If you’re in the multifamily property business, chances are you offer some assortment of amenities to your residents. From pools and spas to fitness centers and outdoor spaces, amenities are a huge selling point to new renters shopping for their next home. So why do so many of them sit unused, collecting cobwebs and running your bank account? Maybe they’re outdated. Maybe residents find the reservation process to be a hassle. Or maybe you just haven’t marketed them properly. Whatever the case, amenities are there to enhance your residents’ experience and you likely charge a premium for units that have access to these spaces, so you want to make sure renters feel like they’re getting their money’s worth. Increasing the amenity usage at your properties comes down to two things: making them appealing and making them simple to use. Here are three ways to accomplish this:
- Update Your Amenities to Reflect Changing Lifestyles
Amenities should be practical and add value to the lives of your residents, so it’s important to consider the demographics of your properties. Does your building primarily house students looking for study rooms, families who seek playrooms and pools, or retirees wanting entertainment centers? Examine also residents’ shifting lifestyles. Work-from-home has quickly become the new norm, and co-working spaces are on an upward trend. And what about the rise in online shopping and next-day package delivery? Expect a boost in amenity engagement when you start catering to these changes and offering spaces and services that fit in with major lifestyle shifts. By failing to consider the lifestyles of your residents, you’re bound to lose prospective renters and even the retention of current ones, to properties that do.
- Make Reservations Easy
Don’t kid yourself–no matter how great they are, if your amenities are a hassle to book, your residents may just forget about them. The simpler you make the reservation process, the better. Use a property management software to let residents check availability and book amenities straight from their mobile devices. With an intuitive and engaging interface like ManageGo’s concierge platform, amenity management has never been easier, and your residents will be more inclined to enjoy the spaces you offer.
- Leverage Marketing
Combine modern amenities with intuitive booking…but it still may not be enough to boost amenity usage. The lethal factor? Your lack of marketing. After all, how do you expect residents to use amenities they don’t even know are available to them? Brochures and leasing tours are a good starting point, but don’t discount the overwhelming nature of a new move. Regularly remind residents of all that your properties have to offer, whether through social media posts, hosting new classes and events in amenity spaces, or through a concierge service. By utilizing a modern platform for scheduling and booking, residents can see all of your available amenities in one place, and they’ll be more likely to reserve something new. Bonus: by leveraging an amenity booking software, you’ll be able to track just what amenities are popular, and be better informed on what exactly your residents want.
No matter your business goals, ManageGo has your back. To discover just how our software solutions can benefit you and your unique property management needs, request a demo today. Or, connect directly with one of our experts and get started on your journey to better property management.
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