Apartment Trends Magazine September 2020 | Page 19

5. CREATE AN APP FOR YOUR APARTMENT COMMUNITY Many of today’s tech-savvy residents don’t just want a mobile-friendly experience; they want mobile-only. With technology at their fingertips, it’s easy to lose their attention. Developing an app for your apartment community not only puts you top of mind and sets you apart from the competition, but it can help eliminate some of the pain points of apartment living. For example, residents can receive maintenance alerts, learn updates about the property and amenities, and pay rent on their mobile device. 6. BUILD A RESIDENT REFERRAL PROGRAM Despite how inviting your community is, residents often need an extra push to actively recruit their friends. Incentivize your residents for referrals by offering gift cards, cash, or rent credits. Several software companies also offer gamification programs and apps that can not only increase your property’s brand awareness but also encourage current residents to renew or refer their friends. These programs allow renters to complete tasks and collect points which are then exchanged for gift cards. 7. INSTALL A LIVE CHAT ON YOUR WEBSITE Live chats have proven to be one of the highest converting self-help solutions. A live chat can provide residents with instant access to answers they seek and an easy route to acquiring important information. The simplicity of being able to type right where they are is unbeatable. Within seconds they can have what they need to move forward. Do It All MAINTENANCE & HAULING NO JOB TOO SMALL 303-356-2887 [email protected] Welding Repairs Railings, Stairs, Fencing Concrete Parking Lot Lighting Repair Gutter Cleaning Bucket Truck Services Hauling 8. PERSONALIZE COMMUNICATIONS WITH CRM TECHNOLOGY Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is the solution to personalizing all of your property’s communications with renters. A CRM can assist properties in tracking renters’ actions as well as storing their personal information. This data can be integrated into properties’ online communications with residents and create personalized content. 9. ADD A DETAILED FAQ TO YOUR APARTMENT WEBSITE A thorough FAQ page is often an appreciated resource in creating an effortless resident experience. This allows renters to quickly view answers to questions they may have without having to call a leasing agent or wait for a response via email or social media. 10. ADD A VIRTUAL PROPERTY TOUR As the technology behind virtual reality progresses, it significantly enhances residents’ online apartment search experience. With a high-quality virtual property tour offered on your website, prospective renters can potentially view the entire community and decide to rent all online. CONTINUOUS SUPPORT, CONTINUOUS RESIDENTS While these strategies can help you enhance the resident experience, it’s important to couple these efforts with updated amenities, quick service, and an attentive leasing team. Improving your resident retention will help build a strong community, one people will not only want to live in but will recommend to all their friends. Increasing resident retention rates is dependent on the property’s entire team making a continuous effort. Bringing expert service and beautiful appliances to your community “We respect the privilege of helping you bring joy to your residents and working with you, through open, honest and meaningful relationships, to achieve your community goals. We love what we do and the sense of fulfillment it brings us!” - Speciliazing in Multi-Family - Huge Inventory - Trained Sales Staff ApplianceFactoryDistribution.com 720-881-8282 www.aamdhq.org SEPTEMBER 2020 TRENDS | 17