WHY CURB APPEAL IS SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE READYS
With the amount of new apartment construction entering the marketing , it is important to have a complete and clean product available to compete with the new units .
Prospective residents will have likely have done some research on your community by the time they visit , and they have multiple reasons for their decision , such as location , schools , pricing , employment , etc . Therefore , they may have already chosen your community as a place they want to live by the time they visit in person . This is where you have the opportunity to shine . Make ready ' s are directly tied to the closing ratio of the leasing associates at the community .
Make ready ' s are not confied to the unit interior - that ' s where curb appeal ties in . The entry to the community and the buildings is the beginning of the make ready . No matter how nice the unit interior itself is , if the exterior entry , walkway , turf , landscape , etc . is not well kept , it affects their opinion on whether or not they will lease or continue to shop .
Here are the six most important tools that can lead to a successful make ready and move-inexperience .
1 . Curb appeal sets the tone when a new customer sees the community first hand .
2 . The pre-walk is when the first evaluation can be conducted and communication begins .
3 . Move-out date : When changing locks , this gives you an extra evaluation that can reveal hidden items not found during hte pre-walk .
4 . The Checklist : This tool is necessary for efficency and complete coverage of the unit interior items .
5 . The move-in experience sets the tone for the relationship between the resident and the community .
6 . Utilizing office personnel in conjunction with maintenance during the move-in can establish a customer service foundation that will not be forgotten .
-Chris Beno , ConAm Colorado
CURB APPEAL IN THE SUBURBS
Depending on the age of your community , most suburban areas in towns and cities have at least some natural landscaping in the neighborhood . Older communities can benefit from having natural , old growth landscaping to work around and with . With the possibility of additional landscaping and installation of flower , trees , and shrubs , the entire community can then offer a welcoming and beautiful exterior to compliment the interior homes . As we know , curb appeal in this industry is everything ! A prospect will drive away from a community if the exterior does not match photos posted online ! When dealing with curb appeal for suburban communities , it is important to remember :
• Take care of flower beds and planters in all areas , especially high-traffic common areas . Set a schedule that compliments your county ’ s water regulations , and if possible , use timers for watering . Keep an eye on weather reports , and immediately tend to flowers and plants if they are damaged due to snow , rain , hail , wind , or other weather issues .
• Tend to parking lots and sidewalks often . As part of suburban communities , small issues with these areas might be overlooked , but are as important as any other part of the curb appeal for the community .
• Bring your vegetation indoors ! Consider bringing low allergy plants inside the office and common areas . Modern , updated , and clean fake plants can also be used . If you use live plants , please set a schedule to water them regularly . These plants can add life to any office .
• As mentioned previously , pay particular attention to your turns and vacant units . A large portion of curb appeal is the entryway and office areas , but the prospect will notice a lack of attention immediately in a vacant or model unit . Take special care to extend your curb appeal to all areas of the community , and not just the tour paths .
Chris Abernathy is the Community Manager at 1600 Glenarm ( RedPeak ) and Amy Gillaspie is the Leasing Manager at The Vintage at Hyland Hills ( Legacy Partners ). They serve on the AAMD Communication Committee .
18 | TRENDS • MARCH 2017 www . aamdhq . org