Topic: Time for a retention event! What should we do!

A pizza party? A prize drawing? Ice cream social? A neighbor meet & greet? A table of tasty treats? Swimming? Something else? All of the above?

What did you do for your last retention event?

Was it successful? :cheer:

What do you plan for your next one? :silly:

Bowling or ice skating would be an idea, but I don't know of too many properties who have alleys or rinks on-site (and yes, I am sure insurance would be a concern). The great thing about bowling is that everyone can laugh at each other a little bit, which will loosen the crowd up. How about an outdoor movie if the property has a suitably-sized lawn, or maybe a group trip to a local sporting event?

I was at a property that was across the street from a bowling alley. I also have a friend that managed a property that was across the street from a 'family fun center'..... These venues were used for resident activities with great success.

Hi Rose!
I have an idea for you that Felicia and I were brainstorming! We thought it would be fantastic for an on-site team to browse through Resident Events and pick out 5 of their favorite events, and then share them with the residents and let them vote for their favorite!

They might even have some great ideas for upgrades that would make the event even better :)

Just in time for spring cleaning we had a community garage sale. Residents were either selling or buying. We had Starbucks coffee to go placed an ad in the newspaper and on Craig's List. Signs everywhere by 11 everyone was sold out! This was our second annual. Everyone wants to have another one in the fall.

No two properties are the same and the residents that are on the properties are from different cultural as well as economic back grounds. There are different things which impact them.

The best way I have found to capture what residents would like is to capture this data up front when they first lease with a questionnaire sheet. I place a list of things which we have done in the past and I have about four blanks where they can fill in theirs.

I then plug this into a database and use it when planning events and I try to capture what the majority goes for.

We also have what we call cultural events where our neighbors get to know and learn about other cultures. We try to get the local community cultural societies involved and make a big deal of it. We try to always make these events where they will be something that will be easy for the families to make it to. We give about a 90 day warning, so people can get it on their calendars, then 60 days, then 30 days, and then once a week. We try each time to put something new and exciting out there for the people.

Friday evenings and Saturdays have always worked out in most places I have been, but that is not to say that other days of the week will not work. Friday evenings and Saturdays work because most people do not have to worry about work and other events and it is fun for the family and community.

One community, we started a chess club and it went from a few people to we had parents and children involved. If there were students that were having problems in school we tried to have some events for them and we even had some teachers that worked with the students that lived in our complexes. For those teachers we cut them some slack on their rent.

The bottom-line is when you have community events, the mindset is no longer retention events because people that have a true community do not want to be anywhere else and I can promise you, word of mouth will get around!

I am very excited about something I have been planning for a while. It started as an idea that I shared with my local Apartment Asssociation and I was told they are going to try something similar. For my properties though, here is what I am planning for a Renewal Party. I am inviting Residents to tour some of our Residents' beautifully furnished apartments in a progressive Open House. The tour will culminate with everyone touring a Vacant. The Vacant will feature all the upgrades they may choose when they renew their lease(s). They don't get to choose ALL unless they are willing to pay upcharges (and I know I will have some that will do that.) While they are looking around, I will be having a catered dinner prepared and being served on the patio and adjoining yard, to which I refer to as the outdoor living room. Regardless of whether or not someone chooses an upgrade, Residents will be able to meet others, eat (and who doesn't like that?) and perhaps get some new decorating ideas to use in their own homes. I believe I will have a lot of participation and renewals. After the party is over, I will hold a drawing for various items, including dinners, gift cards to HomeGoods, Pier 1, Target, etc. Residents won't need to stay all night - they'll be notified the next day on our Facebook page. I am looking forward to this!

Mindy, please tell me you are sharing that idea on Resident Events! It sounds fantastic!

Food Trucks have become quite thing to do in downtown Indianapolis. Food trucks are basically mobile restaurants and we have such a variety here from Pizza trucks, Indian trucks, to Dessert Trucks.

We were able to contact Circle City Spuds ( a Food Truck that specializes in Baked Potatoes) and invited them to our Property one Saturday afternoon. We mentioned the visit in our newsletter early that month and passed out flyers to the residents and surrounding local businesses the week prior. There was a good turnout and residents enjoyed the convenience of grabbing a quick and affordable lunch within walking distance of their homes.

Here is one I came up with for the Resident Events site that is a great way to get residents together to meet and mingle while also encouraging people to give back to their community. If you like it - share it :)

bit.ly/O0DkGY

With the Olympics approaching; how about a resident competition and renting an outdoor screen and projector for the games?

www.funflicks.com/sacramento-outdoor-movie-rental.html