To advertise a shortlet apartment in Nigeria, put clear photos and an honest price where guests already look: WhatsApp groups and status, Instagram, and property listing sites. Then send every enquiry to one page that shows your dates, full price and house rules. That is how interest turns into paid bookings.
This guide covers each channel in turn, what works, what to avoid, and how to tell which one brings your bookings.
Where guests look for shortlets
Guests search by place. Most shortlet searches that Google suggests in Nigeria name an area, such as “shortlet in Ikeja” or “shortlet in Lekki”. So the area belongs in every advert you write. Beyond search, guests find shortlets in a few familiar places:
- WhatsApp groups and status updates from people they know.
- Instagram pages that show a flat in photos and short videos.
- Property listing sites where they can search by area, size and price.
- Word of mouth from friends, colleagues, event planners and office travel desks.
- Past guests who come back, or who send their friends.
Before you post anywhere, get the advert itself right. Every channel needs the same basics:
- Photos of every room, the kitchen, the bathroom and the entrance, taken in daylight after a deep clean.
- A clear title with the area, the size and one feature, such as “Two-bedroom shortlet in Lekki Phase 1 with a pool”.
- What is included: power hours, Wi-Fi, water, parking and security.
- The price per night, with any lower rate for a week or a month.
- House rules and check-in and check-out times.
- The caution deposit and when it comes back.
To see what good looks like, browse shortlets on Cabans and study the listings in your own city, such as Lagos or Abuja.
WhatsApp groups: what works and what to avoid
People search for “shortlet WhatsApp group” and group links, because many shortlets are shared that way. We do not list groups here. The best ones are those you, your friends or other hosts already trust: estate groups, alumni groups, professional groups and local business groups.
What works:
- Read each group’s rules first, and post only where adverts are welcome.
- Post now and then, not every day. One strong post beats ten weak ones.
- Use three to five of your best photos, the area, the size, two or three features and how the price works.
- End with one clear next step, such as “Message me with your dates”.
- Reply fast. A guest who waits too long may book somewhere else.
- Use a WhatsApp Business account, with a catalogue for the flat, quick replies for common questions and an away message.
What to avoid:
- posting the same advert many times a day;
- adding people to your own group without asking them;
- sharing a guest’s name, photos or details without their permission;
- posting your exact address, gate code or door code in a public group;
- promising things you cannot deliver, such as “24-hour light” when the generator runs only at night.
Instagram and status posts
Instagram suits shortlets because guests want to see a flat before they trust it. Set up a page just for your shortlet, then keep it fresh:
- Name and bio. Put the area in the name, and say in the bio what the flat is and how to book.
- One link. Use your bio link for the page where guests can see dates, prices and rules.
- Short videos. A calm walk-through of every room, filmed in daylight, answers most questions.
- Details. Close-ups of the bed, the kitchen, the desk and the view show care.
- Highlights. Save stories for house rules, the area, and common questions.
- Area hashtags. Tags with your area name help local searches find you.
Your WhatsApp status works the same way for people who already know you. Post new photos, open dates for the coming weeks, and any offer for longer stays. Never buy followers, and never use photos of another flat. Guests notice, and a borrowed photo is a sign of a scam.
Three captions you can adapt:
- “Two-bedroom shortlet in Wuse 2. Steady power, fast Wi-Fi and a quiet street. Message me with your dates.”
- “Home for December? Our Lekki flat sleeps four, with a pool and parking. Book early for the holidays.”
- “In Ikeja for work? A calm one-bedroom close to the airport, with a proper desk. Weekly rates available.”
For flyer layouts and more captions to copy, see shortlet flyer and caption ideas.
Listing sites
A listing site puts your flat in front of guests who do not know you yet. They search by area, size and price, and your listing can also appear in search engines. That reach is hard to get from WhatsApp alone.
A good listing has:
- a clear title with the area and the size;
- bright photos of every room;
- a short, honest description of the flat and the area;
- the price and how it is charged, such as per night or per week;
- check-in and check-out times, the caution deposit and the house rules;
- what is included, especially power, water and Wi-Fi.
On Cabans, you choose “Short Let” when you create the listing, then add your price, photos and rules. The Cabans team reviews listings before guests see them. List your short let on Cabans, or read more about how to advertise a short let on Cabans.
If you advertise in several places, keep your calendars in step. The moment a booking comes in from one channel, close those dates everywhere else.
One link that lets guests book and pay
Most shortlet enquiries start in a chat: “Is it free on Friday?”, “How much for three nights?”, “Can I pay the balance later?”. Each one takes several messages, and many go nowhere. Payments by transfer bring fake alerts, and two chats can end in a double booking.
The fix is one page that answers the common questions for you: the photos, the dates that are free, the full price and the rules. Share that link in every post, bio and reply. Guests who are ready can act, and you only chat with people who are close to booking.
On Cabans, your listing link can do the booking too. Tick “Take bookings online”. Guests then pick their dates on your calendar, see a “Price Breakdown” with the nights, any discount, your cleaning fee and caution deposit, and pay securely online through Paystack. Their dates are held for 30 minutes while they pay, and a booked night cannot be sold twice.
You choose “Instant book”, or accept each paid request within your answer time. When you take a booking somewhere else, close those nights with “Block Dates” on your calendar. Cabans charges hosts a 5% commission, and the guest pays Paystack’s payment fee, so it does not come out of your earnings. You are paid within 7 days after the stay, and sooner if the guest approves the payment after their trip.
Follow how to make your short let bookable online, or learn it step by step in the free Host Academy.
Take bookings online with Cabans and use your listing as the one link in every advert.
Knowing which channel brings bookings
Advertising takes time, so spend it where it works. You do not need special software. A notebook or a simple spreadsheet is enough:
- Ask every guest how they found you, and write it down.
- Log each enquiry with the date, the channel, and whether it became a booking.
- Add the nights and the amount for each booking, so you can see which channel brings the best stays.
- Review it monthly. Do more of what works, and drop what brings only chats.
- Change one thing at a time, such as new photos or a new caption, so you can see what made the difference.
Past guests can be your best channel. Send a short thank-you after each stay, and ask happy guests to recommend you. A guest who comes back, or sends a friend, needs no advert at all.
Frequently asked questions
How can I advertise my shortlet apartment for free?
Start with the channels that cost only time and data: your WhatsApp status, groups you already belong to, an Instagram page for the flat, and word of mouth from past guests. Good photos and quick replies matter more than money spent on adverts.
How do I find shortlet WhatsApp groups?
Ask other hosts, friends and colleagues which groups they trust, and look at your estate, alumni and professional groups. Read each group’s rules before you post. If a group asks for money to post, judge it like any paid advert: will it bring guests you want?
What should I write in a shortlet caption?
Say the area, the type of flat and one strong feature, then tell people what to do next. For example: “Two-bedroom shortlet in Wuse 2. Steady power, fast Wi-Fi and a quiet street. Message me for your dates.” Keep it short and true.
Should I show the price in my adverts?
Yes, or at least say how the price works, such as a price per night with a lower rate for a week. Adverts that hide the price bring many enquiries that go nowhere. Update it before busy seasons such as December.
How many photos does a shortlet advert need?
Enough to show every room, the kitchen, the bathroom, the entrance and any special feature such as a pool or a view. Take them in daylight after a deep clean. Guests trust a flat they can see clearly.
How do I stop double bookings when I advertise in many places?
Keep one calendar that you trust, and update it the moment a booking comes in. Then close those dates everywhere else you advertise straight away, before you reply to anyone new.
Can guests book and pay online from my Cabans listing link?
Yes, once you tick “Take bookings online”. Guests pick dates on your calendar, see the full price and pay securely through Paystack. The guest pays Paystack’s fee, and Cabans charges hosts a 5% commission. You are paid within 7 days after the stay, and sooner if the guest approves the payment.
Related guides
How to start a shortlet business in Nigeria · How to list a short let · Shortlet business in Lagos · Shortlet business in Abuja · Turning your flat into a shortlet · Shortlet pricing mistakes
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