Amenity Marketing

To lure renters away from competitors, many apartment companies have built communities with impressive amenities or added them to existing communities.

However, if our latest Apartment Chat is any indication, renters are most interested in everyday conveniences, not extravagant extras.

Here are a few highlights from this week’s amenity marketing discussion. (Hit the links to jump straight to a specific question.)

• Q1: In today’s market, are you seeing more residents demanding better amenities? What amenities are must-haves for renters?
• Q2: We’ve seen a lot of over-the-top amenities recently. How much do these help? Do they deliver a strong return for the property?
• Q3: What are under-appreciated amenities that we forget? What are amenities that we should *stop* offering?
• Q4: What are *you* seeing when it comes to amenities? Any great examples you’ve seen out there? Any other questions/insights?

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In today’s market, are you seeing more residents demanding better amenities? What amenities are must-haves for renters?

A1, Atlanta always seems very competitive. Prox to parks is big. We’re also the city of trees. #aptchat

— Kevin Ekmark (@KevinEkmark) August 25, 2015

A1. #2 seems to be package acceptance! My site managers are drowning in packages! #aptchat — Holli Beckman (@Apartmentalist) August 25, 2015

@AptChat In-unit amenities are still priority. The ILS have amenity search data to reference which are hottest (W&D, parking, etc.)#aptchat

— Stephanie Oehler (@StephanieOehler) August 25, 2015

A1: According to our data, the most-filtered for apartment feature is washer and dryer. Number 2 is AC. http://t.co/UsOkZhoiCu #aptchat — RentPath (@RentPathNetwork) August 25, 2015

@stephanieoehler We took a look at the amenities renters searching for in different cities @radpad http://t.co/e4Op8NWtr8 #AptChat

— Craig Chester (@MiamiUrbanist) August 25, 2015

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We’ve seen a lot of over-the-top amenities recently. How much do these help? Do they deliver a strong return for the property?

@AptChat It helps with attraction, but the more amenities we add, the more staff we need to handle programming+people are expensive #aptchat — Holli Beckman (@Apartmentalist) August 25, 2015

@AptChat A2. I know one amenity that pops up in our region that NEVER gets used: The movie theater. #aptchat — Lindsey Hobbs (@hobbsie11) August 25, 2015

@hobbsie11 @AptChat Many props only have the theatre avail. when the office is open. No value there for residents really IMHO. #aptchat — Stephanie Oehler (@StephanieOehler) August 25, 2015

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What are under-appreciated amenities that we forget? What are amenities that we should *stop* offering?

A3. It surprises me when I see new buildings still offering Wii or other gaming consoles #aptchat — Holli Beckman (@Apartmentalist) August 25, 2015

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What are *you* seeing when it comes to amenities? Any great examples you’ve seen out there? Any other questions/insights?

@AptChat One sweet easy upgrade is USB charging stations; at least 1 in the unit is an awesome “perk”. #aptchat — Khara (@leftnwrite08) August 25, 2015

@AptChat @leftnwrite08 We try to give some outdoor space.We’re in the city so any chance to give someone space to BBQ=winner #aptchat

— Holli Beckman (@Apartmentalist) August 25, 2015

We mentioned seeing quite a few over-the-top amenities lately. For us, the one that takes the cake is this “sky pool” (seen in the header image on this post) across the pond in London. It’s 10 stories high and suspended between two apartment buildings!

Our next #AptChat will be Tuesday, September 1st at 12 pm Eastern. In the meantime, be sure to sign up for #AptChat updates to get these recaps and more delivered straight to your inbox!