How to Write a Listing Description That Gets Your Property Rented Faster
Your listing description is the single most powerful tool you have for getting your property found on Google – and for converting a browser into an enquiry. Most landlords write one paragraph and wonder why nobody calls. Here’s how to do it properly.
Why Your Description Matters More Than You Think
When someone types ‘pet friendly house to rent Cape Town’ into Google, the results they see aren’t random. Google reads the text on your listing and decides whether your property matches what that person is looking for. The more specific and relevant your description is, the higher your listing ranks – and the more enquiries you receive.
A thin, vague description like ‘Lovely 3 bedroom home available immediately’ tells Google almost nothing. A detailed, keyword-rich description tells Google exactly what your property is, where it is, and who it’s for.
The Formula: What Every Description Must Include
Structure your description in three parts:
Part 1 – The Opening Line (Most Important)
Your first sentence should contain your property type, location, and the fact that it’s pet friendly. This is the sentence Google pays the most attention to.
| ✗ Weak opening — avoid this: Lovely home available for rent. Well maintained and move-in ready. |
| ✓ Strong opening — use this approach: This pet-friendly 3-bedroom house in Sea Point, Cape Town is available for long-term rental from 1 July. Dogs of all sizes are welcome. |
Notice what the strong example includes: property type (house), bedrooms (3), location (Sea Point, Cape Town), rental type (long-term), availability (1 July), and pet policy (dogs of all sizes welcome). All in two sentences.
Part 2 – The Property Details
Describe what makes your property worth renting. Be specific. Avoid generic phrases like ‘beautiful’ or ‘spacious’ – they mean nothing. Instead, use measurable details.
| ✗ Avoid This Beautiful, spacious home in a great location. Modern finishes throughout. Perfect for a small family. |
| ✓ Best Practice The open-plan kitchen and living area opens onto a 200m² enclosed garden – plenty of room for your dogs to run freely. The property is fully fenced with a 1.8m wall and a double-gated entrance, making it secure for large breeds. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a double garage, and fibre-ready connectivity. |
Part 3 – The Pet Details (Never Skip This)
This is the section that separates a Pet Space listing from every other rental site. Pet owners search for very specific things. The more detail you provide, the more your listing matches those searches.
Include as many of these as apply to your property:
- Which pets are welcome (dogs, cats, both)
- Size restrictions if any (‘dogs under 25kg’ or ‘no size restriction’)
- Breed restrictions if any (be specific – ‘no Pit Bulls or Rottweilers’ or ‘all breeds considered’)
- Indoor or outdoor sleeping rules
- Garden and fencing details
- Whether a pet deposit applies and how much
- Any specific conditions (‘pets must be vaccinated and sterilised’)
| ✓ Example pet section: Dogs and cats are welcome at this property. We have no breed restrictions but request that all pets be vaccinated and sterilised. The garden is fully enclosed with a 1.8m brick wall and a double gate – escape-proof for even the most determined dogs. A refundable pet deposit of R5,000 applies. Outdoor sleeping required for dogs. |
| ℹ SEO Insight Google specifically indexes pet policy text. Phrases like ‘dogs welcome’, ‘large breeds accepted’, ‘no breed restrictions’, and ‘pet deposit required’ are searched thousands of times per month in South Africa. The more of these phrases appear naturally in your description, the more search traffic your listing receives. |
Location Context – Add It
Mention nearby landmarks, streets, and features. This helps both Google and potential tenants understand exactly where the property is.
| ✓ Good location context: Located 400m from the Sea Point promenade and the dog-friendly beach. Within walking distance of Checkers, Woolworths Food, and several vet clinics. Easy access to the N1 and N2 highways. |
Length – How Long Should It Be?
Aim for 200–400 words. Shorter than 150 words is too thin for Google to rank well. Longer than 500 words risks losing the reader’s attention.
Things to Never Write
| ✗ Never Include These ‘No pets’ – you’re on Pet Space, this is assumed to be pet friendly ‘Contact for more info’ – give the info in the description ‘Serious enquiries only’ – this signals desperation, not quality ‘Price negotiable’ – set a firm price, negotiate privately All caps anywhere – it reads as shouting Your phone number in the description – use the contact form |
Quick Checklist Before You Publish
- Does your first sentence include: property type, location, and pet friendly?
- Have you mentioned specific pet rules – size, breeds, indoor/outdoor?
- Is the fencing and garden situation described?
- Is the pet deposit amount stated?
- Have you mentioned at least 3 nearby landmarks or streets?
- Is the description between 200 and 400 words?
- Have you re-read it and removed all vague adjectives?