December brings us Santa, carols, presents, hot cocoa and endless fruitcakes. But, fruitcake isn’t the only thing landlords are dreading during the holiday season. The November and December months tend to be some of the slowest rental periods out of the year, and oftentimes landlords and property managers alike are left to slash rental prices to see any type of peak in traffic.
But, you don’t necessarily have to give in to the slow season. Take advantage of this time to re-engage your current tenants and attract new ones. Here are some things you can do to boost your property:
Send a holiday card.
What better way to connect with your residents than with a warm holiday card? If you really want to get their attention, incorporate a funny slogan or picture relating to the property. Not only will your residents appreciate the personal touch, but you’ll boost your resident engagement big time.
Host a tree decorating contest.
Who doesn’t love decorating the Christmas tree? Encourage your residents to participate in the community’s tree decorating contest. Residents take a picture of their decorated tree and post to the property’s Facebook page using a certain hashtag. The leasing team and property manager would vote on their top picks, ultimately choosing the top three winners. In addition to promoting camaraderie between the internal team, the contest is also likely to enhance your residents’ connection to the property and improve satisfaction scores.
Promote your referral program and create additional incentives.
Who could turn down some extra cash for the holidays? The November/December months is the perfect time to promote your property’s referral program. You can even take it to the next level by incorporating added incentives like a TV, iPad or gift card to relieve some of the pain from holiday shopping.
Offer holiday incentives for new residents.
Many prospects have already taken heed to the substantially lower rental rates that arise during the winter months. Why not use this time to reel them in? Create customized, holiday specific promotions for those who tour the property, sign a lease or even renew. Such incentives could include free gas for a month, $50 towards the electric bill or a one-month video service subscription. Get creative!
Make your website holiday friendly.
Depending on your location, your property make look substantially different in the summer months versus the winter months. Take advantage of the season and have professional photos taken of the property that truly depict its unique aurora and personality. Swap out these images with the ones online to truly set the tone for your property. This tactic is especially helpful for those who decorate their properties for the holidays or are prone to snow.
Rentbot can help.
Before you begin to incorporate these holiday tactics, first make sure your property’s website is in order. Rentbot can help with that. With beautiful and responsive custom layouts, HD photos, online rent/maintenance requests, and SEO, Rentbot provides all the tools to elevate your property—even in the slow winter months. So make sure your December is truly “the most wonderful time of the year.” Give the gift of renting with Rentbot.
About the Author
Jonsette Calloway joined the Rentbot team in 2015. With a background in public relations, advertising and copywriting, she has helped a multitude of clients achieve their marketing and communications goals within various fields, but she particularly enjoys working with the apartment industry.