So, you want us to become your community’s newest residents? That’s fair; we’re clean, tidy, quiet, friendly, responsible, well-behaved individuals looking to downsize, and we have excellent credit scores. You have an immaculately landscaped property and an apartment just itching to be rented. We’ve done a lot of looking over the past few days. We’ve spent countless hours online, scoped out our properties of choice, scheduled tours, gone on tours, done our research on amenities offered, and made our budget. We are, by no means, experts. But we’re well on our way. We’ve learned that there are some things that draw us in and some that send us fleeing. In the hunt for new digs when we’re faced with countless properties that offer everything from detached remote control access garages to sparking swimming pools to tanning beds, luxury clubhouses, cathedral ceilings, gourmet kitchens, private balconies, and preferred employer programs, here’s what impresses us right off the bat. These are definite Do’s!
– Preferred Employer Program perks: You’re willing to knock $25 off our monthly rent, waive the application fee, and cut our security deposit in half because Ted works at UC? Uh, sure. Yeah, that sounds excellent actually.
– The $5 Papa John’s Pizza night: Once a month, every month, a large Papa John’s pizza ready and waiting for you at the clubhouse for only $5. I think this is one of Ted’s top criteria for an apartment community (for real). Bribing us with food? Apparently it works.
– An informed leasing agent: We ask a lot of detailed questions, so if you can recite the exact dimensions of the height, width and length of the garages upon request, know the complex’s rules on charcoal grill v. propane grill storage, enclosed trailer parking, internet package pricing options, and which utilities are gas and which are electric, you’ve already proven to us that you’re knowledgeable about your property and that you care about your resident’s needs and inquiries. That’s an instant turn-on.
– Updated buildings and amenities: So your building isn’t brand spanking new (but props if it is!), and that’s okay, but potential residents really appreciate well-cared for properties if they are older. Concrete and brick walls for sound-proofing and fire-safety, smoke alarms, fire suppressant sprinkler systems, new spacious cabinets, updated appliances, fresh paint, new carpet, windows that seal, no cracks in the walls…those kind of things can make a world of difference. I know these things definitely turn our heads.
How about what you should avoid? These may seem obvious, but they come straight from immediate personal experience. Take a hint leasing agents, these are big Don’ts!
– Glaring spelling, grammatical, or factual errors in your marketing materials: Check it over before you publish it. This simple task takes only 5 minutes of your time. Not to mention it must be fairly embarrassing when a newcomer points out your obvious errors in floor plans, amenities, or street names. The dimensions on the floor plans state the room is 2 feet bigger than it really is; that’s misguiding your consumer and there’s really no excuse for that information to be incorrect. Sentences that don’t even make sense because words are so badly misspelled, omitted, or in the wrong tense just looks unprofessional. These things do matter.
– Dirty model apartments: If there is one thing I cannot stand to see on a walk-through of an apartment, it is filth. Nothing is more unimpressive or turns me off faster than a filthy tub, a layer of grime in the sink, dead bugs on the floor, broken counters or cabinets, mud on the tile floors, stained carpet, and general disrepair. I do realize that a cleaning crew comes in before each new resident moves in, but what a terrible first impression an outright dirty model apartment makes. If you really cared about your property or getting new leases, then you’d keep the place clean. Filth is non-negotiable.
– Keeping information from potential residents: I know you know the crime statistics of your area. When I inquire about it, “I don’t know” or “We don’t have access to that information,” is unacceptable. It just means that you’re not willing to share because you know that this apartment is located in SketchyTown USA and you’d rather cover up the uncomfortable apsects. Just be upfront – your honesty is appreciated. When we ask if the basements of the townhomes leak, just be honest if they do. It’s not a make or break situation, we’ll just be better prepared. If there are problems, that’s okay. It’s to be expected because no property is prefect. But I do expect you to be honest and upfront with your information and if you don’t have an answer to something, to offer to find out the answer.
All of this is to say that we’ve had some great experiences and some disappointing ones. Sadly, we’ve discovered the great experiences are a little out of our price range. And so the search is far from over, but it’s been a rewarding experience so far and we’ve learned, at the very least, what we like and what we don’t like. Wish us luck!
