How to Advertise Your Rental Property in Iowa

Whether you're renting out a single-family home in Des Moines or a student apartment near the University of Iowa, effective advertising is key to finding the right tenant quickly. Iowa’s rental market is generally stable, with affordable pricing and a strong demand for clean, well-maintained housing—especially in growing metro areas and college towns.

To attract quality tenants, your listing needs to be clear, competitive, and posted in the right places. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know—from staging and writing your listing to using tools like Hemlane to stay organized and compliant.

Preparing Your Rental Property for Advertising

A polished property not only photographs better—it rents faster and attracts better applicants. Before you take photos or post your listing, take time to get your unit rental-ready.

Start with a full clean and walkthrough:

• Touch up paint, fix leaky faucets, and test appliances
• Clean floors, windows, and baseboards
• Replace any broken blinds or light fixtures

Highlight features that matter to Iowa renters:

• Heating and cooling: Make sure it's clear if your unit has central air, window units, or baseboard heat. Iowa winters and humid summers make this a top concern.
• Parking: Off-street or garage parking is a big draw—especially in cities like Cedar Rapids or Davenport.
• Laundry access: In-unit or on-site laundry is often a deciding factor.
• Yard or outdoor space: A small yard, balcony, or shared lawn can set your property apart.
• Proximity to schools or employers: Great for families, students, and professionals—include nearby hospitals, campuses, or downtown employers when relevant.

Take quality, well-lit photos:

• Aim for 8–12 photos
• Shoot in natural daylight
• Show every major room and the exterior (especially parking areas, garage, or entryway)

Where to Advertise Your Iowa Rental

To maximize your reach, list your rental on both national platforms and local favorites. Many renters in Iowa browse listings across multiple websites before applying.

Best platforms to consider:

• Zillow Rental Manager: Popular across the U.S. and useful for reaching out-of-state renters
• Apartments.com: Great for multifamily units and long-term housing
• Craigslist Iowa: Still widely used for basic, local traffic in cities like Des Moines or Iowa City
• Facebook Marketplace & local housing groups: Active for community-based listings, sublets, and student housing
• University housing boards: Especially helpful in Iowa City (University of Iowa), Ames (Iowa State), and Cedar Falls (UNI)
• Hemlane: Centralizes your listing and automatically syndicates it to dozens of rental platforms while helping you manage leads, applications, and showings

Rental Listing Platform Comparison

How to Write an Effective Rental Listing

A well-written listing helps you attract serious applicants and avoid endless back-and-forth. Keep it clear, detailed, and easy to skim—especially for mobile users.

Start with a specific headline

Include the number of bedrooms, city or neighborhood, and one feature renters care about.

Examples:

• 3BR in Des Moines – Garage, Central AC, Pet Friendly
• Furnished 1BR in Iowa City – Walk to Campus, All Utilities Included

In the body, cover the essentials:

Use bullet points or short paragraphs for readability.

• Monthly rent and security deposit
• Lease length (12-month, short-term, student-friendly, etc.)
• Number of beds/baths and square footage
• Type of heat and cooling (gas, forced air, baseboard, central AC, window units)
• Parking situation (garage, driveway, on-street, off-street)
• Laundry access (in-unit, on-site, or none)
• Included utilities (water, electric, gas, internet, trash)
• Pet policy
• Application process or screening info (optional but helpful)

Photos make the difference:

• Take 8–12 well-lit photos
• Highlight updates like flooring, appliances, or new HVAC
• Include shots of the exterior, parking, backyard, or basement

Legal Requirements When Advertising Rentals in Iowa

Iowa’s rental laws are generally landlord-friendly, but you still need to stay compliant—especially when writing your ad.

Follow Fair Housing laws

Under federal and state law, you cannot include language that discriminates based on:

• Race
• Religion
• National origin
• Gender
• Disability
• Familial status
• Sexual orientation
• Source of income (in some local ordinances)

Avoid language like:

• “Perfect for single professionals”
• “No kids”
• “Religious tenants preferred”

Be transparent with terms

Clearly state:

• Rent
• Deposit
• Any application fees
• Lease term and move-in date
• Whether utilities are included

Check for local requirements

While Iowa doesn’t have rent control or statewide Section 8 acceptance laws, some cities may have local rules about:

• Rental registrations
• Inspection requirements
• Nondiscrimination based on source of income (e.g., housing vouchers in Iowa City)

When in doubt, check with your city’s housing office or a local attorney.

Iowa City-Specific Advertising Tips

Each of Iowa’s major rental markets has a slightly different renter profile. Tailoring your listing to local expectations helps you fill vacancies faster.

Des Moines

• Emphasize central location, access to highways, and off-street parking
• AC and updated interiors go a long way
• Great for young professionals and small families

Cedar Rapids

• Affordability and space matter most
• Highlight yard space, garages, and school proximity
• Renters often value newer appliances and quiet neighborhoods

Iowa City

• Most renters are students or staff at the University of Iowa
• Mention Wi-Fi, laundry, lease term flexibility, and walking distance to campus
• Shorter-term leases and furnished units are a plus

Ames

• Iowa State students look for proximity to campus and safety
• Bike racks, storage, and flexible start dates can help attract interest
• Quiet hours and pet policies should be clearly stated

Advanced Advertising Strategies

If you want to reduce vacancy time and attract better applicants, try going beyond the basics with these smart, Iowa-tailored advertising strategies:

Leverage seasonal timing

• College towns (Iowa City, Ames): List 2–3 months before semester move-in
• Family rentals: Spring and early summer bring more interest from relocating tenants
• Avoid winter listings: if possible, unless priced competitively and advertised with heating details upfront

Use keywords that match search filters

Include high-impact terms like:

• “In-unit laundry”
• “Off-street parking”
• “Pet friendly”
• “Central air”
• “Utilities included”

These help your listing show up in filtered search results.

Offer virtual tours or video walkthroughs

This is especially helpful for:

• Out-of-town students or professionals
• Landlords managing remotely
• Showcasing layout and updates clearly

Use Hemlane to automate and centralize

Hemlane makes it easier to:

• List on multiple platforms at once
• Track leads and screen tenants
• Schedule showings and communicate from one dashboard

It’s ideal for self-managing landlords or anyone who prefers structure and fewer back-and-forth emails.

Sample Rental Listing Template

Here's a customizable example for a typical Iowa rental:

3BR Home in Cedar Rapids – Garage + In-Unit Laundry

Available August 1 – $1,500/month – Cedar Rapids, IA

Spacious 3-bedroom, 2-bath home with attached garage and private backyard. Located in a quiet neighborhood close to schools, shopping, and I-380 access.

Features:

• 1,300 sq. ft.
• Central air and gas heat
• Updated kitchen with dishwasher
• Washer/dryer in unit
• Attached one-car garage
• Large backyard with patio
• Pet-friendly (small dogs/cats with additional deposit)

Lease Details:

12-month lease

Rent: $1,500/month

Security deposit: $1,500

Tenant pays all utilities

Available August 1Contact: CRrental@email.com | (319) 555-8989

How to Handle Inquiries After Advertising

Once your listing is live, be ready to follow up promptly and stay organized to avoid losing qualified leads.

Respond quickly

Aim to reply within 24 hours. A fast response shows professionalism and keeps your property top of mind.

Ask pre-screening questions

Before scheduling a showing, ask:

• Desired move-in date
• Number of tenants and pets
• Employment or student status
• Lease length flexibility
• Reason for moving

Offer flexible tour options

• In-person showings are ideal
• Consider pre-recorded walkthroughs or video calls if managing remotely or for out-of-state tenants

Use a system to track leads

Hemlane or a simple spreadsheet can help you:

• Record who has inquired
• Log showing status
• Mark application progress
• Stay organized when reviewing multiple applicants

Common Advertising Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these missteps to save time, attract better renters, and stay compliant:

• Unclear lease details: Not listing rent, deposit, or lease length leads to more questions and fewer serious applicants.
• Forgetting heating/cooling info: In Iowa’s extreme winters and humid summers, renters want to know if there’s central air or gas heat.
• Using outdated or low-quality photos: Dark, blurry images make your listing less appealing. Use natural light and show each major room.
• Skipping utility or pet info: Be upfront about what’s included and what’s not—especially in college towns where this affects decision-making.
• Using legally questionable phrasing: Avoid language like “ideal for a quiet couple” or “no students”—it may violate Fair Housing laws.

Should You Hire a Professional?

That depends on how involved you want to be in the leasing process.

Hire a property manager if:

• You’re out of state
• You don’t want to handle showings, rent collection, or maintenance
• You own multiple properties

Expect 8–10% of rent plus leasing fees.

Use a leasing agent if:

• You want help filling a vacancy but will manage the property yourself afterward
• You’re short on time or prefer professional showings

Try Hemlane if:

• You want to stay in control but automate repetitive tasks
• You need help with listing syndication, tenant communication, and screening
• You’re a DIY landlord who wants everything in one place

Final Thoughts

Iowa may have one of the more affordable and stable rental markets in the country, but that doesn’t mean you can just post a blurry photo and hope for the best. Renters in cities like Des Moines, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids expect clear information, clean properties, and prompt responses.

With the right prep, a well-written listing, and smart use of tools like Hemlane, you can fill your rental quickly—whether you're managing one unit or many.

Make Leasing Easier with Hemlane

Hemlane simplifies every part of the process, helping Iowa landlords:

• Post across 30+ rental websites
• Track leads and schedule showings
• Screen tenants and manage communication
• Stay organized—all from one dashboard

Start your free 14-day trial!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to advertise rental property?

The best strategy is to list your property across multiple platforms like Zillow, Apartments.com, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace. Use clear, professional photos and a detailed description. Platforms like Hemlane can syndicate your listing and keep your lead tracking and screening in one place.

What is the 1% rule for rental property?

The 1% rule suggests that monthly rent should be roughly 1% of the property's purchase price. For example, a $150,000 home should ideally rent for $1,500/month. It’s a quick way to evaluate rental income potential but may vary based on your local market.

Where do most people post their rentals?

Iowa landlords commonly use Zillow Rental Manager, Apartments.com, Craigslist Iowa, Facebook Marketplace, and local university housing boards. Hemlane helps post across many of these platforms from one central place.

How to advertise a rental property for free?

You can list your rental for free on:

• Facebook Marketplace
• Craigslist
• University housing boards
• Some local buy/sell housing groups

Zillow allows one free active listing per account, but additional listings may require payment.

What adds most value to rental property?

In Iowa, renters appreciate:

• Central air or reliable heating
• In-unit laundry
• Off-street or garage parking
• Energy-efficient appliances
• Proximity to schools, work, or campus

Does it cost to list on Zillow?

Yes. Zillow allows one free active rental listing per user account. Additional listings or renewals typically cost around $9.99/week. Zillow also syndicates to Trulia and HotPads.