Model Apartment "Touch Points"

We are working on a multifamily survey for the use of model apartments, and one of the questions is the use of scents and music to stimulate the senses of prospects as they walk through the apartment. And it got me thinking, does anybody consciously use the sense of touch somehow? I was thinking of maybe a really soft blanket draped over the couch, but what other elements using touch could be added to a model apartment?

( related discussion about creating an emotional reaction in a model apartment )

Love this topic!!!!!

Yes! Always use texture - that stimulates one's tactile senses!!!! Prospects should experience the WOW! factor at the front door. Besides the obvious, Prospects are going to notice the carpet and tile in an apartment (no matter the age of the community.) They will love not only the look of hardwood floors, but also the sound of walking across beautiful wood floors (and if the Prospect likes vintage, the floors can even squeak.) Then of course, the amount of natural light will be noticed. Some people require a lot of light and some people don't, especially people who work at night and sleep during the day. Marketing to third-shifters is a fun niche market.

Since there is a wide variety of ways to furnish Models, I don't dwell on this. If you rent furniture though, you owe it to your Prospects to at least update the furniture every couple of years - at the minimum. Once the furniture is there, I think in terms of seasons: color and texture are natural off shoots of this design concept, and then I think of "Theme" based on the season.

Here are some simple suggestions:
*Faux fur and/or cashmere throws across the arm of a couch or end of a bed
*Adding "shag" rugs under coffee or dining tables
*Adding a beautiful rag runner or heavily tectured runner in the kitchen and super soft mat in the bathroom
*Using matchstick or bamboo blinds on windows instead of plain white blinds
*Pier 1 has great woven textured drapes and they are on sale right now
*THICK towels in the bath with a scrubber on top of one folded on the countertop
*Robes (Fluffy!) hanging on a hook on the bathroom door
*Seashells - Everyone loves touching these! Test tubes or small buckets filled with sand
*A sturdy, thickly woven Basket on a coffee table - everyone who passes by it touches one
*Inflated, bouncy beach balls filling a bathtub
*A large galvenized, brightly painted tub on a patio with a scrub brush, a hose draped across it, partially inside and filled with little clear plastic balls with a cut out of a dog inside makes people really excited - everyone wants to feel the balls to see what they are
*Fluffy down comforters (white): summer - folded at the foot of the bed, winter - pulled halfway up exposing flannel sheets, lots of pillows of different materials
*Put Fat Boy bean bags in the second bedroom set up as a child's room - who can resist sitting in one of those?
*Crazy accordion light fixtures over a dining table (with the choice of that or a celing fan to the Prospect) from IKEA
*Plants - you can make your own arrangements! I do these all the time. Right now it is pretty cool to use huge sticks with greenery - and artificial can look surpsrisingly real no matter what HGTV says : ) I make these large plantscapes and put them outside the front door


Okay - I probably spent way too much time on this. Design is a passion of mine and this was a great topic!!!! I think these ideas work in any Model or even Mini-Models.

Wow, what a great response, Mindy!

Brent - thank you! The funny thing is, when managing communities, I don't even utilize Models! I truly believe leasing professionals should learn to "sell" based on current product only. Later, I think it is better to set up Mini Models seasonally and leave all the goodies used to decorate the mini model in the unit as a welcome gift. (But I realize I don't think like most people.)

Great response Mindy. I like the way you think! I used to use a lot of very real looking 'fake' food. Loaves of bread were often picked up and smelled by the prospects. I used very thick soft towels in the bathrooms, often draped over the sink that cried out to be touched! The same towels were put in the laundry are as well. Stuffed animals were also a favorite of mine. The more senses a person uses the more memorable the visit becomes.