Still Crushing It on Zillow: July’s Numbers Prove We’re Not Slowing Down

Still Crushing It on Zillow: July’s Numbers Prove We’re Not Slowing Down

Another Month, Another Victory Lap

Remember when we said we were crushing it on Zillow? 

Well, July’s data just rolled in, and we’re not just maintaining our lead—we’re extending it.

(How do we look from all the way back there, competitors? We’re so sorry about the dust! )

All jokes aside, we take transparency very seriously. That’s why we’re back with month two of our Zillow performance series, pulling back the curtain on exactly how our single-family listings in Detroit are absolutely dominating the competition.

And by dominating, we mean our clients’ properties are outperforming the market average by 132% across key metrics.

So when it comes to rental property management in Metro Detroit, we’re in a different league entirely. And that’s not our opinion, that’s just the numbers talking.

The July Data

Here’s how our portfolio performed against the Metro Detroit market average in July:

1. Impressions: Visibility That Actually Matters

Our Portfolio: 13,205.6 monthly impressions 

Market Average: 6,123.1 monthly impressions 

Our Advantage: +115.7% more visibility

Every single day, our clients’ properties are showing up on renters’ screens more than double what typical Metro Detroit listings achieve. 

That’s 7,082 extra chances every month for potential tenants to discover your property.

More visibility means more options, and more options mean you can be pickier about who rents your place. 

That’s our goal for our clients: Find the best tenant possible to maximize your investment.

2. Views: Converting Browsers into Prospects ️

Our Portfolio: 793.3 monthly views 

Market Average: 440.9 monthly views 

Our Advantage: +80% higher engagement

Here’s where things get interesting. 

Getting impressions is one thing—but getting people to actually click through and explore your listing? That’s the real test.

Our listings are pulling nearly double the views of typical Metro Detroit properties. That means when renters see our listings in their search results, they’re compelled to learn more. 

Our click-through rate consistently outperforms not just local competitors, but Zillow’s national average by a massive margin.

3. Leads: Where the Magic Really Happens

Our Portfolio: 66.4 monthly leads 

Market Average: 28.6 monthly leads 

Our Advantage: +132% more qualified prospects

This is the metric that pays your mortgage. 

While average listings in Detroit are generating less than one lead per month, our properties are pulling in nearly 3 leads each.

That’s not just 132% better—that’s the difference between a property that sits vacant and one that has multiple qualified applicants competing for the lease.

So, What’s Our Secret Sauce?

Anyone can throw a listing online and hope for the best. 

But we’ve designed our marketing systems to get the best results possible for our landlord clients. Here’s exactly why our listings continue to dominate:

1. Professional Photography That Actually Sells

We invest in professional photography that makes renters stop scrolling and start applying.

Every single listing gets the full treatment:

• Professional-grade equipment and lighting
• Strategic angles that highlight your property’s best features 
• Post-processing to enhance brightness and appeal
• Custom watermarking that builds our brand recognition

The data doesn’t lie: properties with professional photos rent faster and for higher amounts. 

We’re not cutting corners here, because we know first impressions are everything in the rental game.

2. Properties That Are Actually Move-In Ready

Here’s something that might shock you: we don’t market properties that look like disaster zones.

Before any listing goes live, we verify that the property meets our “showable” standards. That means:

• Clean, well-maintained interiors
• Functional appliances and fixtures
• Fresh paint where needed
• Proper staging to maximize space appeal

Other PMCs might rush to market with properties that need work, thinking they’ll figure it out later. We’ve learned that strategy backfires spectacularly. 

Renters today have options, and they’re not settling for places that look neglected.

3. Data-Driven Pricing That Hits the Sweet Spot

We’ve got rental pricing down to a science. 

While competitors just use comps and that’s it, we’re analyzing multiple data sources to hit that perfect price point where maximum visibility meets optimal rent.

Our process includes:

• Comparative market analysis across multiple platforms
• Recent rental transactions in the immediate area 
• Seasonal demand patterns
• Property-specific features and improvements

Price too high? You’ll get impressions but no leads. 

Price too low? You’re leaving money on the table. 

We find that Goldilocks zone where your property attracts quality tenants at market-optimized rates.

4. Lightning-Fast Communication That Seals Deals ⚡

In today’s market, speed kills—the competition, that is.

When a prospect inquires about one of our listings, they’re not waiting days for a callback. Our systems ensure:

• Immediate automated responses to initial inquiries
• Same-day human follow-up for qualified leads
• Streamlined scheduling that accommodates renter preferences
• Clear, professional communication throughout the process

While applicants are waiting for other property managers to get back to them, we’re scheduling showings and processing applications. 

In a market where good tenants have multiple options, being responsive is essential to reduce vacancy times as much as possible.

5. Local Market Expertise That Actually Means Something

We don’t just manage properties in Metro Detroit—we live here, breathe here, and know every neighborhood’s quirks better than anyone.

That expertise translates to:

• Targeted messaging that speaks to each area’s unique appeal
• Understanding which amenities matter most in specific neighborhoods
• Knowing seasonal patterns that affect rental demand
• Positioning properties to attract the right demographic

When you’re marketing a property in Redford versus one in Dearborn Heights, the approach needs to be different. 

Our local knowledge ensures each listing is positioned for maximum impact.

6. Fresh Content That Keeps Performing

Here’s a strategy most PMCs completely ignore: we rewrite our ads every 3 days.

Why? Because Zillow’s algorithm rewards fresh content, and stale listings start to fade into the background. 

So, our marketing team continuously:

• Refreshes listing descriptions with new angles
• Updates key selling points based on current market trends
• Tests different headline approaches to maximize engagement
• Monitors performance and adjusts messaging accordingly

While competitors set-it-and-forget-it, we’re constantly optimizing to maintain peak performance.

The Logical Difference in Action

These results didn’t happen by accident. They’re the direct outcome of treating rental marketing like the specialized skill it actually is.

Most property management companies try to juggle marketing alongside maintenance calls, tenant disputes, and accounting. We learned the hard way that doesn’t work. That’s why we keep our marketing team separate from property operations—because generating leads requires different skills than fixing toilets.

Our marketing professionals aren’t distracted by day-to-day management issues. They’re laser-focused on one thing: getting maximum visibility and engagement for your properties. 

And the data proves it’s working.

What This Means for Your Bottom Line

Let’s put these numbers in perspective. With 132% more leads than the average property, our clients are seeing:

• Shorter vacancy periods because multiple qualified prospects are competing for each property
• Better tenant quality because we can be selective when we have options 
• Higher retention rates because we’re matching properties with genuinely interested renters
• Reduced marketing costs because efficient lead generation means faster leasing

Meanwhile, properties managed by traditional PMCs are sitting vacant longer, accepting lower-quality tenants out of desperation, and dealing with higher turnover rates.

Ready to Join the Winning Team?

Two months of data tells a pretty clear story: our approach isn’t just working—it’s working better than ever.

If you’re tired of watching your properties sit vacant while paying a manager that treats marketing as an afterthought, maybe it’s time for a conversation.

We’re not the cheapest option in Metro Detroit, but we’re definitely the most effective. And in rental real estate, effective means profitable.

Ready to see what these kinds of results could mean for your portfolio? Contact us today for a free consultation, and let’s discuss how we can optimize your properties for maximum returns and minimum vacancy time.

Because at the end of the day, impressive Zillow stats are nice—but what really matters is money in your bank account.

Next month, we’ll be back with August’s performance data. Spoiler alert: we’re not planning on slowing down anytime soon.