Top Tips for Retaining Residents - Kansas City Apartment and Rental advice for Apartment Owners and Managers

Whether competition on the Kansas City rental market is fierce or not, taking extra steps to retain residents is just plain smart. Why spend time and energy always trying to look for new Kansas City residents when a few easy steps can help you keep the ones you have? It just doesn’t make sense!

Making residents feel at home and appreciated can mean the difference between a lease renewal or a moving notice. Try these things to help you retain the residents you have:

• Be friendly. It sounds simple, but it really makes a big difference.
• Do your part to keep up the community’s appearance. Make sure trash is picked up, landscaping is neat and send friendly reminders to residents who need to clean up their outdoor areas.
• Thank residents who do their part to keep the community looking good. Do this in person or in writing.
• Provide activities. Whether it’s annual parties or weekly events, these can go a long way toward creating a sense of “community.” Also consider a periodic newsletter, even if it’s just black and white, this too can help with creating a sense of belonging among neighbors.
• Create a resident retention program that involves a plan of action for keeping residents in place.
• Provide renewal bonuses. Whether it’s something small like a cleaning service visit or big like a fresh coat of paint, let your residents know you care and appreciate their loyalty.
• Ensure maintenance programs are resident friendly. This means quick response times and extras, such as replacing light bulbs in difficult to reach places. Ensure maintenance personnel keep tenants’ homes clean when they’re in to work and also insist on call backs within a day of all requests for service.
• Waive late fees one time a year. The legal papers might still need to be filed, but it’s okay to let residents know you understand bad things happen to good people. Cut them a little slack when it’s really needed and they’ll appreciate the effort.
• Allow residents to pay in alternative means if necessary. This means employing weekly or bi-weekly rental plans if it’s legal in your area or accepting credit card or direct debit payments.
• Create photo identification cards for onsite staff. This helps residents feel more secure when maintenance personnel arrive at their doors.
• Provide services for residents who are on vacation, such as plant watering, animal walking and so on.
• Work with area businesses to get coupons or discounts for residents. Check into drop off and delivery services for such things as dry cleaning, too.
• Make living in the community as hassle free as possible by offering at-cost stamp sales in the office, late hours, change for laundry rooms and so on.
• Remember tenant anniversaries with small “thank you” gifts or cards.
• Welcome new residents with move-in gifts and a home that’s stocked with the little things that are so important, such as toilet paper, paper towels, soap and so on. A few dollars out of the budget can go far in making residents feel at home.
• Make sure everything, including the keys, is in good working order before residents move in. This includes such things as the smoke detectors, garage door openers, thermostat and so on.
• Provide a personal, friendly and professional touch by keeping the office neat and clean. Also, try to learn resident names and take care to return their calls and correspondence with haste.
• Take the time to talk to residents and introduce them around the community. Listen to their concerns and complaints and congratulate them on their victories.
• Enjoy your job and your residents will enjoy working with you.

Retaining good Kansas City residents might take a little effort, but it’s more than worth it in the long run. A few personal touches along with professional, quick and courteous service is generally all it takes to make a resident feel happy and welcome in their community.