Setting the best price for your rental property is crucial to getting your property rented quickly and at a price that will net you the most income. Many landlords and rental property owners think that this means choosing the highest price their home could rent for. However, this can end up costing the landlord money. We’ve put together this list of tips to help you rent your home effectively.
Use Rentometer
Rentometer is a great free website that compares units in your area that have actually rented. That last part is key because many people refer to Zillow for neighborhood rentals, but that does not show their final renting price. A home might be listed on Zillow for $2500 and end up renting for $2000.
Rentometer will show you how reasonable your asking price is for your area. It will also tell you the median rent, the 25th percentile rent, and 75th percentile rent. If you sign up for a pro account with them, you’ll get additional features that give you more statistics to go off of.
Take Your Home's Features into Account
Landlords typically want to raise their rent price if the home has upgraded appliances and finishes, a pool, etc. It’s okay to factor those items into your rent, but keep in mind how much you are increasing it. Tacking on $200 to your asking price for a pool will not help your home rent.
Pay attention to what other units have in the area. If you live in a nicer region, things like stainless steel appliances are expected, not a bonus. Additionally, over-upgrading your home may not help your home rent if you live in a more standard area. Homes there are likely cheaper to begin with and your home will feel out of place and overpriced.
Max Rent Pricing
Good Life implements a strategy we call Max Rent Pricing. This strategy is designed to get you the best tenants and maximize your profitability. We recommend pricing your home just below the market rent (around 5%). We do this because we have found that this attracts the best quality tenant and rents your home the fastest.
Many landlords are set on the highest asking price because they want to net the most income from their property. However, selecting a price that is too high will cause your home to sit on the market longer. Vacancies are where owners can lose a lot of money because they have no rental income, but they still have to keep the home in good condition.
Landlords also think that higher prices equal better tenants, because they can afford the rent. However, this is not usually true. Many people with lower credit scores are willing to pay a higher price up front to get into a home. Qualified tenants know they will be accepted anywhere, so they are looking for a good deal.
Property Management Benefits
When you use a property management company to manage your home, you gain access to additional features to help your home rent. One of these is their own property management software. Platforms such as Appfolio will show you comparable homes that have rented in the area.
Licensed property managers can also utilize the MLS. The MLS is more often used for home sales, but also for rentals that are considered luxury or struggling to rent. The data can be a bit skewed since they are typically properties over $3,000/month or properties that have struggled to rent quickly.
If you found this article helpful, follow us on social media. We post daily tips to help you manage your own rental property:
Steve Welty
Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter
Join the 5k+ homeowners receiving Local Law Updates and Landlord Tips. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday at 6am PST.
Share this:
Get in touch with us:
We make owning rental property easy.
Choose Your Next Step
Good Life Blogs
We believe that education is empowering.
What Is Property Management? What It Actually Takes to Manage a Rental
What is property management? It is the professional oversight of every aspect of a rental property, from tenant placement and rent collection to maintenance, legal compliance, and financial reporting. Behind it is roughly 30 hours of work every time a tenant turns over, 2 to 3 hours of ongoing management each month, and a constantly shifting landscape of California rental laws that can cost landlords thousands if they get it wrong. This guide breaks down what a property manager actually does, the skills required, the most common mistakes first-time landlords make, and how to know if hiring a property manager is the right move.
How Much Can I Rent My House For in Riverside County? 2026 Data From Our Portfolio
If “rent my house” is the thought running through your head right now, the first thing you need is an accurate number. Most online tools report Riverside County averages in the $2,200 to $2,300 range, but those figures blend apartment data with single-family homes and consistently understate what a house will actually lease for. In this guide, we share the actual rent data from our Riverside County portfolio so you can make a confident decision about whether renting out your home is the right move.
Should I Sell My House in San Diego? Real 2026 Rent vs Sell Data
Should you rent or sell your San Diego home in 2026? We break down the real numbers using data from our portfolio of over 1,034 managed properties, average rents, days to lease, transaction costs, and mortgage rate math, so you can make the right decision.