Listing and photos: how to let your apartment faster
A tenant decides whether to call you within seconds — based on the first photo, the price and a couple of lines of text. Here is how to write a listing that gets calls.
Contents
What a tenant sees in the first seconds
Someone looking for a flat scrolls through dozens of listings in a row. They stop at the one where the essentials are clear at a glance: what the apartment looks like, what it costs and where it is. A good listing answers the main questions before the call — saving time for both of you.
Photos: 10–15 shots that work
- Declutter: personal items, fridge magnets, drying racks, cables.
- Shoot in daylight: open the curtains and switch on every light.
- Hold the phone horizontally at chest height and shoot from a corner — the room looks honest and complete.
- Take 2–3 shots of each room, plus the kitchen, bathroom, balcony and the view.
- Add photos of the entrance and courtyard: tenants will ask about them.
- Put the brightest wide shot of the living room or kitchen first.
Go easy on filters and ultra-wide mode, which distorts proportions. If the apartment turns out smaller and darker than in the pictures, the viewer walks away and you have wasted your time.
Text: facts, not adjectives
Words like “cosy” and “luxurious” tell people nothing. Write down what they would otherwise ask you on the phone:
- area, floor and number of floors, whether there is a lift
- heating: central, gas boiler, air conditioners
- furniture and appliances: what stays in the apartment
- terms: minimum stay, deposit, whether children and pets are welcome
- what the rent includes and what is paid separately — utilities, building maintenance fees
- transport and amenities nearby: metro, bus stops, schools, shops
- the earliest move-in date
The headline and first lines
The first lines of the description show up in the list of results, so lead with the essentials: number of rooms, district, the main advantage. For example: “2-room flat by the metro, fresh renovation, air conditioning in both rooms.” That works better than “Lovely apartment for rent.”
Keep it short and to the point, in paragraphs of two or three sentences. If you hope to attract tenants from abroad, add a few lines in English.
Price and terms — upfront and honest
Give the real price rather than “negotiable”: many people simply skip listings without one. If you are willing to come down a little for a long contract, say so.
If the apartment has something people may not like — a noisy street, no lift, old plumbing — say so honestly in the listing. Then the people who come to view won’t mind it, and you won’t waste evenings on pointless viewings.
State the deposit and payment terms right away. That filters out people for whom the terms don’t work before a viewing. If the apartment is mortgaged to a bank, it is better to mention it early: under Armenia’s Civil Code, a landlord must inform the tenant of any third-party rights to the property (Article 615).
The “Verified” badge: more trust
Tenants are wary of scammers who pass off other people’s apartments as their own. On tuk-tuk, listings with an extract from the Cadastre carry a “Verified” badge. The unified extract on a property, showing rights and restrictions, is issued by the Cadastre Committee and can be ordered online at e-cadastre.am after registering on the portal.
For an owner, it is a simple way to show the apartment really is theirs and to stand out among similar listings.
After you publish
Before each viewing, air the apartment, switch on the lights and tidy away signs of everyday life: in person, it should look no worse than in the photos. Have answers ready for common questions — about utility bills, neighbours and parking.
- Reply to messages quickly: the first days after publishing are the busiest.
- Schedule viewings in the same time slots so you don’t travel for every call.
- If two weeks bring no responses, revisit the price or the first photo.
- Once the apartment is let, take the listing down to avoid unnecessary calls.
Key takeaways
- The first photo and the price decide whether your listing gets opened.
- Shoot in daylight, from a corner, without filters — 10–15 honest shots.
- Stick to facts: heating, appliances, deposit, what the rent includes.
- A Cadastre extract earns the “Verified” badge and tenants’ trust.
- No responses in two weeks — change the price or the presentation.
