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Unlocking the Multifamily Experience with Self-Guided Tours
Unlocking the Multifamily Experience with Self-Guided Tours
The multifamily housing industry is steadily evolving, and self-guided tours (SGTs) are emerging as a key part of this progress. Prospective residents today are looking for convenience, flexibility, and autonomy in their home-hunting experience. By eliminating the constraints of rigid schedules and time-consuming property visits, SGTs are redefining the leasing process.
Potential residents simply book a tour via an online platform or app, verify their identity, and receive a secure access code or digital key to look around the property in their own time without a leasing agent present.In this blog, we'll explore self-guided tours, their benefits for prospective residents and property managers and some key considerations when adopting this tech.
Why Choose Self-Guided Tours?
Self-guided tours allow modern renters to take control of their leasing experience, giving them the opportunity to schedule viewings at times that suit them. This approach allows renters to explore properties without feeling rushed or pressured, ensuring they make confident, well-informed decisions. As a result, properties tend to experience reduced vacancy periods, as residents are able to secure units more efficiently.
For property managers, the whole leasing process is made much more efficient as they no longer need to dedicate staff to every tour, freeing up resources for other high-priority tasks. The streamlined process allows leasing teams to focus on building relationships and delivering exceptional service, ultimately increasing resident satisfaction and productivity.
Self-guided tours allow modern renters to take control of their leasing experience, giving them the opportunity to schedule viewings at times that suit them. This approach allows renters to explore properties without feeling rushed or pressured, ensuring they make confident, well-informed decisions. As a result, properties tend to experience reduced vacancy periods, as residents are able to secure units more efficiently.
For property managers, the whole leasing process is made much more efficient as they no longer need to dedicate staff to every tour, freeing up resources for other high-priority tasks. The streamlined process allows leasing teams to focus on building relationships and delivering exceptional service, ultimately increasing resident satisfaction and productivity.
Key considerations
There is a growing demand for prospects to be able to 'tour now' once they have seen a property they like, and they often want to schedule viewings during their lunch breaks or before or after work. SGTs efficiently facilitate this level of flexibility and 'on demand' scheduling. An NMHC survey recently reported that 50% of renters are under the age of 34, and this demographic prioritizes properties offering SGTs, making it crucial for property managers to meet their needs. SGTs won't replace in-person tours, but for those who prefer the more independent approach to property viewing, those properties will appeal to a larger pool of prospects.
Fraudulent activity is on the rise and 93% of property managers in a recent NMHC (National Multifamily Housing Council) survey reported they had experienced fraud in the last 12 months, 70% of which was attributed to identity theft. Concerns around property security are the main barrier to self-guided tour adoption, but there are processes in place to make it safer.
Alongside smart property technology such as perimeter video monitoring those arriving and leaving, identity verification tools such as Checkpoint ID can be invaluable. Checkpoint ID verifies government-issued IDs and portrait photos of the potential resident to confirm their identity and ensure only authorized individuals gain access to properties.
Once verified, potential residents will receive an access code to the property. These access codes are time-specific, deactivating immediately after scheduled tours, and smart lock systems automatically relock units, maintaining a secure environment for prospects and existing residents.
Most recently, geo-fencing technology has also been incorporated into self-guided tours. Property managers can now provide access codes to potential residents who request a self-guided tour only when they are within a radius of the property as specified by the property manager. This gives property managers more control, ensuring access is granted in a specific time frame.
There is a growing demand for prospects to be able to 'tour now' once they have seen a property they like, and they often want to schedule viewings during their lunch breaks or before or after work. SGTs efficiently facilitate this level of flexibility and 'on demand' scheduling. An NMHC survey recently reported that 50% of renters are under the age of 34, and this demographic prioritizes properties offering SGTs, making it crucial for property managers to meet their needs. SGTs won't replace in-person tours, but for those who prefer the more independent approach to property viewing, those properties will appeal to a larger pool of prospects.
Fraudulent activity is on the rise and 93% of property managers in a recent NMHC (National Multifamily Housing Council) survey reported they had experienced fraud in the last 12 months, 70% of which was attributed to identity theft. Concerns around property security are the main barrier to self-guided tour adoption, but there are processes in place to make it safer.
Alongside smart property technology such as perimeter video monitoring those arriving and leaving, identity verification tools such as Checkpoint ID can be invaluable. Checkpoint ID verifies government-issued IDs and portrait photos of the potential resident to confirm their identity and ensure only authorized individuals gain access to properties.
Once verified, potential residents will receive an access code to the property. These access codes are time-specific, deactivating immediately after scheduled tours, and smart lock systems automatically relock units, maintaining a secure environment for prospects and existing residents.
Most recently, geo-fencing technology has also been incorporated into self-guided tours. Property managers can now provide access codes to potential residents who request a self-guided tour only when they are within a radius of the property as specified by the property manager. This gives property managers more control, ensuring access is granted in a specific time frame.
SGT: A transformative tool
Self-guided tours are not just a convenience but a transformative tool for the multifamily housing industry. They offer a modern leasing experience that appeals to the expectations of today's renters, setting properties apart in a competitive market. By prioritizing convenience, safety, and efficiency, self-guided tours meet the needs of tenants while streamlining operations for property managers.
Self-guided tours are not just a convenience but a transformative tool for the multifamily housing industry. They offer a modern leasing experience that appeals to the expectations of today's renters, setting properties apart in a competitive market. By prioritizing convenience, safety, and efficiency, self-guided tours meet the needs of tenants while streamlining operations for property managers.
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Angel Piontek
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