Single Entry vs Motel Style Apartments?

Question

Hi Everyone, do potential tenants prefer an apartment building that has a single main entry and a hallway?  Or do they prefer more of a motel style where every unit has its own external door?

Thanks!

Ronald Laurion · Answer

@Julie Marquez

Basically the same as Jared. We switch the battery out once a year, gives us a good reason to come over and just check stuff out.

Jared Reutter · Answer

@Julie Marquez

I do not pass out keys, I keep them for myself. I have not had a malfunction yet.. that being said I will probably have one soon now.

I do let tenants pick their own code, they seem to be a little more happy when you ask them what they want it to be. That being said just make sure you keep a master list of all the codes you enter so they can be removed when tenants move out.

I have one master code that works on all doors so I can easily remember it, then a series of different codes programmed in in case maintenance needs to be preformed I can give said contractor a specific code to that unit.

Ronald Laurion · Answer

We use keypads as well and everyone has been very happy to have them!

Jared Reutter · Answer

Ron I think having internal entrances has its ups and downs. It is more of a hassle to keep clean, maintain, and A little more expense in utilities. But I believe in Alaska it has a big perk in the winter time when tenants want to do laundry, they do not have to get bundled up when it's -35 outside to walk around the building, and it adds as a second layer of security for them if someone were to try and break into the building.

As far as when a tenant moves out and changing locks there is a simple solution, get key pads. I have recently been changing all of my units to keypads and the tenants love it! No need to change locks, it's just a simple switch of a code. And it helps prevent those unwanted 2am lock out calls.

Andrew Johnson · Answer

@Ron Healy I'm guessing in Alaska that common space is going to take more of beating than it would hear in San Diego.  Just different weather and what you're tracking in when you open that common door.  Not to mention, if there's a lock what do you do when an undesirable tenant moves out?  Rekey and issue new keys to everyone?  That's probably going on your dime as well.

Julie Marquez · Answer

@Ronald Laurion @Jared Reutter When you use the keypad, do you not hand out any keys? I have the keypads with a keyed deadbolt too, because I'm afraid of the pad malfunctioning or something. So I could give out keys in addition, but that seems redundant. But I like to have the key for my master. Is that the system you do? Do you let the resident pick their own code and such? Just wondering the logistics of managing that system.

Ron Healy · Answer

Thanks @Ronald Laurion!  Makes perfect sense.

Ron Healy · Answer

@Jared Reutter very interesting thoughts!  I just love learning from the experience of others.  No doubt each style of apartment buildings has its pro's and con's.  Now if I could find one where the rents justify the price!

Ron Healy · Answer

@Andrew Johnson that makes perfect sense.  Here in the Anchorage AK market we have a mix of both and it's one more thing we have to consider before taking the plunge into multi-family.

Thanks

Andrew Johnson · Answer

@Ron Healy My apartments all have separate external doors.  I don't know if the tenants love them but it's just what the market has where I invest.  That said, there are apartments out there that look like (or just plain are) converted motels.  I stay away from those.  There's no good reason "why" I do other that they look cheap, generally aren't in residential areas (frontage on some weird streets), and rents usually aren't too high.  I know that doesn't help too much.

That said, if you have a shared hallway it's one more thing that you (the landlord) have to keep up.  And if the flooring gets destroyed or there's a whole in the wall around the entry, good lucky trying to find the tenant that (will admit) did the damage.

Single Entry vs Motel Style Apartments?

Most Popular Reply