GSAIR EMEA 2024 | Page 22

GSAIR 2024 : EMEA 12
Credit : Native Manchester rates due to the bid system , while maintaining highquality standards with trusted third parties . In turn , this provides clients with cost-effective housing solutions without compromising on quality , enhancing overall value .
I cannot recommend enough the value of clients and buyers touring properties to achieve firsthand experience of what their budget achieves in reality , as this can often be very enlightening .
In addition , the serviced apartment industry works differently across regions and even within a specific location , with much diversity and variation of accommodations making it challenging to talk about with consistency . Market awareness and product understanding therefore is a value add not to be underestimated for budget setting .
STRATEGIES FOR COST-EFFECTIVE HOUSING
Aside from product and industry awareness , there are a few general strategies to consider for more costeffective housing . Strategies need to be tailored to individual client need and each comes with benefits , caveats , and challenges .
• Volume commitment : guarantees of and commitment to set volumes can often help secure competitive rates with specific providers .
• Expanding the search location : exploring less busy areas or those slightly further from the city centre can sometimes offer more cost-effective housing and value .
With all of this complexity , it is vitally important to keep clients informed about the industry which , in turn , helps to aid policy changes and budgetary reviews .
• Facility or unit inclusion evaluation : many guests want gym access within their housing which can increase cost and may not be necessary , for example , if gym access is available at the work site . Allowing communal instead of in-unit laundry facilities is another consideration that may result in lower rates in some markets .
• Turnkey leases : turnkey leases are a great strategy for cost-effective housing in locations where clients have frequent and repetitive volume .
Sirva is fortunate to work with some fantastic partners that provide regular market updates and trend reports ; educating us both internally and externally on what is often a very multifarious product and service line – indeed I thank them for their contributions to my knowledge for this article . With all of this complexity , it is vitally important to keep clients informed about the industry which , in turn , helps to aid policy changes and budgetary reviews . It is crucial that all players , whether it be aggregators , apartment providers , or RMCs , are effectively collaborating to ensure that we are demonstrating value in the supply chain , providing excellent service , and bringing visibility to how clients can get the most from their serviced accommodation budgets .