Topic: Leasing a Student-Housing Property

The student-housing property I work at is about 80% pre-leased for fall 2016 and we seem to have hit a plateau. What are some ideas you guys have for a property that has 4 bedrooms/4.5 baths and a large percentage of grad students?

I'd start by taking every single lead you have had that didn't lease and stalking them! If they've leased elsewhere see if they'll tell you why they didn't lease at your community. You may get some helpful info. If you can survey monkey them you may get more honest feedback. For those who haven't made a decision I'd start some creative follow up, using email, snail mail, and any other cool follow up to make them choose your community.
You can do it!

What is the target market for your comps in student housing? Do they typically lease to the undergrads? Or, are there specific properties that cater to the Grad Student? If there aren't then that is where I would concentrate my marketing efforts. Since most Grad Students are past the party-every-night and all night on weekends, they look for quiet atmospheres where they can pursue their education in a serious, focused way. Hit up the law school, med school, business and engineering departments. Advertise those 4 bedrooms as possible Study Groups for their area of study. Students talk and if you really talk up the advantages of catering to the special needs of these students, it helps. They need washer/dryers in unit and quiet atmospheres, food delivery services and valet dry cleaning. If you provide these amenities, they will be very happy!

Are you tracking your calls? If so, call the prospects back who called you but never reached anyone (maybe you while you were out on a tour, during after hours, etc.). I would call back within 2 days of the prospect's original call, because prospects (especially students) are leasing and making decisions very quickly today.

I work with a ton of properties who have just simply called missed leasing opportunities back and booked a handful of more appointments because of it. Feel free to send me a message if you have any follow up questions.