YOUR RESIDENT MOVE-IN SHOULD BE AN EXPERIENCE, NOT A PROCESS.
Each year, thousands of residents move into apartment communities.
But most communities still manage the resident move-in like it's the 90s, with:
- Printed or PDF resident guides no one reads.
- Manual processes that overwhelm site teams and residents.
- Uninspiring welcome letters.
The move-in process is the SINGLE most important part of your community's resident experience. It sets the stage for EVERYTHING ELSE.
As the saying goes, the first impression is the last impression.
A few tips for creating a memorable move-in experience:
1. Create a WOW moment as soon as they move-in
Add a ribbon to their apartment door so that they can cut it like an opening ceremony. Reserve an amenity for them. Register them for your upcoming event.
2. Make them a part of the community ASAP
Gamify your resident move-in like a scavenger hunt, add rewards for downloading your resident engagement app, posting on the social feed, attending their first resident event, etc.
3. Give out fun and creative move-in gifts
Think about gifts that are useful, fun AND prompt people to engage with what your property has to offer. Examples: a property-branded yoga mat, credits to their concierge-services account, a list of top restaurants and shops around your neighborhood (add a gift card too!).
4. Digitalize and automate your resident guide
Don't overwhelm your new residents with a 200-page resident manual or guide. A digital guide gives them access to the information they need at their own pace. It also saves your team time from answering the same questions over and over again.
5. Create onboarding videos
A series of quick videos have the WOW factor, and they're super helpful. You can start small with a video of the site team introducing themselves and welcoming the new residents to the property. Record it once, share it hundreds of times!