Resident Functions

Is your property hosting resident functions? If so, what are some low-cost ideas that have worked for you? If not, what are you doing instead to maintain or improve resident relations?

(Editor Note: As a result of so many requests for resident function ideas, we have created a sister site specifically for apartment parties! Visit Resident Events for great tips!)

Great start, Marcy! I've added some ideas in a blog here: multifamilyinsiders.com/home/multifamily...Retention-Ideas.html . And here are a few more low cost resident retention ideas:

Flag seeker - Place landscaping flags (found at Home Depot or Lowes) around the community, set your residents into groups, and then set them loose to find the flags! The first team back with X number of flags wins!

Annual Flag Football Game - By labeling it as an "annual" event, you give the event more prestige and it helps with attendance!

Paper Airplane Contest - Have prizes for best design, coolest tricks, and longest flight.

Fantasy Football Leagues - An ongoing event that helps residents get to know each other over the course of the season!

NCAA Tournament Pick 'em - Prizes for the best bracket in the community.

Meet Your Neighbors Contest - Over a set period, possibly a week, run a contest inspiring residents to meet each other. The resident with the most neighbors on their list wins a prize!

Annual Community Garage Sale - A major opportunity for outreach marketing, set up tables in your parking lot and have residents come out and sell the stuff lying around their apartment! Even allow non-residents to participate in the sale to create buzz and spread the word!

Karaoke Night - Film it and put it on your apartment community blog!

Gingerbread House Contruction Night - The raw materials should be fairly inexpensive and provides a great (although possibly mess) way to get residents involved!


That's enough for now! Have ideas to share? Want to brag about an event that was a huge success? Post it here!!

I have to admit that I love the "Meet Your Neighbors Contest" Will be setting that up tomorrow. Thanks for the ideas and keep up the good work.

Thanks Robin, and keep us updated on how the event goes!

Speed dating has always been a popular draw for us. Wine and beer tastings are hot - not as low cost but good for attendance.

Hey Mike - Can you also share your experiences with the group on an aspect of speed dating? When I discuss resident retention with property management companies, there is a lot of concern about dating and if the dating process goes bad. It's as if they see it as a legal issue because they allowed the two people to meet in the first place. And if they stop dating and it unfortunately doesn't end pleasantly, they think that negative is large enough to separate their residents at all times, unless they are in a supervised scenario, such as a resident party. Considering you have experience with sponsoring a speed dating event, would you mind sharing with the group why you didn't have those concerns or why the potential benefits outweighed their concerns?

These are great ideas. One of my properties is hosting a Hip Hop Abs night that has been really fun! Why need sculpt your body and connect with your residents?

And don't forget that Spring is coming...it's time for Go Fly a Kite day!

One of our biggest attended events is BINGO - believe it or not.
We call or write to a few local vendors and ask them to donate a gift card or two for a BINGO game, then once we have prizes we add to that by creating our own certificates for FREE & 1/2 off of our Clubhouse and Guest Suite (which are regularly rented by our residents), then we stuff them into a logo bag with a few little promo items. All we we do is provide the game, soda and chips. It's a big hit at our community.

My company just took over a luxury apartment community in March of last year. There have been so many changes in staff over the last few months along with community wide improvements, we are hosting a "Meet and Greet" and serving upper end hor d'oveurs with the traditional sodas and things plus wine. Both the management and maintenance teams will be available to greet the residents and answer questions. Out of 300 apartment homes, we're expecting between 100+ at the function for the cost of about $600 or so.

Okay, so I am a new leasing agent at an apartment community in New Orleans, LA. The staff here has never had a resident retention program. I am looking for ideas for the upcoming months to be able to interact more with the residents. I am also looking for new and fun ideas to put in our newsletters! I am running out of ideas , HELP !

Hi Milen,
You definitely want to check out www.residentevents.com . It is our sister website that gives free resident party ideas to implement at your community. There are literally hundreds of event ideas on there, so I hope that helps!