What is something nice I can do for apt residents?

Multi-Family and Apartment Investing
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What is something nice I can do for apt residents?

Joe Fairless
Investor · Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes

Have any ideas of what I can provide residents of a large class C apt community? 

I'd like to give them something nice and unexpected. Some parameters I'd like to stay within: 

- no rent concessions

- ideally very inexpensive - $5 or less for each person (if it costs anything at all) 

- minimal coordination and time needed to execute 

I'm trying to brainstorm creative ideas and so far have come up with the following: 

- Note of Gratitude - a personal letter to the resident on a nice card that is handwritten and simply says thank you for being part of the community 

- Portrait of Family Drawn by Artist - go on Fiverr.com and get it done for $5. This is more involved as I'd need a picture of them and that would defeat the "unexpected" angle. I like how it lasts a long time though - something they might treasure.  

- Have a pool party with a local singer (or resident singer who is in band) perform - more involved and doesn't reach all my residents, plus more expensive 

- Give everyone a $1 scratch-off lottery ticket with a nice note 

- Give everyone a cutting board (or something else that helps keep the property looking nice) - if they have a cutting board then they might be less likely to cut on the countertop therefore the counter tops would last longer - found that I can buy them for about $2 a piece 

Any other ideas?? 

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Marcia Maynard
Investor · Vancouver, WA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
12y

We prepare a move-in gift package that includes cleaning supplies (degreaser, carpet spot cleaner, vinegar, baking soda, magic eraser, disinfectant wipes), cutting board, plunger, hand soap, dish soap, paper towels, and toilet paper, presented in a cleaning bucket and reusable shopping bag. ($30)  

At move-in we also loan the tenant the use of drop cloth runners (to protect the flooring on move-in day), furniture moving blankets, furniture sliders, furniture lifting straps, a step stool, and a picture hanging tool kit (with small hammer and picture hooks). 

On going, every November we give a grocery store gift card to each household one week prior to Thanksgiving. ($10)

For our 8-plex apartment community, we established an area where tenants could garden.  We rototilled the ground and amended the soil.  We invited tenants to come with us to the nursery to pick out plants and we paid for the starter plants.  It is an organic vegetable garden.  That was a big hit and really brought the tenants together as a community.  We are now planning a sitting garden, with a nice bench and flowers.

During December we will give a small food gift, such as a jar of jam, box of candy, homemade bread, or hot cocoa.  December-January, we decorate our 8-plex with white "holiday lights", which really makes it cheery when coming home on dark winter nights.  

When a tenant has a life crisis event, like a serious personal illness or death in the immediate family, we send a card with a love gift. ($50)

During extremely cold weather or extremely hot weather we make a personal visit to each tenant to make sure they are prepared for the weather and are keeping safe.

Our "All Star" tenants are those that pay their rent on or before the first of the month consistently over time, take care of the property and follow the terms of the rental agreement and our property rules.  We reward our "All Star" tenants by doing upgrades to their apartments first and respond more favorably to their special requests, tying it to the fact that they are "All Stars."  They also get other gifts from time to time, such as: house plant, flower basket, flower bowl, bedding plant, door mat, fireplace log, professional carpet cleaning of traffic areas (for long term tenants every 5 years).

We do not do rent concessions.

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  • Bob E.
    Queen Creek, AZ · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    If it is a larger community why not have a weekend BBQ.  Bring out a grill, some burgers n dogs etc......

    0Reply
  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    12y

    @Marcia Maynard 

      people in the northwest are so nice.. I doubt any grizzled land lord out in the mid west would even consider what you do... good on you.. And this is my 1000 th post so glad its response to a neighbor

    With my rentals I buy them a turkey at THK  35 dollar gift card to grocery store.

    Christmas changes every year... one year I did mini I pods for example

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    1Reply
  • Julie GreenePro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Buffalo, NY · Member since 2012 · 64 posts · 9 votes
    12y

    @Joe Fairless  great forum thread to get me thinking of the future...we currently only have one rental property but are In the process of trying to acquire more.   With our one unit (in a high rent area), when they moved in, we bought our tenants a nice bottle of Champagne, and I always make some kind of food gift for them around the holidays.  Clearly this doesn't fit your budget (nor would it fit mine for a larger building), but seeing as our tenants recently exercised year three of the potential four year lease (with slight rent increase for year three), it was well worth it!

    @Marcia Maynard - wow, all tremendous ideas - thank you for sharing!!

    1Reply
  • Account Closed
    Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 744 votes
    12y

    I think most tenants would be happy for the landlord to be honest with them and give straight answers and fix things that need fixing.

    Joe Gore

    0Reply
  • Rachel Randolph
    Real Estate Investor · Brooklyn, NY · Member since 2014 · 53 posts · 41 votes
    12y

    Everyone loves a hand written Thank You card! 

    Well, maybe @Marcia Maynard 's idea beats it, but still... :) 

    1Reply
  • Tim CooperPro Member
    Investor · Traveling full-time · Member since 2014 · 80 posts · 20 votes
    12y

    I used to do the turkey around Christmas.  But it became to difficult to find all the tenants home when we delivered.  So we now give gift certificates to a local grocery or Walmart.  

    0Reply
  • Joe Fairless
    OP
    Investor · Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    We sent out $1 scratch off lotto tickets to residents today to all residents who have a $0 balance and paid on time this month. 

    I also negotiated a deal with a popular BBQ joint close by that gives residents 10% off their purchase. Going to start with that and then make it a larger program as the months progress. 

    Keep everyone posted on how it goes!

    0Reply
  • Sonja Pope
    Real Estate Investor · Mahwah, NJ · Member since 2014 · 33 posts · 12 votes
    11y

    This was a great thread, I got a lot of kind ideas on how to keep tenants happy. I especially loved the idea about the garden!! I would definitely want to call a community like that home :) @Marcia Maynard

    Well, @Joe Fairless how's it going with the tenants?

    2Reply
  • Chris Winterhalter
    Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2009 · 566 posts · 274 votes
    11y

    @Nazz Wang

    Bringing in high speed internet for everyone would be very expensive.  If you set the connection up like a hotel the costs would be way outside of your budget.  Now setting up a public space connection might be cost effective.  

    @Joe Fairless

    I really like the scratch off lottery ticket idea, if someone wins they will attribute the winnings to management which is wonderful!  

    1Reply
  • Adrienne G.
    Specialist · Clermont, FL · Member since 2015 · 91 posts · 35 votes
    11y

    WOW. Some of you guys have such big hearts. I hope you realize how much you are a blessing to your tenants. It takes a lot to do something from the heart for tenants, or anyone in general. @Arlan Potter you made me cry. You are such a thoughtful person. You too seem like a great landlord @Marcia Maynard

    1Reply
  • Mike B.
    Professional · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2014 · 61 posts · 64 votes
    11y

    Once a month I have had staff start early and hand out breakfast sandwiches at the exits to to the complex as residents drive out.  Even if they don't want the sandwich, the response is always good.

    1Reply
  • Account Closed
    San Jose, CA · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    11y

    Well, I'm about to be the wet blanket.  As a tenant now, and a previous resident manager, these types of gestures are really a waste of money, and may even be insulting.

    It kind of reeks of a lord of the land having a party for his serfs.

    Think about it.  Do you expect some kind of gift from your lender?  Would it matter to you, as far as who you would do business with in the future?  No.  You would make your decisions based on who gave you the best interest rate and best service.  

    Well this is the same thing with a tenant.  If you don't give them a reasonable rent amount, and a fair manager, they don't care about your gift cards.

    And as far as the idea of offering free internet - OMG, do you have any idea the problems this could entail for your manager?  Wah, my internet isn't working - and now it's your problem.

    Just give them a good manager, and a fair rent amount, and they will stay.  No free goodies will make them stay, if your prices aren't fair or your manager's a jerk.

    For what it's worth, as a previous manager and current tenant.

    Just as an example - the last place I rented at gave a lot of free stuff, turkeys at Thanksgiving, etc., but the manger was a complete bioch.  I couldn't wait to get out of there.  Did I take her free turkeys?  Sure.  But, I still left as soon as possible.

    Free turkeys don't make tenants happy or make them stay.  Prices and managers, and a safe location, etc. makes them stay.

    Free stuff just makes the landlord feel good.  You need to figure out what will make good tenants stay, and I will bet you anything, free gift cards will not be the main reason, or any reason at all, that they stay.

    0Reply
  • Malcolm Boston
    Titusville, FL · Member since 2016 · 55 posts · 40 votes
    9y
    I just bought a 60watt equivalent GE reveal LEd lightbulb for $5 at Home Depot. They have lower tier LED available for less than half that. You can give each tenant a pack of cheaper LED bulbs for $5. It's a good gift that will put money back in their pocket over the long term and help save the environment. Personally I like the idea of rewarding tenants for being good business partners. If they are class A tenants (paying on time, taking care of their place) then reward accordingly.
    0Reply
  • Colleen F.Pro Member
    Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    9y

    Don't do a lot of gifts but do appreciate the garden idea. @Marcia Maynard is it a plot for all or a plot for each unit ?  I like the ideas that make the place a notch better then other places in unique ways.

    Lottery tickets with a note are a nice gesture. Not over the top and they don't go straight to the recycle bin like a card from the management.

    0Reply
  • Michaela G.
    Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    9y

    I have recently created an artist community - I own 4 duplexes and my partner owns 2 duplexes - on the same block. Everything is fenced and gated, so, it's like a small multi-family property. 

    Having all units advertised as 'creative community' brought in people that are looking for community connections. They also have a common thread - working with their right side of their brain, in addition to having a job that brings in the rent money.

    We have an area that will be a garden and I like the idea of hiring someone to prepare the soil. THank you, I will do that. Several of my tenants have taken a perma culture class together and another one  has a landscaping background as well. 

    We have common areas and brought out a truck load of wood. Every few days someone starts a fire in the fire pit and others come out and join. Sometimes the closest one brings out his big screen tv and they all hang out around the pit and watch a game or talk to each other. 

    Thanks giving we had a potluck and I bought the turkey. 

    I'm about to start renovating my last duplex and they will be airbnb units, because they're 1-br units. I'll contribute $ 10 for each night stay in each unit to the community and every 3 month I'll let them vote on what they want the money to be used for: outdoor pingpong table, whatever. Every unit has 2 votes and the most votes win. So, it'll be something they really want and it's something that is still part of the property and tax deductible. 

    I really think there are ways to retain tenants and I think creating a community is one way. The tenants here have really become friends, which is awesome to see. Living around people that have common interest is a one-of-a-kind situation and they won't find that anywhere else.

    2Reply
  • Marcia Maynard
    Investor · Vancouver, WA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Colleen F.:

    Don't do a lot of gifts but do appreciate the garden idea. @Marcia Maynard is it a plot for all or a plot for each unit ?  I like the ideas that make the place a notch better then other places in unique ways.

    It's a community garden shared by all the tenants, which sits in a sunny spot on the property. Some years it's used more than others, depending on who's living at the 8-plex and what they are inclined to do. If not used as a vegetable garden tended by the tenants, then we plant it with low maintenance flowers.

    But each tenant also has garden space of their own in the planting bed in front of their unit or behind their unit. Those are more suitable for flowers, ornamental plants, and non-spreading herbs/vegetables. We've had tenants use their individual garden bed the wrong way, such as planting a tree, planting a bush too large for the spot, planting corn, planting giant sunflowers, planting blackberries, planting a grape vine.... in the narrow 2 foot bed between the walkway and the builiding!

    Because of this, we've added the following clause to the landscaping section of our property rules:

    "Tenant may plant the beds adjacent to their dwelling to their liking, but only with those plants that are of appropriate size and type for the beds. All plants brought or caused to be brought to the property by Tenant will be cared for by Tenant."

    1Reply
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