Lately, I have been getting comments from several prospective tenants that the reason they want to move in to one of my buildings is because "It isn't one of those big complexes."  I thought those were the guys I was losing tentants to and competing against? Those were the places I wanted to one day be.   The 100+ unit complex with all the huge out door areas, enormous parking lots, warehouse size laundry areas, etc., etc.

Well, I will accept that.  My wife and I are small time.  Heck, we only own 32 units (of course we are looking for more) but we don't offer the pool, the weight room, or any amenities other than safe, clean affordable places to live.  Maybe that is the key amenity.

So how did I, all the sudden, become the destination place!?!

I think it is a couple of things.  We don't have the loud, rowdy parking lots. We also don't offer the "feels like I am living in a city in and of itself" that the one guy described.  With the struggles going on economically, I might stay with the strategy of buying standalone 12, 16, 20 unit buildings for exactly those reasons. Building a sense of community is one of the things that we do fairly well in our "little" buildings and that appears to be lost in the big complexes.  Bad behavior is not tolerated and being a good neighbor is an expectation. 

The way I see it is like this.  Those that already live with me expect me to do a good job with who joins them, and those that are checking us out expect me to already have good people waiting for them.  That might get to be more difficult the larger the complex.

Regardless, this is our business and all of the sudden, I have a competitive advantage over the big guys. Who knew?

 Doug and Debbie

Esker Properties (32 units small!)