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Author: Stacey Feeney

Social Distancing Apartment Amenities Social Distancing Apartment Amenities Social Distancing Apartment Amenities

Social Distancing Apartment Amenities to Enhance Your In-Home Experience

Written by Stacey Feeney on . Posted in All Articles, Marketing.

Social Distancing Apartment Amenities

The times they are a-changin’. Stay-at-home orders and social distancing measures have forced us all to adapt to a new way of living. This goes for apartment living as well. Long live the days you could just pop into the office and hand in your rent check to an actual human, which let’s just be honest the only reason you opted out of paying your rent online was so you could snag a few cookies and grab a caffeinated beverage as you waited in the lobby. Remember that whole working out thing? Most of us have forgotten since the gym in our apartment complex has closed. Since lockdown orders have been put into place, the “community” feel of apartment living has been taken out. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, now is the perfect time to be the hero and bring your apartment community closer together than ever before. You can offer these social distancing apartment amenities that your residents won’t want to see go even after stay-home orders are lifted. Keep reading to get a super awesome bonus amenity, which happens to be our personal favorite!

Virtual Classes
Virtual Entertainment
Weekly Food Trucks
On-Demand Fitness Subscriptions
Streaming Subscriptions
Community Competitions
Balcony Happy Hour
Foreign Language Lessons
Community Charity Picks
Bonus: Outdoor Theater

This list could go on and on, but we thought these 9, plus a bonus one, would be plenty to get you started. A friendly tip: Amenities that you offer already, which can easily be altered to accommodate social distancing measures, start that transition, like yesterday! Then from there take a look at the list we’ve put together for you and pick a few of your favorites and get to work! Before you start going bonkers over our top 9, plus 1, list of amenities, take a look at these pointers below that will give you some ideas on how to market your new and improved social distancing amenities!

1. Social Media

Design an entire social media strategy around all your social distancing amenity options. You can have multiple campaigns dedicated to different types of offerings. If it’s a virtual fitness class, post a small video clip on your IG with just the phrase “Are You Ready”, including the dates and times below. Again, the possibilities are endless, but if you want more ideas, you know you can always come to zipcode and we’ll get you sorted

2. Web & Print

Social distancing amenities have already become a selling point that prospects are looking for. So, don’t be shy with them. Put your amenity list on your homepage  for the whole world of prospects to see! Bold that list on your brochures! Put a sign outside your complex to let anyone who drives by know that you offer all the best amenities that social distancing has to offer! This will definitely help you stand out from the competition. Distribute flyers to all your residents with the new social distancing and virtual amenities available and how they can access them. 

3. The Buddy Pass

Offer a “Buddy Pass” for your amenities. As appealing as hanging out with your complex family within a socially acceptable distance is, we’re all dying to hang out with our other buddies too! For most of the amenities that we suggested on our list, you can find a creative way to allow your residents a pass to have their friends join them. Not only will your residents be ecstatic, but it’s also a great way to advertise how awesome your complex is! There will be definite opportunities to get friends of residents to sign a lease. 

4. Email

To make sure residents stay interested in everything you’re offering, think about providing weekly newsletters. You could feature a particular fitness class that isn’t getting as many attendees and try and get them interested. Maybe highlight the most popular fitness class. You could pick a resident of the week and write a small bio on them. Always promote the next big event taking place as well as a calendar of amenities for the following week. Of course, in every newsletter be sure to include any links or codes that residents will need to join an event as well as your website and social media links.

For help with designs and strategies, contact us and we will make sure that the hard work you put into pleasing your residents with social distancing apartment amenities will not go unnoticed.

1. Virtual Classes

Virtual classes can come in many different shapes and sizes, but for the sake of this post we’ll just give you our top 7 list as ideas for social distancing apartment amenities they will love. 

Fitness Classes

Offer a variety of fitness classes so that way all your residents feel like there is an option suited for them. This means offering classes for all ages, for residents that work 9-5, classes with various levels of difficulty and everyone in between. 

Yoga Classes

Same idea as fitness, but we wanted to keep them separate because the same residents who do your fitness classes may not be the same as those who do your yoga classes. Also remember, there are different styles of yoga and it may be good to offer a variety here too. Yogi’s will appreciate that.

Meditation Classes

Same thing as yoga, right? Wrong. Again, the people who take your yoga or fitness classes may not be the same ones who take your meditation class. And, well, right now, everyone’s a little on edge and stressed and could benefit from having an outlet to help them wind down a bit. This one is a must in our book.

Another great thing about these first three options, not only will you be able to offer your residents much needed exercise while gyms are shut down, but you will also be able to provide work to local instructors , which they will certainly appreciate. 

Cooking Classes

Cooking classes can provide an opportunity to partner with local restaurants and chefs for some good ol’ cross promotion to bring your residents weekly or monthly cooking tutorials. Feature well-known dishes at local restaurants as a way to further  promote your neighborhood and offer something exciting and new! 

DIY 

DIY tutorials are great simply because you’ll never run out of options. At a time when all we have is time and most of it is spent at home, DIY is sort of an essential. This could be anything from tye dying to scrapbooking or from building projects to home-decor. Social Media is a great way to promote your resident DIY amenity. Use the hashtag #PropertyNameDIY. Create a Facebook group where your residents and staff can post and share their DIY projects. Having residents share on social is a great way to help showcase your social distancing apartment amenities to the world

Master Classes

Give residents the opportunity to better themselves and progress at a time where we all feel like our life is at a stand-still. This will require you to get to know your residents better, which is great for CRM purposes as well. You’ll need to know what types of jobs and careers your residents have or desire to have. What are their hobbies, interests etc. 

All this information should equip you to pick one hour long master class a week to offer to your residents. It could be an expert video on SEO for your residents that are in marketing. Perhaps one week could be an entrepreneur expert for residents who run their own business or would like to one day. A sewing class. A hand-stand class. Whatever the class is make sure it’s relevant to your residents.

Speakers

Sort of in line with number 6, but slightly different. Instead of having it as a class format, you could hire speakers, like the Ted Talk kind, and have them as guests for your monthly or weekly talks. You can really go anywhere with this one. You can have a speaker that specializes in the way the mind works. Or a speaker who is an expert on dreams. Or a women empowerment speaker. Go nuts. Have fun with it. Again, look to your local community to find experts in the topics you are seeking to cover. Poll your residents for ideas of subjects they would be interested in hearing about.

2. Virtual Entertainment

Most forms of entertainment generally result in large gatherings of people. Well, COVID-19 immediately put a stop to all that. But, there’s ways around that, thanks to technology. We’re social creatures and we want to share our excitement and happiness with others. So, here is our top 3 list of virtual entertainment ideas you can offer as social distancing apartment amenities for your residents to share their happiness with the rest of the community. Of course, there are so many ways you can add to this list.

Virtual Dance Party

GO ALL OUT! Hire a professional DJ. Get your residents to invite as many friends as possible. Encourage them to decorate their doors and balconies for the event. You can even leave little goodie baskets on all your residents’ porches with basic decorations and fruit punch and party hats. If you’re feeling extra crazy, you can get pizza delivered to the main office and have your staff deliver it to your residents’ door without coming into contact with them. Seriously, everyone is looking for a reason to party and boogie down right about now. Give them that reason!!!

Virtual Concert

Music is something everyone can relate to. Every Friday night, or maybe just once a month, have a local musician play a live concert virtually. Maybe feature a different genre of music each time. This is also a great way to shine a spotlight on any residents you have that may be musically inclined. You can even plan a music festival where multiple musicians will play a few songs throughout the day. Make a whole celebration of it.

Virtual Stand-Up

Who couldn’t use a good laugh right about now. Same idea as a virtual concert except you can hire local stand-up comedians to do a virtual show for your residents.

We would recommend adding disclaimers to these events, specifically age sensitive disclaimers.

3. Weekly Food Truck

Pretty self explanatory. Each week have a different food truck to come to your complex and offer food to your residents.

Put tape down 6 feet apart to mark where people should stand

If your complex is quite large, specify what times each building is allowed to wait in line

Make it diverse! Each week have a different food for a different part of the world

4. On-Demand Fitness Subscriptions

Annnnd now that your residents have just stuffed their faces, you need to offer them a way to redeem themselves! Instead of advertising your state of the art grills (that you can’t grill on) that are next to your top of the line cabanas (that you can’t cabana in?) by your heated pool (that you can’t swim in), it’s time to start advertising for amenities that your residents CAN enjoy and from right inside their homes. 

A subscription to on-demand fitness is an awesome in-home amenity to offer in lieu of the gym. It’s a perfect solution for times when the fitness center is too crowded (or closed) or for those who like to workout after hours. Below is a list of 12 fitness subscriptions and apps you could offer to your residents. Check out the 17 Best Workout Apps for On-the-Go Fitness for more details on each of these apps and subscriptions.

1. BeachBody- Best overall

2. Glo- Best for yoga

3. Grokker- Best for overall wellness

4. Physique 57

5. All Out Studio

6. Tone It Up

7. Pure Barre

8. My Fitness By Jillian Michaels

9. Daily Burn

10. Gixo

11. Obe

12. Asana Rebel

5. Streaming Subscriptions

Maybe the same rules apply as for fitness subscriptions. Who doesn’t like a good Netflix binge here and there…don’t be ashamed if “here and there” is more like everyday right now. We’re right there with you! Netflix is the most popular of all social distancing apartment amenities because people are already streaming it – be a hero and pick up the bill! 

Also, you can add a column in your newsletter for most popular shows/movies streaming in your community right now. Just a suggestion. Here goes our top 5 movie streaming sites.

For more details on cost, features and additional streaming sites, check out From Netflix to Hulu to Disney+, the best streaming sites for movies

Netflix. (Cause, uh duh!)

Amazon Prime

Hulu

Disney +

HBO Go/HBO Now

6. Community Competitions

As humans, at least American humans, to compete is in our blood. But, with all sport events being cancelled, how shall we ever get it out of our system! That’s where you step in. Offer some good ol’ fashion healthy competition to your residents as social distancing apartment amenities. Offer sweet prizes too, this will ensure more people will participate and bring your complex community even closer together! If you’re stuck on what prizes you should offer, check out our post The Top 10 Ways to Maintain Resident Retention and Sign Renewals During the Coronavirus Pandemic to get some ideas. Here’s a short-list of some competitions you could offer.

Fitness Challenge 

This could be for the most steps walked in a week, the most time recorded for dedicated movement or the most weight lost in a month.

Award for the Most Community Events Attended

Exactly as it sounds. Give notoriety to the resident that attended the most events that month. Write about her or him in the weekly newsletter!

Dance Off

Schedule a Zoom event where any resident who signs up gets to enter into a dance off. After all participants have busted a move, anyone who watches gets to cast their vote and the winner gets to bask in their glory, and of course get a big honkin’ prize from you.

Cleaning/Organizing challenge

Your residents can post before and after shots on social media and tag you in it. I mean, cleaning has never been so much fun! 😉

7. Balcony Happy Hour

This one is an absolute classic and you can even do it multiple times a week depending on apartment community vibe and participation. A happy hour event can also be done virtually instead of having residents hang out on their patios & balconies. Of course, checking ID’s would be a requirement if you are providing the drinks!

Make it fun and theme each event!  Perhaps this friday the theme could be margaritas and next Sunday could be a morning brunch special happy hour where mimosas are the theme.

Provide the drinks (to those of legal age) or provide drink recipes for the added perk of this amenity. If you choose to host this even virtually, maybe have a guest demonstrate a how-to cocktail recipe live on video.

There’s no better to celebrate your local community other than to offer local brews and wines at your happy hours. Right now, with the economic downturn, this is a great way to support your local businesses and build your community back up. It’s the perfect way to create relationships that could turn into referrals! 

8. Foreign Language Lessons

Offering a subscription to online language courses is such a move-in bonus and one of the most creative social distancing apartment amenities you could offer – stay out from the competition! Everyone wishes they could speak another language, but the hassle of finding out what’s the best way to learn one, the time needed to dedicate to learning one and then being able to afford it, is always a deal breaker. Right now, people have the time, you just need to offer them the best way and add it as a move-in amenity so they don’t have to worry about how they will afford it!

Check out, Best language-learning apps, software, and online classes, to get a list of some of the best language learning subscriptions out there. 

9. Community Charity Picks

You may think this one doesn’t seem like an amenity, but you’d be wrong. Most people want to give to charity, but never know which one they should. If you offer your residents charity picks that are not only relevant but community focused, this will help make their decision, thus provide them a service. Help a cause and create loyal fans – offer to match their donations!

Make a list of local charities that you’ve researched and give residents the option to add $1 and up to their rent each month, which will be donated directly to the charity that they’ve picked. We may not be able to advise you on different local charities by name, as the options available will be dependent on where you live, but we can give you some general ideas that are most relevant right now.

Families directly affected by Covid-19

Families who have lost their jobs due to the economic crises

Child-care for parents that still have to work, but can’t send their kids to school because they’re closed.

Nursing homes- they’re the hardest hit by Covid-19

Vet Hospitals and homes- they’re one of the hardest hit as well

10. BONUS: Outdoor Theater

This one is an absolute gem and by far our favorite social distancing amenity! Best part, you can DIY this beast and for cheap too! DIY Drive-in: How to Set Up Your Own Outdoor Movie Theater goes step by step on how you can set up your very own outdoor movie theatre. You can have so much fun with this amenity if you have the space for it!

Provide the popcorn and snacks

Lay down blankets for them if it’s in the grass. Be sure to lay them at least 6 feet apart!

Themes. Pick movies based on a particular theme and decorate for that theme. On Valentines day you could choose a romantic comedy and pass out candy hearts and decorate the movie area accordingly. Help parents out by having a kid’s themed movie night. Halloween, Christmas…you get the picture (pun intended).

Get residents involved. Offer a list of 10 movies, have residents vote and reveal the winning movie in the weekly newsletter.

self-guided tours and touchless move-ins self-guided tours and touchless move-ins self-guided tours and touchless move-ins

Apartment Self-Guided Tours and Touchless Move-Ins That Will Have Prospects Lining Up to Lease

Written by Stacey Feeney on . Posted in All Articles, Marketing.

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Covid-19 has disrupted our way of life, forcing us to adapt to great change. Future us will look back on these strange times and think, “social distancing was so 2020”. But, not every change born from this madness will be just another distant repressed memory. Enter the new era of self-guided tours and touchless move-ins.

Technological enhancements necessitated by Covid-19 have been completely transformative for the apartment leasing process. And we all know that you don’t have to twist the arm of a generation jacked up on technology innovations to convince them how virtual viewings and digital leasing benefits them. And persuading people to ‘opt-in’ for an unattended self-guided tour, well you had em’ at self-guided.

So, how can you become an absolute boss at touchless move-ins and have prospects virtually lining up to rent your properties? Through mastering these 3 points below.

1. Cross-Platform Strategy

2. Virtual Touring and Unattended Self-Guided Tours

3. Digital Leasing

1. Cross-Platform Strategy

Blast your touchless move-in offerings left, right and center on all your platforms. Check out our previous post, Virtual Tours Are The New Way To Lease During Quarantine And Beyond for more specific details of how you can do just that. Keep in mind that it typically takes a consumer between 5-20 encounters with a brand before they commit to a sale. As such, your goal should be to reach your prospects in as many ways as possible and as often as possible.

Website

Your website is where the magic of conversion happens. All online and offline marketing efforts should be focused on how you can drive up the traffic to your website. Which is why it’s so important to have a high quality, clean, easy to navigate website that shows beautiful images of the community, floorplans, information about the area/neighborhood, detailed amenity list, easy and clear way to schedule a tour and application to lease online.There’s no point in offering different viewing and leasing options if your prospects have no idea they exist! And chances are, if it’s not right in front of their face on your homepage, then they’ll probably never know.

Social media

Statistics from Shareaholic shows that social media is now the #1 driver of referral traffic to websites and accounts for over 31% of the total traffic. The point: get a bitch’n social media strategy. In fact, we encourage you to design an entire strategy around how prospects can be move-in ready without ever taking off their pajamas or leaving the comforts of their couch. Which, just so happens to be something we specialize in. So, shoot us an email if you want more info on our social media management and content creation service OR follow our blog for future posts on social media strategies.

Emails

Emails are so 1990’s. Wrong! Email marketing is a gold standard among marketers. You can increase conversion rates by the tons (okay maybe not tons, but close!) by simply sending well-written and designed emails (also something we offer). Even create an entire email campaign just for promoting your touchless move-in options. Here are a few ideas of what you can include in your emails to promote your touchless move-in strategy:

  • Get people excited to open your emails so they can see how awesome your touchless move-in process is by writing compelling subject lines to increase your open rates.
  • Insert a photo or short video clip of a virtual tour directly into the email.
  • Have direct links to all your viewing and leasing options.
  • Provide links to all your social platforms
  • Highlight your referral and new lease incentives. Emails that offer tangible value do much better.

Email marketing is a great way for you to bring all your goodies to the prospect, rather than them having to find it on their own. It will be much appreciated. A well-done email marketing campaign should be synonymous with increased conversion rates. Check out Email Conversion Rate 101: What You Should Know & 5 Ways to Boost Yours and 10 Email Marketing Stats You Need to Know in 2020 [Infographic] if you don’t believe us!

CRM

We all have busy lives, which is why virtually leasing an apartment fits into our lifestyle so well. However, we are social creatures and we crave attention. Use your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) to get personal with your prospects even after they’ve toured solo.

Make yourself available at the whim of every prospect and resident to be there at their every beck and call. Even more so, you want to be there when they don’t even know they want you there. Do the unexpected.

  • If a prospect reaches out with a question, answer timely and then follow up shortly after to offer assistance with other services related to their previous question.
  • If a prospect fills out an inquiry form, get back to them within the hour.
  • Offer live chats on your website. This is a great way to gather personal data, more specifically, prospect’s email address. It’s all about building that database! 
  • It’s not always about new residents. In fact, a big part of your CRM strategy should be focused on resident retention. Showing your gratitude and appreciation for existing residents is just as important. Even little gestures, like having automated reminders linked to resident’s birthdays. You can leave balloons and treats on their doorstep with a card reminding them how much you appreciate them being a part of the “family”.
  • If you offer fitness classes or host community events, find a way to record which residents participate in which activities.This way you can customize email offerings related to the activities those specific residents are interested in.
  • Honestly, simply remembering their name and saying hi to them when you see them can go a long way too. 

You’ll be surprised how much higher your retention rates will be with just a few minor enhancements to your CRM. All of which can be done contact-free.

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2. Virtual Touring and Unattended Self-Guided Tours

Now for the meaty goodness you’ve all been waiting for. And not to sound redundant, but our last blog post was sort of a gem and a must-read in the way of offering guidance on virtual-touring. Go to  Virtual Tours Are The New Way To Lease During Quarantine And Beyond to get a very detailed guide on the different ways you should be offering virtual tours. For this post, we’ll just give you a list of ways to offer virtual tours and open houses.

Virtual Tours

  • Facebook Live
  • Zoom
  • House Party
  • Skype
  • FaceTime
  • Pre-recorded videos available on your website and social media channels 

Self-Guided Tours

What we didn’t talk about in our last post is unattended self-guided tours. And self-guided tours and touchless move-ins are going to be key during while we continue social distancing and even in a post-pandemic world. If this is the first time you’re hearing about this concept, allow me to explain how it works.

First, you’ll need to choose which company will supply you with the service, hardware and software needed to offer self-guided tours. Once you are up and running, the leasing office will have access to a smart lock access control. Prospects will need to fill out an online form, provide their credit card information for identity verification and security purposes, pass a screening check and then get approved. After getting approval, the prospect will be sent a one-time passcode, which gives them access to the unit they selected and only for during the time slot they’ve chosen. The leasing staff are alerted of the prospect’s arrival and departure as well as when the doors are automatically locked when a prospect leaves.

Self-guided tours are an investment of your time and funds, the same way providing virtual tours are. But the results make it all worth the while. Data presented at NMHC’s OpTech Conference & Exposition revealed that lease conversions increased by 86% with self-guided tours opposed to when a prospect is being escorted. In addition, 65% of attendees polled during the conference said they were already strategizing ways to adopt self-guided tours within the next two years or have already done so. You don’t want to be left behind!

Self-guided tours not only further empower prospects to customize their apartment hunting experience, but it also increases the chances of them signing a lease because they had this option. It really comes down to engaging with prospects how they want to be engaged with. Give them the choice.

Todd Katler, CEO of Anyone Home, says, “62% of people who use a self-guided tour and subsequently lease, complete that tour within 60 minutes of their initial inquiry.” Also, 20% of prospects that attend self-guided tours do so outside of regular office hours, which means you are opening up an option for the workforce who wouldn’t otherwise be able to tour!

Now, this option does require prospects to turn off their Netflix and get off their couch, but I think everyone at this point is looking for an excuse to do this anyhow. Here is a list of top companies, in no particular order, that provide self-guided tours and touchless move-ins services:

For a breakdown of service features these companies offer, check out, AIM 2020 Webinar Recap: Automated Apartment Tours and Leasing (Part 1) and (Part 2).

 3. Digital Leasing Office

Offering digital lease signing is like adding a cherry on top of the prospect’s touchless move-in experience. This option is also quite appealing to resident’s looking to renew their lease and also may be an incentive. For a more exhaustive list to increase retention and sign renewals you should check out our post, The Top 10 Ways to Maintain Resident Retention and Sign Renewals During the Coronavirus Pandemic. 

The ability to sign leases digitally is not a new concept. In fact it’s been trending for the past few years. But, with recent technology, it has become safer, easier and more robust. Also, just to bust a very misguided myth, digital signatures ARE legally binding and WILL hold up in a court of law. Just in case you’re concerned. 

Just like weighing the features of competing self-guided tour providers, you’ll need to do the same with digital signature services. Below is a list of the top 10 providers (outside of the obvious multifamily software platforms):

With so many choices, you really need to know what you’re looking for in order to make an educated decision on which provider is best suited to your needs. 

Despite the magnitude of disruption to our lives Covid-19 has caused, there’s some good to come from it after all –self-guided tours and touchless move-ins. Hope this post helps!

Virtual tours are the new way to lease during quarantine Virtual tours are the new way to lease during quarantine Virtual tours are the new way to lease during quarantine

Virtual Tours Are The New Way to Lease During Quarantine and Beyond

Written by Stacey Feeney on . Posted in All Articles, Marketing.

You’re sitting on your couch binge watching Netflix trying to come up with some stellar ideas to get your properties seen by the outside world that are also just sitting on their couches binge watching Netflix. The answer is right in front of you…and everyone else…Since our social range has been restricted to a 10-foot radius from our computer screen and couch, you need to start strategizing ways you can get on their screens and get your properties seen right from people’s couch! Virtual tours are the new way to lease during quarantine.

Virtual tours are getting such a good response that we are certain it will be here to stay well beyond this pandemic. Just think of all the DIY millennials – they love their technology and figuring things out on their own. Virtual tours are also a perfect solution for working families who can’t easily meet for an in-person tour during business hours. It’s time to pick up your devices and get filming, the new era has entered in.

Here’s a list of ways that you can get your property to stand out and get prospects inside your properties without ever leaving their couch.

Go Live, Or Get Recording.

You should probably do both. Mix it up; people like options. Offer as many ways as possible for prospects to digitally view your property. All you need is access to a smartphone, tablet or computer. Of course, you can always go the professional route and hire someone to shoot the video for you, but considering the times, DIY is probably best.

 Here’s how you can make all that magic happen.

1. Facebook Live Virtual Tours

Never done it before? You should. Facebook Live videos experience three times the engagement compared to other videos shared on social media. It’s a great way to reach a large audience all at once. It’s more complex than just a simple virtual viewing using Facetime/Skype. There’s more pressure on the production side of things considering it’s quite literally a virtual event. The trick is to look comfortable and act natural in front of the camera, but at the same time be sure to come prepared! Here’s some way you can do just that!

Private Broadcast

Use this option to test out your lighting, pace, time and format before going live!

Be Content Ready

Have a script or an outline of topics you want to cover. This will help you stay within the time frame you set for the event. Also, it will help in avoiding awkward silences.

Interact

Respond in real time to comments people are posting. Read certain comments out loud and say the person’s name that posted the comment to make it more personal. Give emphasis to positive comments posted on the amenities as you’re doing the walk-through. If someone posts: “Oh what I would give to be swimming in that pool right now!” You can mention how even though it’s a cool day outside, she should be quite comfortable in your pool since it’s heated. Anything to set that conversational tone.

Introduce And Reintroduce Yourself

Be sure to continuously introduce yourself and give context to what is currently happening every so often when you see new people join the event.

Provide Links

Post important links for everyone in the event to see and be sure to announce it more than once that those links are available. For example- post a link to your online application, website, social media etc.

Sharing Is Caring

Be sure to remind people to follow you on your social media and to share your content. Perhaps offer incentives to do so!

Close The Deal

Give an option to have them schedule an appointment on the spot to speak to an agent to get further information and help with any online application questions. Virtual tours are the new way to lease during quarantine and beyond so be prepared for next steps.

2. Video Conference Virtual Tours

For example, Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing service perfect for large audiences or even small gatherings using a split screen. This app is more like being in a standard teleconference, but slightly cooler.  In 2019, it was reported that over half of Fortune 500 companies used Zoom.

All the same ethos for any virtual touring option applies here:

  • Find time to take Q&A’s. Personalize it by using people’s names when answering any questions.
  • Direct the group to links and your website throughout the video. 
  • Give them plenty of options for connecting with you and your staff when the video call ends.
  • Find ways to get people to leave their contact details in a private message.
  • Make them smile

Hands down the best Zoom feature for giving live tours-prospects can record it! The whole thing. It’s the perfect feature for partners or roommates that weren’t able to join the live tour. Perhaps the only shortcoming is that Zoom isn’t as universal as Facebook Live, just yet, so not everyone has it or knows how to use it. But hey, if it’s good enough for the Prime Minister of UK, Boris Johnson, to use it to hold cabinet meetings, then it’s good enough for us! 

If you check out 16 Advanced Zoom Tips for Better Video Meetings and What is Zoom and how does it work? Plus tips and tricks, you’ll get a fuller idea of all the sweet features that Zoom has to offer. Download Zoom now.

3. HouseParty App

It’s more like, well, a house party. More casual and candid. Check out Five Things You Should Know Before Using House Party, you’ll see instantly how different House Party actually is from Zoom. For starters, Boris Johnson doesn’t use it. Honestly, we recommend HouseParty as a fun substitute to WhatsApp. Although you can have multiple people join a video chat, if people aren’t muting their screens, it can get a bit too noisy. Perhaps this app is best for viewings with one prospect at a time, or if there will be multiple residents living together they could all join the video call on separate screens.

Download HouseParty now.

4. FaceTime/Skype

These apps should be considered throwbacks because they’re so old. And we mean this in a good way. Most likely, everyone is already familiar with these apps and already have them on their device. Both are great for a more intimate one-on-one tour and allows you to give your prospects the undivided attention they deserve. 

When you talk with prospects who have inquired online, offer to schedule a FaceTime or Skype call with them for a private virtual tour.

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5. Pre-recorded videos

I know. Sounds lame after hyping up all the cool stuff you can do with going live. But it’s not. And remember, you should try to offer both. Not everyone wants to be forced to hear your bubblegum machine commentary (I’m so sorry, of course they do. You have the best bubblegum machine commentary!). Biggest advantage of pre-recorded videos- you have the luxury of editing and prospects can watch it at their convenience. Virtual tours are the new way to lease during quarantine and the forseeable future, so here’s some advice:

Amenities

You got a pool with some cabanas and grills; flaunt it! Your fitness center is state of the art; get on that elliptical and show us how it’s done! Your showers have the water pressure of Niagara Falls; Prove it! (Keep it PG, people).

Music

You can really change the vibe and invoke feelings by simply adding the right music.

Props

Get your employees involved by having them decorate areas like the lobby. Be sure to have every flavor of latte out and displayed in an appealing way. If you have a Game Room, try and round people up to be in the middle of a pool game when you enter the room to give off that community vibe.

Edits

Offer a full length video of your entire property. You want prospects to see everything from the keyed entry at the gates, to the cookies and latte machine in the leasing office, to the pool, fitness center, community lounge, dog park and even inside of the apartment itself. Then you can also offer an option to view a small clip of each area and amenity. 

Example of smartphone video tour of a unit by Belforest Villas above.

Tips To Consider When Shooting Videos

 

  • Remember to put the toilet seat down before filming. Rookie move.
  • Make sure they can’t see you in the reflection of the mirror, especially if it’s pajama day at work.
  • No one wants to see Hairy Back Larry from apartment #7 laying out at the pool in his speedos. Pick a different time to shoot! (Sorry, Hairy Back Larry from apartment #7)
  • If you’re giving a tour of an empty property, throw out some ideas to the prospect as you’re giving the walk-through about what piece of furniture would look good here or there. You can say super witty things like, “And this is where your partner can put that hideous gumball machine…” as you open the door to your spacious closets. Let your viewer know that the bedrooms at your property can comfortably fit a king sized bed!
  • If you have a spare model home just lying around, go wild! Be interactive with all the wonderful aspects of your property. Maybe have some cookies ACTUALLY baking in the oven and go and check on them so when they’re finished your prospects can see how great the oven works. Maybe have an employee tucked all snug into the bed watching Netflix and eating popcorn so when you open the door to the large master bedroom, it looks like they just got caught. Then, smooth it over by saying how your properties are so cozy, it’s hard to resist. (The [corny] possibilities are limitless).
  • On a more photo technical note- try to use a tripod if possible and open the blinds and let in that natural light!

Tips to Consider For Marketing Your Virtual Tours

Use ALL your various social platforms and websites to let people know that you offer these virtual touring options. There’s no point in offering them, if your prospects don’t even know they exist! How do you let prospects know you’re the coolest kid on the block with “this many ways” to virtually view your property? Blast it front right and center on every platform you have.

 1. Use Your Homepage

Of course you need to take all the usual digital marketing steps to get people to your website first and when they get there…WHAPOW! Now’s not the time to be shy. Let it be the prettiest thing to look at on your homepage. “Extra, extra! Read all about it. We’re going live on FaceBook and we’re gonna shout it!” Maybe don’t put that exactly. C’mon, you’re beddah than that (Boston accent). If it’s a fresh new website design you’re looking for, look no further and give us a holler!

2. Social Content

Now that you have pre-recorded videos on your website and you’ve hosted a few live events, reuse the content that you have! Share little video snippets of your amenities on your social media. You can design an entire social media campaign around posting these videos. Start a YouTube channel to host them all in one place so prospects can binge watch your videos and really get to know your property without ever stepping foot inside!

 3. The Dangle Affect

Dangle incentives in front of your current residents to encourage them to get their friends to move in. It’s really in their best interest to live close to friends in case of a pandemic lockdown…right?!

You could offer them a percentage off of their first month’s rent after renewing their lease if they get at least 2 people to join the Facebook Live event. You see what I did there. Not only do you get at least 2 new prospects looking at your property, but you also just locked down a current resident for another term. SCORE!

If a resident refers a friend and they lease, you could offer a referral fee incentive or something like $200 worth of gift cards to shops in the surrounding community. You could even get the entire complex involved if you have multiple buildings at your property and turn it into a contest: whichever building get’s the most leases signed by a certain date (renewals or new leases) wins a pizza party paid for by you!

 The list goes on. Get creative. If referrals are completely a new concept to you, check out Six Ways To Reward Residence For Referrals. If you’re looking for a better understanding of how to build your referral program, check out 7 Tips For Building A Strong Resident Referral Program

 4. Advertising

Don’t underestimate the power of a good ol’ fashion email. Or even a print flyer you can slip into the mailbox of current residents. You can mention your virtual tours with links to all your platforms and also mention the referral program you offer. The resident will be more inclined to share with their friends if at the same time they can easily see there is something in it for them. Have a big sign close to the street that reads, “Now Hosting Virtual Tours!”. It just so happens that these are all things we can help you with and customize to your branding.

Submit a creative service request 

Just so we’re clear, we really recommend you offer a combination, if not all, of these virtual touring options. This is the way forward. This isn’t just advice on procedures to follow for apartment viewing during Covid-19; this is the future. Virtual tours are the new way to lease! Happy touring!

The Top 10 Ways to Maintain Resident Retention and Sign Renewals During the Coronavirus Pandemic The Top 10 Ways to Maintain Resident Retention and Sign Renewals During the Coronavirus Pandemic The Top 10 Ways to Maintain Resident Retention and Sign Renewals During the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Top 10 Ways to Maintain Resident Retention and Sign Renewals During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Written by Stacey Feeney on . Posted in All Articles, Marketing.

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There’s no doubt multifamily residential has been effected by COVID-19, in fact, nearly EVERYTHING changed overnight. Gone are the days of open houses, brunch and tours, realtor happy hours and all resident gatherings (for now anyway). It’s been a challenge to find new ways of marketing to prospects without the in-person gestures we are so used to. Plus, with the uncertainty of coronavirus, we are seeing less people venturing to take on the cost of moving. This is exactly why resident retention should be your top priority, if you aren’t signing new leases, focus on signing renewals!

Below are the Top 10 Ways to Sign Renewals During Coronavirus and Maintain Resident Retention to keep your current residents happy and make them feel even more at home while they are stuck in their homes. Make sure you read through all 10 because we saved the best for last!

1. Online Book Club or TV Binge Weekend

Catch up on some reading while we have this extra free time at home. Reading together will bring back a sense of community that many are longing for during quarantine. Here’s one way you could go about starting an online book club:

• Create a Facebook group. You could name it [Property Name] Book Club.

• Ask residents to join the Facebook group through posting on the property’s social media, posting up flyers around the community or placing them in the resident’s mailboxes, and send them an email about it with a link to the group!

• Start a poll in the Facebook group with the interested residents who’ve become members as a way to vote on which book to read. Once a book is selected, provide them with links to either purchase a physical book on Amazon or download the digital book for their kindles/tablets. If you want to go above and beyond as the host purchase digital books for the group from the community. Consider a free audio book to save money on audible.

• Create weekly discussion prompts by posting in the Facebook group to encourage conversation.

• Meet once a month or upon completion of the book on zoom and have a book discussion party!

You can use this same model to host a TV binge weekend for those residents who aren’t the book worm type!

2. Netflix Watch Party Movie Night

Remember when you used to host movie nights in the clubhouse? That feels SO long ago! Well now you can bring back movie night in the comfort of each resident’s home by syncing up to watch a movie online together through Netflix Party – to set this up, simply install Netflix Party in your Google Chrome browser, open Netflix, start a movie, ‘start the party’ and share the URL with your guests. Follow similar steps as mentioned above in Online Book Club/TV Binge Weekend to have residents join a Facebook group to vote on a movie. Then, at the agreed upon date and time, post the URL for all to join into the watch party.

You can chat in the Facebook group during the movie to talk about what’s going on and ask questions. For an extra special touch, have popcorn from a local vendor delivered to the doors of each movie-watching resident the day of movie night! This is a great way to sign renewals during coronavirus and maintain resident retention.

3. Fitness Accountability Group

Anyone gain the quaran-fifteen since March? Start a fitness accountability group to inspire your residents to get back on track with the goals they started 2020 out with! You can go about this a few ways (or both)…

• Partner with a local gym or personal trainer to go live on your property’s Facebook page once a week to lead a workout and then share tips, meal plans and encouragement throughout the week. It’s a great way to support local small businesses while providing a perk to your residents since the fitness center is closed. Plus, connecting with local businesses fosters great relationships for referrals later.

• Provide residents with online memberships to stream workouts, such as Beachbody on Demand which gives access to the top at-home workouts like P90X and T25. It’s only $99/year – a very reasonable cost to acquire a renewal during coronavirus.

4. Community Recipe Book

Ask your residents to submit their favorite recipes (with photos if possible) along with a short story or description about why that meal is special to them – maybe it was a recipe from their grandma passed down from generations. Give them a time frame to turn in their recipes and then compile them into a PDF booklet to send back out. It’s a fun way to get to know one another and inspire new things to try in the kitchen!

If you want to go the extra mile, have us here at zipcode creative design the book to be professionally branded and have a local printer bind and ship physical copies out to each household!

Contact us to get started.

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5. Balcony/Patio Dance Party or Concert

If you’ve been trolling the internet lately you’ve probably seen some of the amazing stories of people coming together for dance parties and concerts – while adhering to social distancing, of course – on their balconies and patios! Like the viral video of a DJ in Italy back when quarantine first started. So fun and a way for your residents to let loose a bit after months of being cooped up.

Hire a local DJ or a musician to perform on a Friday night from the pool deck or courtyard for all to enjoy at a safe distance from their balconies and patios. One way to start building hype for the event is to post on social and asking your residents to submit their song requests in ahead of time. A super fun wayto sign renewals during coronavirus and maintain resident retention.

6. DIY Crafts Together

Set a date to go live on Facebook or schedule a zoom meeting where you or someone you hire can give a DIY crafting project tutorial to your residents. How to plant an herb garden, build and paint a shelf, make a personalized wall hanging decoration – the options are endless.

 Either prepare a list of supplies and links for your residents to order what they’ll need online OR have them sign-up ahead of time and send the supplies right to their doors!

7. Host a Challenge or Contest

Host a challenge and give a prize to the winner. Spring cleaning is a good one for the season, but it can be anything! Promote on social, email, and flyers to your residents and ask them to post before and after pics using a custom hashtag you create such #ZipcodeSpringCleaning – then have your team vote on who should be the winner. You could also give multiple awards with different prize levels for titles like, “Most Improved Space” or “Best Design” and “Most Organized”. Make it fun!

 Instead of a challenge, make it a contest. One fun idea is to have a door decorating contest themed for a season or an upcoming holiday. Have the staff be the judges and the winner gets a prize. Take photos of the residents doors and post to social media to create some extra buzz about how much fun you have at your property.

Here are some prizing ideas that are social distancing compliant:

  • Uber Eats, Grub Hub, Food delivery service gift card
  • Target, Walmart or Grocery store gift card
  • 1 year subscription to Netflix, Disney Plus, or online fitness streaming service (like Beachbody on Demand)
  • One Month Free Rent

8. Celebrate National ‘Fun’ Holidays

We don’t have to wait for the Fourth of July to roll around, there are multiple ‘fun’ holidays every day of the year. Check out the calendar on NationalToday.com and pick something fun you can celebrate together with your staff and residents.

For example, Friday, May 15th is National Pizza Party Day. Reach out to a local pizza place and see if they will give you a special discount code to share with your residents – send out an email, a flyer, post on social to your residents with the code and have them post photos with their pizza to social and tag the property to be entered to win a prize. See prize ideas above under Host a Challenge.

Another example, Saturday May 23rd is National Taffy Day. Why not have a local vendor deliver a sample bag of taffy to each resident’s door? It’s the little touches that make all the difference in signing renewals during coronavirus and maintaining resident retention.

9. Play Virtual Games

Virtual Bingo

Host a Facebook live bingo night. Either put bingo cards in each resident’s mailbox leading up to the event or email them a printable PDF card. Then, go live at a set time to announce the numbers. You can play for free on LetsPlayBingo.io – simply choose “start a new game” and click “call next number” button at your own pace.

The first person to hit a Bingo must take a photo of their board and post it in the comments on your live video to win a prize. See prize ideas above under Host a Challenge.

Online Trivia Game Night

Go live on Facebook and quiz your residents!

Interactive Online Gaming

Play multiplayer video games for free with your smartphone as the controller through Air Console – simply get the word out to your residents to jump on to play together a set date and time. This is a great way for kids to connect during the stay at home orders.

10. Virtual Classes & Events

This is our favorite which is why we saved the best for last. Partner with local businesses and experts to provide scheduled Facebook live classes, events and talks. It’s a win-win for all. Support a local business or individual by hiring them to go live on your property’s Facebook page to teach their special skill, give a demonstration or speak their wisdom on a topic of interest to your demographic. These classes and events can be open to the public too as a way to attract prospects to take a closer look at your property. Welcome any non-residents and stay live for a time of Q&A at the end on their behalf. Below are a few ideas to get you started on a virtual event calendar.

  • Pinot & Paint class with a local artist
  • Recipe/Cooking Demo with a local chef at a restaurant
  • Yoga Class
  • Meditation Class
  • Talk about Organization with a professional organizer
  • Work from Home Tips with a pro
  • Homeschooling tips from an experienced home school teacher
  • Talk about COVID-19 with a local doctor
  • Concert with a local musician
  • How to start writing with a local author
  • Happy Hour with drink recipe

The list goes on. Reach out to your local preferred businesses and find out what talents they could share with your residents and prospects. Make sure to promote promote promote these events through social posts and ads, emails, mailers, flyers, the works! For now, these virtual events are replacing the onsite gatherings you were doing before so go all out to make your current residents happy and grab the attention of your prospects. Classes are one of the best waysto sign renewals during coronavirus and maintain resident retention.

Remember, we are here to help design the outreach materials you need, both print and digital to promote these events.

Stay on brand and lookin’ good, friends.