The internet has dramatically changed the process of searching for a new home. Renters no longer need to drive around touring units to see where they might want to live. All the details they're after are available online. If you own rental homes, an active online presence is essential to stay competitive in this industry. Use these tips to connect with potential tenants quickly and efficiently online.

Diversify Your Posting Sites

Image via Flickr by ishane

There are many different places where you can post rental listings online. If you confine yourself to a single site, you're likely missing out on a large and potentially lucrative audience. Think carefully about the type of renter that you're trying to draw. Are you offering affordable housing with flexible terms? Craigslist is a popular choice for locals who want a quick and easy solution. If you're providing government subsidized housing, you might want to list on SocialService.com.

Rent, For Rent, Apartments, and Apartment Guide are all websites that allow you to list rental units. These often feature luxury apartments and rental homes, with an emphasis on amenities. See which ones are most active in your area.

Get Active on Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool for connecting with potential renters. If you're running an apartment community, make sure it has a presence on Facebook. You can share community events, provide safety and maintenance reminders to residents, and promote local activities and businesses through your page. When renters are considering your community, they'll likely visit your social sites to get a feel for the neighborhood, your management style, and how satisfied other tenants are.

If you work for a rental home agency, set up social sites for the entire agency. Regularly post new home listings for your followers to browse and share. This is a great way to spread the news far and wide, as interested tenants may share the post and tag their friends. You can also provide useful information about renting in general or about local events and activities in the area where you maintain your homes.

Craft Compelling Listings

Make sure your home listings provide all the essentials details for making an impression online. Since these viewers don't have the luxury of walking through the home on their own, do everything you can to simulate this experience online. Consider including the following in your online listings:

Video tours

Photos of all rooms, closets, and exterior spaces

Detailed descriptions of the property

Measurements of each room

Information on appliances

Details on housing materials such as siding, roof type, and driveway paving material

Floor plans

Virtual furniture planning tools

Communicate Efficiently

Make sure prospective tenants have an easy way to contact you. Provide both a phone number and email address, and respond to both as quickly as possible. If email inquiries are left to linger, it's likely that your hopeful tenants will have moved on to explore other options before you get back to them.

Don't give them the opportunity to continue their search for long. Answer questions promptly and offer additional photos, virtual tours, or live access to the home. It's important to connect with a potential renter while his or her interest is still piqued. There are so many homes and apartments on the market that you can't afford to be slow in your approach.

Streamline the Application and Acceptance Process

Let your hopeful tenants know that the entire application and rental process is available digitally for the fastest and easiest rental process possible. Using e-signature solutions, you can collect rental applications online without the hassle of a pile of papers or in-person meeting. This allows potential renters to get an application in as quickly as possible when they see a home that they're interested in. Emphasize how they can lock in a home by acting fast. Once approved, you can also use e-signatures to execute your lease agreement to get new tenants into their homes as quickly as possible.

Working online, you can find and place renters in new homes efficiently. Set yourself up to make smart connections and fill your properties quickly.