Your residents say they want to be part of a community, but which apartment resident activity ideas are really worth the time and effort?

The Multifamily Field Guide took a look at responses from 193,000 consumers who visited almost 320 property websites across the country and crunched the numbers to take the guesswork out of how to increase resident satisfaction, your renewal rates and how to attract new prospects to stay ahead of the competition.

A discussion post here on Multifamily Insiders generated some great ideas. Property managers and leasing specialists discussed hosting a community car wash, a yard sale, casino night, chili cook-off or character day at the pool for kids. The Field Guide offers solid data that provides insights into what other types of apartment resident activities you can host, as well. 

Seventeen percent of consumers said they enjoyed outdoor activities the most. Host outdoor events at your property where you give tenants more opportunities to hang out with their friends and show prospects what you offer by inviting them, too. You could host a neighborhood cook-out or a field day with games, races and prizes. 

Share photos of your outdoor events on social media, on your website, in digital advertising efforts and in lead nurture emails. Ensuring there is an outdoor component to your activity will likely make it more successful! Outdoor activities don’t necessarily have to be on site, either. How about a night out at the local baseball game? See if you can get discounted tickets for your residents or host a contest to win free tickets. 

About one-third of renters said they own a pet, and about 11 percent of respondents ranked pet-related activities as a favorite. Perhaps host a pet wash or pet beauty contest to interest these residents. Consider working with local dog walkers, groomers and pet sitters to offer deals or events for your renters. I always like the idea of a “yappy hour” where residents can introduce their pets to one another and their owners get to socialize. How about celebrating a featured pet of the month with a photo in your lobby or on your website showing off one of your furry residents. As a dog mom, I know I love to brag about my 110-pound pup, and I’m sure your residents with pets would, too.

Across the nation, 21 percent of respondents said dining nearby is important to them. Call on some local restaurants to help with an event for your residents. It’s a win-win. The restaurants get exposure and you can create a fun-filled, food-related event with a theme. We love the title: “Taste of ______ (fill in your community name). Local restaurants can share smaller portions of their favorite items or even appetizers on the menu. Weekends are typically busier for restaurants, so consider a weekday evening event. 

Overworked leasing agents and property managers may wonder if resident activities are worth doing at all, but it pays off when it’s time for lease renewal, attracting new residents or staying ahead of the competition. Twenty percent of rental prospects say social activities are their favorite way to spend their time. Why not make it easy on them and build their social life right into their neighborhood? Bingo + Drinks, a Community Cornhole Competition, Paint Your Pet, Community Volunteer Day, the list of possibilities goes on. Think outside of the box and be creative, and when all else fails, survey your residents to see what activities interest them most. Good luck!

For a printed copy of the Multifamily Field Guide, please reach out to me.

Photo: Getty Images (US), Inc.