Top 12 Tips: Apartment Model on a Shoestring Budget

Have champagne taste and a beer budget? Need a model apartment to help you lease, but on a shoestring budget?

A client told me yesterday that they read my blog, "Got Vacancy? Apartment Models - Is it a DO, a DON't or a CAN't Afford?" and during their budgeting process, the sites that struggled the most with vacancy, budgeted for models. BUT, the budgets were "scrubbed" and the model expenses were taken out.

There are lots of creative and affordable ways to model an apartment! The great news is, you don't have to go ALL OUT - you just need to make an impression! If you prospect is looking at 4-8 other apartments - how do you make yours MEMORABLE?

Here are my top 10 budget conscious tips for whipping up a model on a dime!

1. All white or ivory walls can be overwhleming. Painting an entire unit can be overwhelming and time intensive. Consider an accent wall! For the price of paint and minimal work, you can really make an apartment POP by painting 1 wall. Not only will this create visual interest, it will draw the attention directly to THAT wall.
2. Kitchens - can use accent walls too! Instead of accent tiles which are expensive, consider painting the space underneath cabinets an accent color. This will make that area POP!
3. Speaking of kitchens, if you have bare counter space, consider some kitchen accessories, like fake potted herbs, oven mitts, cookbooks. Artfully arrange them on the counter top to cut up the space and create visual interest. Don't overdo it - you'll just end up with clutter. You can "model" a kitchen and warm it up with an accent splash and a few accessories for less than $100.00.
4. Buy some scented candles or scented plug-ins that have food smells like cinnamon, vanilla or chocolate. SCENT is a GREAT way to make an impression! Nothing to heavy of overwhelming. Create a feeling of home through SCENT!
5. Instead of trying to model the entire unit, just model the family/living room area. Cut your model costs dramatically by modeling JUST the family room/living area, and making it as comfy/cozy/welcoming as possible. If your prospects can imagine living in that apartment unit, you've hooked them.
6. Instead of placing a TV in any room you are modeling, consider a large piece of framed art/print, approximately the size of a TV. Prints/Art are more visually appealing, and you can pick the colors in your print/artwork. Additionally, art/prints are easy to place and easy to move. Flatscreen TV's are expensive, heavy and many times require installation.
7. Bathrooms are an EASY and inexpensive way to make an impression. A bright or patterned shower curtain, a couple of colorful towels in a basket or artfully placed on the towel racks, some colored soaps, perhaps an art print, and some scented candles/scented oils/scented soaps can REALLY make a bathroom feel less sterile, and more spa-like. Accent walls can work in bathrooms too! The picture to the left is a great example of all the bathroom tips - accent wall, bright patterned shower curtain, bright accessories. This entire bathroom can be modeled for about $100.00 - and WHAT an impression!
8. Closets - place a few colorful hangers or wood hangers on the rack. Place logo'd retail shopping bags (2-3) into the closet space. (i.e. Express, Victoria's Secret, Ann Taylor, etc.)
9. If you are able to model the bedroom, stick to full or queen sized beds/headboards that take minimal space. (Not only to save space, but to save on the budget! Use small side tables with clean lines, whenever possible. Bedding is a GREAT way to make colorful splash, OR, if your room is colorfully painted, consider all white bedding. Use fluffy pillows and fluffy bedding.
10. For any furniture, accessories, etc., shop at your bargain stores. They don't have to be comfortable or functional - they just have to look good. I love TJ Maxx, Home Goods, Close-outs, Ikea, etc. For big furniture pieces, if you have time and energy, try craigslist.
11. Need inspiration? Here's my FAVORITE apartment decorating site: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ - they have GREAT tips for decorating apartments. Lots of pics. Visually appealing. GREAT ideas.
12. And don't forget one of the most important things you can do to a model or any vacant apartment - CLEAN. Make sure everything is clean and fresh. All counters, carpet, flooring, windows, bathroom surfaces - EVERYTHING. CLEAN may be an expectation, but if your model or vacant apartment is dirty, it will drive your prospects AWAY.

And remember - you don't have to go ALL out. Just OUT. Make an impression. Be memorable. POP!