Guest Blog
Guest Post: How to Create Powerful Brands and Boost Leasing for Multifamily Properties
By Jamie Matusek and Christy McFerren, Catalyst Branding. The term alone evokes a myriad of thoughts, definitions and even feelings. Many people see branding as a logo, a color palette and maybe a few iconic photos rolled out into marketing materials that should sell their product or service. These are all pieces of the branding puzzle to be certain, but they are more like fruit than roots. True branding starts much deeper and begins well before design elements are created. Throughout my 15-plus years of marketing experience, I have helped many organizations understand the difference between what they perceive branding…
In the Age of High-Tech, Low- and No-Tech Amenities Still Have Their Place
What “no-tech” amenities do you offer at your community?
Guest Blog: Serendipity in a Career and Learning from Breaking Bad
The real estate business is a broad and deep universe. People contribute and make careers and make fortunes and make a difference in so many different ways.
Guest Blog: How to Legally Protect Yourself Against Problem Residents
The job of a landlord can be difficult, especially when it comes to legal issues.
Guest Blog: Appealing to Today’s Renter: 4 Ways to Improve Resident Satisfaction
While the home ownership dream is still alive and kicking, people who actually pursue it are fewer and less determined to act on it right away.
Guest Blog: How to Increase Your Visibility on Apartment Search Sites
By Edward Jiang, Business Development Manager at PadMapper A successful marketing strategy for every multifamily community recognizes how renters in your area look for new places to live, and being available and visible in the right locations. With 27-million monthly unique visitors to the top 6 apartment search websites according to ComScore (and that’s in January, the middle of slow season), you can’t ignore the fact that many people start their hunt for a new place online. Websites like Google and Amazon train users to expect easy access to information about products or services: reviews, photos, open hours, etc. However,…
Guest Post: Creating Active Adult Communities that Withstand the Test of Time
By David Smith, Florida Division President, AV Homes Baby boomers are known for their commitment to progress, and their pursuit of revolutionary new ideas. It is only fitting, then, that the generation that redefined activism decades ago is changing what it means to be an active adult today. As developers, managers, board members and property owners know, 55-plus communities are evolving dramatically, employing thoughtful new design elements, a range of highly customized amenities and even a new approach to marketing. The most successful active adult communities are defined by the choices they offer, particularly in terms of their residences, which…
Guest Blog: Active Adult Living: Marketing Amenities for Broad Appeal
By Michael Mendillo, President, FirstService Residential Mid-Atlantic For today’s active adult residents, a marketable and appealing community amenity is not what it used to be. In fact, it’s not one specific thing at all, unlike in the past when a top-notch golf course drove the formula for success. Now amenities are a different story altogether–a story marked by diverse activities that reflect the unique and varied interests of the 55-plus audience. The golf course still has a place in the overall plan for many, but it has been joined by a host of potential options: team sports programs, on-property bike…
Guest Blog: Canada vs. The United States: Comparing Student Housing Markets
By Darren Vanecko, President, Places4Students.com Over the past decade, the student housing market in the United States has been rapidly expanding with the boom of purpose-built student housing. With each passing year, the number of student housing bed deliveries seems to be increasing alongside enrollment rates. The same, however, cannot be said about Canada. Yes, enrollment rates are increasing in Canada, but student housing isn’t advancing in conjunction with these rates. There are a variety of potential reasons why Canada is lagging behind USA, such as smaller population, regional disparity, lack of market research, unwillingness from major REITs to invest…
Guest Blog: How to Prepare your Rental Property for a Safe and Fun Halloween
By Nicoleta Iudean Halloween—the most fang-tastic celebration of the year—is just around the corner. Most of your residents, both kids and grownups, will keep busy these days with choosing the spookiest costumes, buying sweets, carving pumpkins and putting up creepy decorations in their apartments. On the other hand, you—as a landlord or property manager—face some serious concerns: the safety of your residents and of your rental properties during this festival of mischief. So, should you “trick” or should you “treat”? There’s a fine line between being too strict (by issuing specific property regulations for October 31st in order to ensure…