We at Trimark Properties specialize in student housing, a special niche of the real estate market. The Millennial generation is more mobile friendly than any previous generations, meaning the days of paper storage and outdated computer systems is over. The Internet has reshaped the real estate industry since properties can now be viewed and utilized on a phone, tablet, or computer. Potential residents can take a virtual tour online of an apartment before committing to a real tour and have a plethora of information at their fingertips. Therefore, they are much more knowledgeable about the apartment market since online research is so easy to undertake.
The multifamily industry is now focused on what things millennials are looking for. Even though millennials are the most mobile friendly age group by far, many other generations still have the same expectations for ease of technology use as well. Regardless of age, if a person drives past your property and sees it is for rent, they should be able to easily search for that property on Google, find a comprehensive list of the property’s amenities, interior pictures, and contact information for a leasing specialist. Since Trimark has mostly college students in our Gainesville market, many parents are very involved in the leasing process. For a parent who is worried about the living situation of their first child at college, technology can be your company’s greatest weapon, or its greatest weakness. Lack of pictures on your website paired with an unfriendly format doesn’t lead to much in terms of leads. On the other hand, putting virtual tours and videos on your website for each property gives people a sense of home and familiarity with a space they haven’t even stepped foot in. Virtual tours attract renters to your properties before a physical visit, making great progression in the leasing process.
Take a look at your demographic to determine what options are best for messaging options, and more. For example, the residents who are already with us can opt to have text and email alerts for a variety of functions. If a service request is completed, an email is sent immediately to the designated resident with the results of the visit and any other comments. Residents want to feel comfortable with you without even needing to come into the office. Young students can feel shy and nervous coming into a leasing office, but the text, chat, and email relationship built between your agents and residents builds a rapport. That rapport makes each resident’s trip to the office much more calming.
“More Google searches take place on mobile devices than on computers in 10 countries including the US and Japan”
The number of searches conducted on desktop computers is quickly being overtaken by smartphones. There is now a skewed ratio towards searches conducted on a mobile device versus a traditional computer or laptop. Your website may look exceptional on a desktop screen, but does it look just as compelling on an iPhone? Having a versatile website platform is crucial in putting your best foot forward as a property manager. Further, if your target audience cannot be reached through mobile search, you will miss out on impressing people with your beautiful properties. When brainstorming for which apartment features you want to highlight on your website, you should again target your demographic. Our Latitude 29 Luxury Apartments offer both hi-speed Ethernet and a cable package for residents. These amenities are included in rent and help make us stand out as a company. Since we cater to students at the University of Florida, they are more mobile than the regular millennial because of online classes and Netflix. When students look on the website and see that Ethernet and cable is included in rent for Latitude 29, they are much more likely to keep us in mind when searching for an apartment.
Lastly, the emergence of the digital world of real estate as a force to be reckoned with has created one more demand from residents: urgency. Having the world at your fingertips with the simple touch of a button is a feeling that millennials are all too familiar with. Millennials are accustomed to finding information instantly after typing a few phrases into their search browser. Make sure your brand name is readily accessible, and on many platforms too. Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook are just a few options for creation of a new account. These social media sites are great opportunities to establish a brand with viewers and share how great your apartments are. Our apartments in Gainesville FL are on the three sites mentioned above, and we’ve had good feedback from residents who wanted decoration ideas and found their apartment on Pinterest.
Written By: Claire Washburn