Holiday Celebrations

Written by on December 1, 2011 in Management - No Comments
Apartment Holiday Celebration Ideas

As the popular holiday tune reminds us, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year”. That also means it’s time for holiday parties. Last year we shared 15 renter friendly holiday celebrations. This year we’d like to dive a bit deeper and help you throw a great party in your community room.

1. Start with a theme - Get creative as you think of ways to bring everything together. You could devise a theme around colors like winter white paradise, or holiday accessories like pine cones or snowmen. If you want to go all out, check out these holiday themed parties suggested by Multifamily Pro:

  • Toyland – A magical world of giant lollipops, candy canes, ornaments, toys and huge packages wrapped up with colorful ribbons. This fantasy theme will bring out the child in every resident.
  • Surfin’ Santa – Tell your residents to leave their heavy coats at the door and come out to the beach! Set up a volleyball net with beach balls. Add a “Christmas” palm tree. Hang a bright sun, beach towels, sand pails and shovels with a sprinkling of Christmas decorations (pink flamingos with holiday wreaths around their necks, beach pails full of Christmas cookies, life preserver Christmas wreaths, etc.)
  • Reindeer Round-up – Bring the spirit of the West alive with Country and Western holiday music. Decorate with a cactus done up as a Christmas tree. Use rope around the room like garland, and serve western-style treats.

2. Play games – Make sure to keep all children, young and old, entertained with some fun games and activities. Some classics include:

  • Santa Says – The rules are the same as Simon Says and by playing it at the beginning of the party, it ensures the kids are listening and following instructions. If you have someone dressed up as Santa, they give orders of things to do but only those instructions which are proceeded with “Santa Says”, should be followed by the players. Any player who follows instructions without “Santa Says” are out.
  • Make Reindeer Candy Canes – Set up a craft table with candy canes, felt balls for noses, googly eyes, pipe cleaners cut into 2 inch pieces, and craft glue. Let the kids use their imaginations to make a reindeer under staff’s supervision.
  • Pin the Nose on the Rudolph – Another spin on a classic game. Blindfold one child at a time and have them pin the red nose on Rudolph.

3. Serve light food & signature drinks – To stay on a budget serve desserts with winter inspired non-alcoholic beverages like hot chocolate and apple cider. If you want to serve alcohol, limit choices to one red wine, one white wine, one beer and a signature cocktail. Less unfinished bottles at the end of the night equals less out of pocket expense.

4. Involve a charitable cause – Consider having a price for admission to help a worthy cause. It could be a can of food that will be donated to the local food bank, gently used coats and clothing to be donated to a local shelter, or a toy as part of the Toys 4 Tots campaign. Residents will enjoy helping a charity and a little participation from everyone will yield a nice donation for a good cause.

However you decide to celebrate the holidays with your residents, remember to spread holiday cheer and kindness.

Photo by: hojoanaheim

Curb Appeal = More Leases

Written by on August 10, 2011 in Management, Marketing - No Comments
curb-appeal

First impressions count. Your potential renters make a decision about renting your property in the first 30 seconds that they see it. The nicer your rental property looks when you first set eyes on it can make or break the number of showings you have and how long it sits on the market. Curb appeal can also increase the quality of renter you attract and the amount you can charge in monthly rent. Since long vacancy times directly affect your pocket book, it’s important to keep your property rented. Here’s how you can improve your rental property curb appeal and ensure more leases in a short period of time.

1. Look at the Big Picture

Step back and take a look at your rental property as if you were a renter. What does it look like when you drive by? Are you attracting the type of renter you want with your first impression? Do you want to stop and come in or do you want to drive away?

2. Clean up for Instant Results

Sweep the stoop. Wash the windows. Pick up anything cluttering up your entrance such as tools or toys. These simple fixes will go a long way in making your entrance feel inviting.

3. Small Landscaping Fixes

3a. Trim Hedges and Plants. Don’t let a stray plant keep your renter from coming inside to see what your property has to offer.

3b. Fertilize and Mow the Grass. If your property has a lawn, make sure it’s at its best. Even if you do not have a green thumb, you can hire a gardener to give it a little extra TLC.

3c. Add Color with Flowers. It’s easy to create an inviting path with potted flowers or plants.

3d. Spruce up with Mulch. Mulch is an affordable way to clean up flowerbeds and freshen up your property’s overall look.

4. Make a Dramatic Entrance

Painting your front door so that it stands out is an easy way to invite renters in. Stage the entrance with planters and an inviting welcome mat also guides renters up the pathway.

5. Check the Lights

Update light fixtures to add new life to your curb appeal. Use bright light bulbs and at the very least, make sure they work. Take it a step further by anchoring the door with matching sconces to create appealing symmetry.

6. Lay Out a Clear Path

Make sure there is a clear path leading up to your front door. If the path is not clear, consider adding stepping stones, gravel, or bricks. Never make someone work to get to your front door and inside your rental property.

7. Maintain a Cohesive Look

Does your garage door look like it belongs to your rental property? If not, consider painting it to match or think about replacing it.

8. Add Some Bling

Another simple update for your rental property is replacing the hardware outside your front door. Add shine and sophistication with new number plates, mailbox or doorknob. These pieces work best when they match, rather than as mix-and-match pieces. Think about how to complement your property’s style too. Bronze finishes suit traditional homes, while brushed nickel suits more contemporary ones.

RentMonitor, online rent collection software, makes it easy to be a landlord. We simplify the rent collection process by helping self-managing landlords stay on top of their rental property business. RentMonitor is the one solution landlords need to manage their rent payments, build better relationships with their tenants and make more money.

Photos by: Better Home & Gardens