Potential renters come to the leasing office with specific occupant requests and a vision in mind of their desired experience in their future home, and as a property management firm it is crucial to guide possible tenants to a unit that will suit their needs and foster renter satisfaction. If you are a property management business dealing with multiple different properties, it can sometimes be overwhelming to advise those searching for a new residence to a specific apartment or house among all of the alternatives. At Gainesville, FL, apartment management company Trimark Properties, we actively work to match the renter’s desired description of their pictured dream home by supporting them in finding a unit in our portfolio which features all of the requests the renter is looking for. After decades of experience in managing a selection of over 25 apartment complexes and dozens of historic houses located all around the Gainesville area, we have found a guaranteed system that can be used by any property management company to make sure all tenants’ desires are taken into consideration and help select the best housing option for them. Leasing agents and property managers can easily aid possible renters in finding their ideal living space by using a simple method of segmenting specific rental factors into categories, and asking them how they rank these classifications in order of importance.

Below are the five most important categories of renter requirements that leasing agents should take into consideration when helping a potential tenant find their perfect home:

Location - Generally the most important element for renters, housing, and apartment location is an essential deciding factor when choosing a place to live. Whether they would like to live in an area close to their school, job, or local entertainment, it is important to take into consideration searchers’ location preferences and guide them to a unit near this region. Make sure to ask renters what the ideal venue is that they would like to live closest to, and select a relevant property from there. If you subdivide your properties based on their locality, it will make it easier to suggest a fitting apartment or house for potential leaseholders.

For example, at Trimark we cater to University of Florida students, so we segregate our properties into areas near UF’s Sorority Row, the UF Law School, the UF Business School, Downtown Gainesville, and areas with apartments for graduate students, offering renters a wide array of locations to choose from which are closest to their optimal locale. It is also helpful to let them know about all of the local transportation options available in the area.

Price – Renters’ budgets are varied, and possible leaseholders often have a price cap on the apartments they can afford. If you have a selection of properties that fluctuate in price range, it is a good idea to systematically characterize them into similar groups of rent charges. By dividing your properties incrementally based on rent amounts, you can easily show impending occupants the options that fit their budget.

Size and Floorplan – Another important aspect for renters when looking for housing is the number of bedrooms and bathrooms the unit has, along with the actual square footage of the unit. Ask potential renters if they would like to live alone or with roommates, and then ask for an estimate of the desired size of their unit. Divide up your properties by floorplans, such as studio units, one bedroom apartments, and houses, and combine the searcher’s answer with their desired location to find the perfect property and unit for them. If the renter would like to live with other roommates yet they don’t know of anybody, it is advantageous to additionally accommodate them by doing roommate matching.

Amenities – Certain renters have specific, unique amenities in mind that they feel their residence absolutely must have. This can include, but is not limited to, available parking near the residence area, a washer and dryer either in the unit or on site, well-kempt outside landscaping, balconies, luxury bathrooms, and gourmet kitchens. Make sure to ask the potential renter up front if there are any specific features or conveniences they would prefer in their home, and help them select a property that accommodates these requests.

Age of Property – Renters can often be particular about how recently their residence has been built and whether or not a unit has been renovated. Some love the coziness and charm of a historic home, while others crave the modernity and freshness of a recently built apartment. When guiding a residence seeker to a unit, be sure to ask them whether the age of the property is an important factor to them, and guide them to a unit in their preferred age range accordingly.

In order to avoid tenant dissatisfaction, it is important to facilitate potential renters in finding a home that is sure to accommodate all of their needs and requirements before signing the lease. By categorically segmenting your properties based on the most important decisional factors when choosing a place to live, such as location, price, floorplans, amenities, and age of property, you can formulaically and easily suggest a perfect property fit for their ideal requests.

Do you have any tips on complying with renter requirements and guiding renters to their ideal living space?

Written By: Genevieve Howard