While it may be a landlord’s market in today’s economy, this doesn’t mean a 100 percent guarantee for tenants. Unfortunately we, as landlord’s, have to put in some work in order to ensure a tenant (what has the world come to?). While the little things may seem tedious and you find yourself wondering, “why bother?”, trust me, tenants notice. You can watch all the HGTV you can handle, but making your space desirable comes down to two simple attributes;

CLEAN and INVITING.

Take the extra step when it comes to cleaning. This means dusting the blinds, cleaning the carpet, and yes, detailing bathrooms. If you can’t stomach it, higher a cleaner. Trust me, it is worth the extra investment. Tenants can see past a lot when searching for a home, but a nasty space is never acceptable. Before you tour, walk through your space, and ask yourself, “Would I live here?”.

Once you are sure that your space is clean enough to satisfy even the most judgemental tenant, it is time to move to the more complicated detail:inviting. You may wonder how in the world to satisfy such a vast array of potential clients, but it is really not all that complicated. Tenants don’t tour a house judging your interior design taste. They tour the home trying to imagine their own future niche. All you need to provide is the freedom to do so. While you may enjoy your lime green bathroom, all a tenant see’s is a space that will never live up to their ideal space. Go to your local paint or hardware store, spend the extra bucks, and paint that bathroom a neutral color that will allow your potential client to daydream straight into signing your contract.  Clean out the clutter and leave only the basic home features(beds, couch, desk, pillows,etc.), Go to your local furniture store and take a walk-through. Return to your rental space, and ask yourself, “ What would I see at the store?”. Anything else should be removed and relocated. If you are trying to rent a space that is currently occupied, talk to your current tenants and work something out. Perhaps offer them a discount if they allow you to stage their home (with their assistance of course).

Your main goal is to appeal to a vast array of potential tenants. Choose neutral colors, make sure your space is clean, and provide just enough accessory items to allow your potential tenants to build of your design features. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to appeal to tenants. You simply, have to clean and keep an open mind. While you may love your design elements, your opinion is not the one that should be considered. You are trying to sell a space. Keep their opinions in mind and your space will be well on it’s way to a future, satisfied tenant.

The post What Renters Look For appeared first on Student Spaces.

We can give you 6 great reasons!

Social Media…

• Connects you with your new potential residents
• Shares important community news with your residents
• Increases the visibility of your community online
• Improves your resident retention rates
• Increases your referral potential dramatically
• Challenges your competition!

How do you use social media for your apartment complex?

Facebook and Twitter are two of the best social media platforms for finding and connecting with renters. Here are a few tips for using these two channels to really connect with your new and existing audience:

Facebook

• Share content about features and benefits of your apartment complex. Set yourself apart from the competition by highlighting your uniqueness (location, events).
• Post pictures of the interiors of an apartment and the amenities that you offer (pool, gym, etc.). Images are shared much more than just written text so be sure to use large images (at least 504×504 pixels).
• Show potential renters how other residents enjoy living in your apartments. Encourage renters to share images of volleyball games, pool parties and the like on your Facebook wall.
• Let your renters know about upcoming events, maintenance issues and updates and invitations to complex-wide gatherings.
• Like Facebook pages that may potentially have the type of audience you are seeking (a college’s fan page, a sports team page, etc.)

Twitter

• Post short (140 characters or less) messages inviting Twitter users to check out your website. Include a link to either your website’s homepage or your Contact Us page to capture their information.
• Share images of the layout of your apartments, furnished and unfurnished to give new prospects a good sense of how things look.
• Give a link to articles that new and existing renters could use such as your city’s calendar of events, restaurant listings, and where to find the post office, laundromat, etc.
• Ask general questions about what potential renters are looking for in an apartment: location, type of community, location, and so on.
• Post upcoming events that may be of interest to potential renters.

So remember, building owners and managers like you need to explore all available avenues to reach prospective tenants. Social media marketing is one way to get your properties top of mind for businesses looking for a new space. It takes a bit of legwork, but the payoffs can be bountiful.

By: Jacquie Pirnie

Jacquie is our intrepid Social Media Director. She adores discovering new and exciting places to eat frozen yogurt.

You can find out more about her here:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquiepirnie/

The post Why you need to utilize social media for your property! appeared first on Student Spaces.

1. Location, Location, Location!

Make sure you consider proximity to campus.  Choose the area (On- campus? Off- campus?) that works best for you to get to class.  What’s your schedule?   Would you rather walk or take the student transit? Or would you rather drive to campus and park?  Parking may be an issue!  Don’t fall in love before you figure out how long it takes to get to from your apartment to class!  Remember…you might want to go to class every now and then!

2. Sometimes you don’t get to see the unit you’re moving in to, BUT ALWAYS ASK.

In some markets you have to sign a lease months in advance. (See #4). Even in pre-leases, the property manager should show you the model, but if a model isn’t available they should be able to show you something. IF you get to see the unit that you are living in, give it the smell test.  If it smells, tell the manager it smells!   Are you allergic to cats?  Cat dander is the worst. Look in the cabinets, flush the toilet(s) (I know, I know)….go around and make sure everything works. Report anything wrong to the manager that same day.  Take pictures with your cell phone, especially marks/nail holes in walls, stained carpeting (eww) and request carpet shampooing!

3. Roommate? Roommate Matching?

If you choose to “play the lottery” and live with someone you didn’t know before, consider this carefully!  Do they smoke?  Cig smoke will stink the place up – especially your clothes, which are your prized possession.  Calling all Febreze!  Does he/she like to play music loud?  Like wall- vibrating loud?  Hit Costco for a large box of earplugs. Does he/she eat hamburgers for breakfast lunch & dinner, &  you like to eat salads?   Er…at least you have room in the veggie bin of the fridge.  You see where I’m going here?  Maybe a 2 bedroom apartment works better.  In any case, be  flexible – you’re going to live with this person for an entire semester!

4. READ THE LEASE.   Read the fine print.  Read it AGAIN.  Read it ONE MORE TIME.

What’s included in the monthly rate?  Remember, utilities could be EXTRA.  (showers are important).  Covered parking could be too.  Make a list and ask every question (even if you think it’s dumb) before signing!!

5. DON’T  fall for the “this unit will be gone soon” line, especially if the apartment doesn’t feel right…

Check with your contacts on social media and ask about the property….do many other students live there?   Do you want a quiet or party atmosphere?   Move on if there’s  screaming children and diapers floating in the pool. Check out the grounds – are they well maintained?  Do the neighbors look normal?  Is that still a word?    Look at the neighborhood and drive by at night too. Nighttime changes everything – right?  (You’re make-up looks better anyway.)   Go with your gut…if it doesn’t feel right, look elsewhere, especially if you’re a woman planning to live alone.

6. DON’T  lease the first apartment you look at!  

You might regret it later….take the time to look around at at least 2 – 3 other properties.   You wouldn’t buy the first dress you find, would you? Well,  I digress.

written by Grace Hill

The post Before Renting Your First Apartment, Consider the Following… appeared first on Student Spaces.

Thanks to www.Buzzfeed.com, here’s another funny GIF-filled article on finding an apartment. Enjoy!

1. You spend so much time looking online you never actually go outside.

2. What you WANT and what you can AFFORD are entirely different things.

Comedy Central / Via giphy.com

3. You think you’ve found a place and then realise no busses, trains, or trams are in the area.

howelladdicted.tumblr.com

4. Real estate sites keep showing you “nearby” suburbs.

Via replygif.net

IF I WANTED TO LIVE IN THAT SUBURB I WOULD HAVE SEARCHED FOR THAT SUBURB!

5. Everything good seems to be only JUST out of your price range.

Universal Pictures

6. There are no gyms anywhere near the places you look at.

ABC / Via whatshouldwecallmemes.tumblr.com

Which gives you an excuse to not exercise, I guess.

7. You think you have a good chance at getting a place and then a family walks in and you’re like:

Via whatthebuck20.tumblr.com

8. You’re ashamed of your rental history.

NBC

9. You get rejected a lot.

Comedy Central / Via giphy.com

10. And you’ve told yourself far too many times that “this place will be different.”

Summit Entertainment

11. People start sending you links to places they’ve seen online.

NBC

I know. I saw it. I check. Every day.

12. You get so desperate for an apartment that you start enquiring about the ones listed with one or ZERO photos.

Via fuckyeahreactions.tumblr.com

13. And you don’t even get accepted by them.

Via hasi5544.tumblr.com

14. You’ll think you’ve found the perfect place only to discover the entire house has ONE POWERPOINT.

AMC / Via deartrolls.tumblr.com

15. Each agency has a different set of forms that you have to fill out in a different way to differentiate yourself.

Via o-cantor.tumblr.com

16. But you still get rejected.

Via takethispainawaywithyourkisses.tumblr.com

LOL!

17. Every real estate agent is a dick.

Paramount / Via chasohard.tumblr.com

No arguments. This is law.

18. And finding the ‘right’ people to move in with can be tougher than you thought.

FOX

19. And even when you do, no one is perfect and SOMETHING they do will BUG THE HELL OUT OF YOU!

Via melancholic-wallflower.tumblr.com

20. So you should genuinely start considering moving back in with your parents.

Via gemini-dragon-gifs.tumblr.com

Have fun!

The post 20 Problems You Always Encounter While Apartment Hunting appeared first on Student Spaces.