For any good production, the stage needs to be set well. Everything needs to be ready before the audience arrives. Showing your property to potential residents isn’t any different.
Step 1: First Impression
To set the stage for their first impression, focus on what they will see first - the property around your apartments. It’s important to give the impression that this will be a good place to live and they will be taken care of. This is a similar idea to why many banks are made with brick - it is a more expensive siding that looks good. Brick is solid and lasts. All of these qualities leave the customer with the impression that they’re money is in good hands. You want potential residents to feel the same. Look around to check that the yard is being kept up and that the parking lot has been repaired as needed.
Another area to take note of is the entrance to the office and the office itself. Sweep away the dead leaves, pick up the garbage, and remove the clutter. Forget you’ve ever seen the place before and try to see what they would see and fix it up accordingly. For an added touch consider using planters with flowers to bring some color to the space.
Step 2: Apartment Appeal
As your potential resident takes a look at your apartments there are two lists they are keeping track of in their head. One is the list of aspects they like and the other not so much. Yes, it is impossible to please everyone one hundred percent, but there are fixes you can do to help keep the bad list shorter.
Paint and flooring both make a huge difference in how nice the apartment looks. Check the walls for marks and holes, then fix and paint as needed. If the flooring looks shabby, this may be a good time to update. Smaller fixes would be to change all the burned-out light bulbs, update light fixtures, put on new outlet and switch plate covers, fix torn or missing window screens, repair dripping faucets and running toilets, and replace blinds that are bent or missing slats. All these little things can make a big difference, whether your apartments are brand new or thirty years old.
Step 3: Leave with a Good Taste
If your potential resident had a positive first impression and likes the apartment they saw, step three shouldn’t be too difficult. This step is similar to the idea of why a traditional dinner ends with dessert - it’s not essential but you want them to leave on a sweet note. As they finish their tour emphasize the positives that may not have to do with the available apartment specifically. Let them know why this is a good location, what venues are nearby, or what you offer that other property managers may not. Finally, be organized. Have your files in order, the papers ready, and the answers they need for their questions. This will build their confidence that this is the place they want to live in.
