What is the most common objections you hear from prospective renters?

What is the most common objections you hear regarding apartment layouts or missing features from prospective renters?

Coat and Linen closets. When apt searching myself if they don’t have those then next

Bathroom in the bedroom, in studio/1 beds

Square footage. It’s about the only objection I get. Most of my prospects are well informed through our ads, website and processes so we hit our target market pretty well on the nose.

Have you found any highly effective ways to overcome the low square footage objection?

Basement storage rooms, basement laundry.... basements in general.....

Not enough closet and storage space. Also they often want a room that can fit a king size bed, and they want islands in the kitchen instead of a galley style kitchen.

Bigger kitchens bigger master bedroom and kitchen pantry closets

To me it's not common... Just want to share... So the prospect said the pantry was not big enough for all the water she likes to buy!!!

In unit laundry, large bedroom closets

The biggest complaint I hear is no washer and dryer hook ups

Not enough square-footage. Bedrooms won’t fit a king size bed with additional furniture. Washer & dryer location, too close to the living room. Washer and dryer are in a tiny closet. Bedroom closet too small. Not enough kitchen space, no kitchen pantry or not enough drawers. No dining room. No patio storage. Bathroom location - bathroom near the kitchen/dining. We had studio lofts and the only bathroom was downstairs, people didn’t want to walk down the stairs in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.
Don’t like that the apartments look into another unit. I’ve had people complain and then also have had leases where they didn’t lease at a competitor because the apartment looks into another unit.

That's a unique one, how do you overcome the objection while on tour, or is it something that they only realize after they move in?

Which one?

Apartments looking into other units. Sorry, I could have been more clear there...

That is something that I get on the tour. So many people want natural sunlight. In some homes though in order to get that, you need your blinds open but they’ve then got their living room window facing another residents patio/living room or bedroom.
I’ve gotten leases though because I’ve had a better facing apartment then the comp. The comps apartment had more features that they wanted but the neighbors patio apparently was right in front of the living room.
(This was in a Santa Monica, so the properties are build up cause there’s not a lot of space. I do get it in the burbs though now too.)

We don’t get a lot of objections, some sq footage typically from people moving from small towns.
Our B1 has a funky living room wall and it’s the thing people hate the most.
Oh, there are people who do not want carpet. I also hate carpet, completely understand

Why do you ask?

I am working on a training program and asked this question to get a more inclusive idea of the objections people are facing on a regular basis.

Extra storage, in-unit laundry

Appliances are always the biggest comment people have. They always seem to love the finishes but not the quality of the appliances.

Washer and dryer connections hands down

What kind of responses have you found to be most effective?

We are a smaller community that is able to keep rent prices lower and that we do have one laundry facility onsite for anyone to use.

Not enough storage or square footage, too cramped. No central heat/air. Poor floor plan layout. Hates carpet.

We have a 1200+ sq foot split 2/2 on the top floor with a Mississippi River Valley view but this floorplan doesn't have a balcony and it's a deal breaker for almost everyone.

They always seem to want top of the line things, yet don't want to pay the price to have them.
Also, I don't care what size property I've worked on everyone has a problem with parking. Why, because everyone believes they should be the ones to park closer.

No in unit laundry. Seems renters are wanting to do laundry in unit vs walking to laundry room.
Another things is it seems prospects would rather have some type of “hard floor” like vinyl or hard wood throughout the apartment vs carpet everywhere but the bathrooms and kitchen.

$$$ price
No fitness center
Stackable connections VS full size wd
80% of prospects want a 2x2, but I have 2x1 more often than 2x2 due to the elementary school by me.

How do you usually overcome the objection to the stackable W/D?

We will buy them and lease them to you for less than appliance wh etc. we also service them so if you have any issues you’ll be covered.
We can get the 27” which is the largest size stackable as well.
If you prefer you can buy one at a huge discount online or at Conns and then sell it for a profit when you’re ready to move. Sometimes they’ll even sell it to the new renter!
Stackable connections are better than having NO connections and using a laundry mat.
You get more square footage in the space you actually occupy VS square footage used on a laundry room. EX closet space is an actual closet, not used for storing a washer dryer set.
Right now with Covid stackable parts are easier to obtain than full size. It’s also easier to move, one dolly and it’s done.
If you buy your own we can help you put them in!
If they already have a full size, sell them quick on CL or FB marketplace and you have the money to buy your own or to lease ours for X amount of months.

I love it! Great technique overcoming the obstacle and adding value along the way, thanks for sharing.

Overhead lighting/ceiling fans, storage, laundry in unit

Over the years I’ve had several things about the apartments. Space, bedroom sizes, appliances, storage, washer and dryer. But at the end of the day people want to know that they will be taken care of and that they matter. All the obstacles can be overcome if you just show compassion and provide a home for your residents.

This is a great point and truly what it comes down to in the end, however; along the way, if our teams feel better about overcoming objections, they get closer to being able to empathize with compassion and achieve that ultimate goal of relationship building.

Objections for current residents are renewal rates increased every year.. New residents coming in: No model especially if you're on a small property.
Just remember there will always be an objection, it's how you handle them and overcome them that's important. We must believe in our product or others won't either.

Washer / dryer hookups. Areas for pets and poor parking