is Facebook Marketplace and how do I use it? ›How Facebook Marketplace Works. Facebook designed the marketplace to meet demand from buyers and sellers using Facebook Groups. Anyone can post an item for sale on Facebook Marketplace by creating a listing. All product profiles are public, meaning your post is visible across Facebook channels and on search engines.
How do I buy and sell on Facebook Marketplace? ›To post an item for sale in Marketplace, take a photo of your item (or add it from your camera roll), then enter a product name, description, and price, confirm your location and select a category. You can then post it so that anyone looking in your area can find your item and message you if they want to buy it.
How do I pay for items on Facebook Marketplace? ›You can use a credit card, debit card or PayPal account to buy items with checkout on Facebook or Marketplace.
What is the safest way to get paid on Facebook Marketplace? ›Don't transfer money directly into a seller's bank account. Instead, offer to use a secure person-to-person payment site, such as PayPal or sending and receiving money in Messenger.
What is the safest way to get paid when selling online? ›Besides cash, a certified check is the safest way you can receive a payment to your business.
What payments can I accept on Facebook Marketplace? ›
You can use a credit card, debit card or PayPal account to buy items with checkout on Facebook or Marketplace. Learn how to add or remove a payment method from your Facebook account. Was this helpful? How could it be better?
What is better than Facebook Marketplace? ›The best alternative is craigslist, which is free. Other great apps like Facebook Marketplace are Bedpage, YesBackpage, Virtual Swap Meet and FreeAdsTime.org.
What is the difference between Facebook Marketplace and Marketplace? ›Facebook Marketplace allows for the listing, finding, and advertising products by the users. Facebook Shop allows sellers and companies to list their products as well as sell them right from within the platform. Cannot buy or sell products on the Facebook Marketplace.
Should you give your address on Facebook Marketplace? ›Never give out your phone number, address, passwords, or send money, devices, and other gifts directly to someone who you don't know in person. Get details about the condition of the item.
Should you accept venmo for Facebook Marketplace? ›Keep your guard up when selling big items on Facebook Marketplace. The Better Business Bureau has received reports of scammers targeting sellers and using peer-to-peer payment apps such as Zelle, Venmo, Paypal and Cash App to steal their money.
Do I have to link a bank account to sell on Facebook Marketplace? ›If you want to offer checkout, you must provide a valid bank account when you set up Commerce Manager to sell items on Facebook or Instagram.
How do I accept payment on Facebook Messenger? ›- Open your Messenger app.
- Tap your profile picture in the top left.
- Scroll down and tap Facebook Pay.
- Tap Add new debit card or PayPal.
- Tap Add Debit Card or Add PayPal.
- Enter your payment method information, then tap Save.
However, you want to remain on Facebook when using Facebook Marketplace to avoid getting scammed. When it comes time to pay or get paid, you should avoid using Venmo, Zelle, Cash App or other payment methods as they don't offer the same protections that both Facebook Checkout and PayPal do.