Landlords need to adjust to a changing rental environment, one where more tenants are employing digital means of researching and vetting apartment choices.
Closing on a lease in today's rental market means increasing one's visibility in the venues where tenants are looking for apartments, reported Multi-Housing News. Many are getting recommendations and referrals from friends on social media networks, presenting a prime opportunity for a landlord to set up a social media fan page online. That can give tenants the opportunity to connect with landlords through networking websites. Additionally, the fan pages will allow landlords to notify residents of group outings, recommend local neighborhood restaurants or provide maintenance tips – important parts of forming a community bond.
Additionally, while personal tours of apartments are still recommended, landlords should be prepared to handle online leasing, where tenants sign lease documents online, said the report.
"Prospects can apply online, without seeing the property if they are familiar with it, or in some cases they are referred to us by someone they trust, but we prefer that they come to the property," Bob Scaglion, of Rose Associated, told the news source.
Landlords are also advised to know the audience they're marketing to. A report in the New York Post suggested that landlords in buildings with large community rooms can successfully market to younger tenants, who might be drawn by the opportunity to socialize with other residents.