#TuesdayTips - Online listings guide for tenants and landlords

Whether you are a landlord or you are renting a property, there are certain factors you should be aware of that can help you get a better deal when you are using Gumtree’s online portal.

If you are renting a home, you need to check advertised features carefully, visit the property and be ready to ask questions of the landlord to clarify details.

If you are a landlord, it is very important to do your research on the competition in the local area so that your advert reflects the market and is presented to the most relevant audience in the right area.

Gumtree’s tips for renters

Watch out for pictures taken from a wide-angle lens, as this is a way of making a room appear a lot bigger than it actually is.

Never presume anything; read the full description carefully. A ‘close walk to public transport’ could mean a 15 to 20-minute walk, and ‘small double bedroom’ could realistically be a single room. Double check points which are not clearly stipulated with a quick phone call to the landlord.

It sounds obvious, but visit the property and ensure all of your questions are covered off by the landlord before handing over your cash. And if there are any current tenants, ask them questions too – you may learn something you didn’t know.

Lookout for any upfront fees and never part with large sums of money without completing proper checks. The norm is a reservation fee once the renter and landlord have agreed terms to hold the property while references are being carried out.

Gumtree’s tips for landlords

Upload images of the main rooms inside the property, including the kitchen, reception room, bathroom and bedroom, as well as the property’s exterior to give renters a flavour of what they’re buying in to. Give as much written detail as you can on the property, to avoid wasting time with renters and yourself.

Check out the local competition and how other buy-to-let landlords are marketing their property. Search for similar properties and what the going rates are as a guideline.

Market your property in the correct region, as Gumtree is spilt up by location (major cities and counties). Make sure you create an advert for the correct region by selecting the area in which the property is located and providing the postcode.

Refresh your advert as frequently as possible, even if that means every few hours, to get the most exposure, as Gumtree’s search results are displayed in order of freshness.