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Home Insider Blogs Charity Hisle's Blog Do Your Model Units Have Personality?
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Apartment Blogs


Nov 02
2009

Do Your Model Units Have Personality?

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Posted by: Charity Hisle on Nov 2, 2009 01:00

During last Friday’s Apartment Chat (#AptChat) on Twitter, we discussed "Using Photos and Videos for Marketing." A conversation came up between myself and Carrie at Roscoe about inexpensive options for decorating prior to creating a walk-thru video.  Carrie uses music and/or commentary on some of her videos, and we chatted about how she could improve the videos with few resources.

These are a few ideas for decorating vacant model units on a tight budget:

  • Use a few unique and well placed items to fill the void of an empty unit.
  • If a unit has been painted nicely, video the unit before repainting.
  • Video multiple units in the same day, save the videos even after the unit has leased.
  • Visit thrift stores or yard sales for portable pieces of furniture you can store easily.
  • Download diverse photographs to frame and place on walls, tables or counters.
  • Visit ApartmentMarketingStore.com and order inexpensive but unique amenity clings.

If you have $0 budget, why not create a checklist for everyone to bring a few items from home:

  • Colored shower curtain and a couple of bath towels.
  • Coffee maker and supplies.
  • Dog or cat food dishes.
  • Door mat and a set of curtains or sheers.
  • Framed (diverse) photographs or paintings.
  • Floor lamps.

If the idea is to inspire prospects to consider your available unit, why not spice up the videos? It doesn't necessarily have to look 'lived in', but it should have personality.

Please share your thoughts and ideas on inexpensive or free opportunities for decorating model units. 

Charity Hisle 

Comments (5)Add Comment
2215
written by Carrie White, November 02, 2009
Great info Charity! Having a model apartment for our smaller complexes isn't financially feasibly, but this gives us good ideas for creating a temporary model unit.
85
written by Charity Hisle, November 03, 2009
Thanks for commenting Carrie! I enjoyed 'chatting' with you during #AptChat and look forward to Friday's.

I would love to see what you end up doing for your temporary models, I hope you'll share your next video with us?
2545
written by Michelle Alarcon, November 04, 2009
I recently had 2 appliances break - an iron and an electric kettle. Instead of throwing them in a landfill, I 'donated' them to a property to use in their models. You can cut the cords so no one tries to use them. But they were in great condition soon, and I figured why not?
85
written by Charity Hisle, November 04, 2009
Michelle,

I LOVE your idea! That's perfect for things like lamps, T.V.'s and other items as well. Thanks for sharing!

Charity
698
written by Rob Tuttle, November 04, 2009
I have a small cd player in my show unit that plays Norah Jone's "Peace" over and over again. It is the most relaxing music and it sets a tone for the prospect. They feel like they are home.
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