Remote work became mainstream when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and it seems to have staying power. In fact, one survey “found that 80% [of businesses] plan to allow employees to work remotely at least part of the time after the pandemic, and 47% will allow employees to work from home full-time.”
That means there are going to be a lot of people continuing to work from home. So, it’s a good idea to consider how you can market to these people because it seems they now make up a good portion of the population. They could be your current tenants or those ideal tenants you want to attract. What will do you do to attract or retain them?
Remote workers need a few things to help them be successful. They need to have reliable cell service available. They desire high-speed internet. They want a dedicated work area, where they won’t be distracted. Those doing video calls will be looking for an ideal area to take these calls with the right background. They need a lot of perks that they would find in an office, but at home.
How can you use this information to attract them? You can offer high-speed internet at your building. Many remote workers prefer to pay extra if they have access to high-speed internet. You can set up areas where remote workers can “go to work,” such as a coworking space with some dividers set up to allow for individual space. Also, consider if there are places that offer better backgrounds for calls. Do your apartments have a beautiful balcony that you can market as a great place to make video calls? Is there a deck or a rooftop that could host professional meetings? Help your potential tenants picture themselves doing this by marketing the idea to them in your listing.
Another thing you’ll want to do is stage some of your units. In the staging process, make sure to show a designated area for working, whether that’s a room specifically designed as an office or a place in the living room designed for working from home. When potential tenants come through, they can get an idea of what it might look like for them to work in the space.
There are plenty of things to keep in mind when trying to attract new tenants and improve retention. Nowadays, you need to consider the fact that many renters will be working remotely and need a space where they can do just that.
If you’d like help increasing the marketability of your apartment community or assistance managing it, please reach out to us at PMI: https://www.milwaukeepropertymanagementinc.com/.
