- Listing descriptions and pictures are renters’ first encounter with their future rental home, so making the best amenities stand out is key in helping them discover the home that matches their needs.
- Won over before they even set foot inside: Home features like “patio,” “porch,” “yard,” “pool,” and “garage” dominate the first half of the top 10 most used keywords, showing that houses for rent are most appealing for the outdoor space-craving renter.
- Spaciousness makes the rules indoors as well: Top phrases like “open floor plan,” “full bath,” “walk-in closet,” and “storage” show that house renters want plenty of space to move around.
- More room for renters’ growing love of pets: The practical must-haves and rental-specific features reveal the importance of renters’ furry or feathered friends, as phrases like “pet-friendly” and “pet fee” steal the show.
What makes a house renter tick? From spacious homes and generous backyards to plenty of storage and great parking options, there aren’t many features and amenities that a house renter would compromise on. As more renters are willing and able to go the extra mile financially to secure the space and comfort they want, houses for rent are becoming their full-option first choice.
And listings descriptions use all the right buzzwords not just to get renters’ attention, but to match the right renter with their ideal home: “open floor plan,” “spacious bedrooms,” “washer-dryer,” “maintenance provided,” “within walking distance,” “pet friendly.”
Analyzing more than 5 million words from descriptions of single-family homes for rent available across the U.S., Point2 analysts put together a list of the most popular keywords in house rental listings, complete with the most used adjectives, most established brands and the most familiar rental non-negotiables and property specifications.
Naturally, Words Like “Room,” “Bedroom,” and “Bathroom” Are Most Frequent in a Description, but What Comes Next Is Most Telling
It’s words and phrases like “yard,” “washer-dryer,” and “great location” that truly reveal renters’ priorities.
Switching from apartment life to single-family home life comes with a change in mindset, one where renters become aware of their growing space needs and their desire for more comfort.
Many times, this transition involves becoming a renter by choice. This means renters not only embrace the renter lifestyle, but develop much clearer and much higher expectations: Unparalleled comfort, superb home features, top of the line amenities.
And the trend is clear: Demand for (and deliveries of) the more spacious, more comfortable single-family home for rent has exploded in the last 10 years.
Besides the general requirements, what a house for rent has to offer must perfectly overlap renters’ wants and needs. And for house renters, the main thing is space. And actually, to be even more precise, outdoor space.
When analyzing the top 10 features and amenities that appear the most in rental descriptions, it becomes instantly obvious that houses for rent are most appealing to the space-focused, outdoor-minded renter. That’s why words like “patio,” “porch,” and “backyard” lead the way, being the top most used phrases.
But houses for rent offer so much more than just extra space. They’re also about the best, most fun usage of that outdoor space. This is made obvious by one word that summons both luxurious leisure and fun, splashy relaxation: The keyword “pool” is all that and more, and it snatched a place on the podium, showing that house renters know how to live, work and play in style.
Finally, the word “garage” coming in fourth, following words like “patio,” “porch,” and “pool” shows that house renters might make up their minds about the perfect house for rent before even checking what’s behind the door: The outdoor features simply rule.
The second part of the top 10, however, offers some clues about the things that matter most about the indoor space, or at the very least reveal the amenities that are most popular and most common in house rentals: “stainless steel appliances,” “open floor plan,” “washer-dryer,” “full bath,” and “storage.” Indoor characteristics show that, although practical amenities are also essential, spaciousness subtly pervades all home descriptions.
Expanding the lens and looking at the top 20 most popular keywords reveals another priority for house renters. Outdoor and indoor space features aside, location is also paramount. No fewer than four keywords point to the importance of the listing’s address: Phrases like “great location,” “within walking distance,” “(close to) shopping/restaurants,” and “easy access” are all meant to entice renters.
Speaking About Enticing Renters, Adjectives Definitely Impact Perception
Top adjectives like “new,” “large,” and “spacious” make a property pop.
Features and amenities will always steal the show, as they weigh most in renters’ decision to choose one house over another. However, adjectives add that extra bit of charm to a listing description, elevating the purely utilitarian function of amenities and making listings stand out.
The emphasis on spaciousness is again the aspect that stands out, with half the top 10 most used adjectives indicative of house rentals’ roominess: “large,” “spacious,” “open,” “full,” and “great.” Privacy is also key, with the adjective “private” snatching the eighth spot.
And it’s no wonder that that’s the case. House renters are choosing single-family homes precisely for this. According to a Point2 survey about house renters’ wants, needs and must-haves, more privacy and more space are the main reasons renters are choosing single-family homes for rent over apartments. Access to a yard or garden is the third reason.
But, topping the list of the most popular adjective is “new.” Given the explosion in the number of build-to-rent homes from the past few years, this makes total sense. However, the absolute domination of this adjective also reveals another aspect: It’s an amazing feeling to move in a new home, with renters all the more enthusiastic about it as they expect a move-in ready, spotless living space. Therefore, agents using it the most often reveals their desire to really shine a light on a rental property’s most attractive part.
Rental-specific Keywords & Phrases Reveal One Key Aspect About the Rental Lifestyle
And that is, our adorable furry and feathery companions absolutely rule our world.
Among the top 10 most used rental-specific terms and phrases, four are about the pets that make renters’ life amazing. “Pet-friendly” is the most used rental-specific keyword , followed closely by “pet fee,” “breed restrictions,” and “pet rent.”
And the Point2 survey about renters’ priorities supports these findings: Many renters are opting for a house for rent rather than an apartment to make sure their pets get the space they need. Nearly 70% of renters who took the survey are pet owners and consider their furry friends part of the family. What’s more, a higher share of renters would opt for a house for rent to accommodate their pets’ space needs rather than a growing family.
Aside from making sure more rentals are pet-friendly, another trend that takes shape is related to easy maintenance. The keywords that stand out are “maintenance provided,” “dedicated teams ready to assist,” and “maintenance fee.” With the rising cost of living and the busy lifestyle that most renters have, it makes sense that low maintenance is top of the list. The frequency of these phrases reinforce the idea that renting a house is becoming an increasingly luxurious experience, focusing on lifestyle elements like comfort, flexibility, and wellbeing.
Most Used Brands in House Rental Descriptions Show Balance Between Luxury and Practicality
Whirlpool, Wolf, and Samsung steal the spotlight.
With home descriptions zeroing in on features and amenities that are both practical and modern, it’s no wonder that the brands mentioned the most are famous for the same attributes: elegance and practicality. Brand names like Whirlpool, Viking, Sub-Zero, Miele and Ikea are the most used when advertising a home in 2024.
Altogether, Point2 Homes analysts found that 18 brands were mentioned in home descriptions. All are synonymous with stylish, well-designed appliances, furniture and equipment.
The brand names may represent a nice to have rather than a must have, a final touch rather than a vital part of any rental listing description, but seeing a brand they like and trust will certainly go a long way in convincing renters that the houses they are going to call homes were designed with their comfort in mind.
Ultimately, the language used in rental listings plays a crucial role in setting expectations and guiding the search process. Renters scanning through hundreds of listings are quick to zero in on those that tick their must-have boxes. A well-crafted description that balances the practical with the aspirational is the first step in making a house feel like home.
In a competitive rental market, where the right keyword can make all the difference, landlords and property managers are increasingly mindful of how they present their listings, ensuring that every word counts in attracting the perfect tenant.
Methodology
- For this study, we analyzed 5 million words from house rental listings all across the U.S. that were active in August 2024 on the Point2 website. We ranked the keywords according to the number of times they appeared in the descriptions of available single-family homes for rent.
- We excluded prepositions and linking words, as well as words that were spelled incorrectly.
- All rankings and charts were based on the number of times a certain keyword appears in the home descriptions analyzed.
Fair use and redistribution
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