I don't know about you, but I don't have time to send out letters to agencies or post brochures all over town. What I do have is "word of mouth". Your residents can be the sugar that fattens up your wait list. If they enjoy living there, then they will tell someone and that person will tell someone and so on and so on. But what can you do for your move-ins?
Things that make your new Move-ins feel special are not hard and doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.
One of the easiest things to do is: Create new move-in folder/notebook for them. This folder/notebook can have as little or as much as you want.
- a few address change cards from the post office
- menus from local restaurants
- gift certificate to the local grocery store with a note that says "Let us take care of dinner tonight."
- Information on how to keep the units clean
- Information on how to handle a work order or an emergency if they have one
- Your laundry room hours, policy
- Your snow removal policy
- Directions to the nearest grocery store, movie theatre, park, swimming pool, etc.
- Local school information (phone numbers, directions, etc.)
- Phone numbers to the local police, rescue, fire department (non-emergency numbers)
- Information on how to get the electric, water turned on in their name. The phone numbers and utility company that your property uses.
- Information on your local library. The reading programs, etc.
- And don't forget to put a copy of their lease in the move-in folder/notebook
I'm sure there are many more things that pertain just to your property or area that you could put into this move-in folder/notebook.
Again, depending on your budget, you could get those 3-prong, paper-type, report folders, dividers, etc. so everything can be kept in a nice little spot. So if the resident has any questions, they can check out the folder/notebook. Or just purchase a folder pocket...anything that will keep the information in one place.
Just make sure the information you put in the book are things they may use. If you do a newsletter, put a couple of past months in there. If you are doing any kind of activity for your residents, make sure that information is in there. Making the new move-in feel like part of a family, will help with that word of mouth
I have a lot of residents that have never lived outside of their parent's homes and they have told me that this little notebook that I give them helps. Some of these residents have never had a utility bill of their own, so they can look at my instructions and they don't have to ask the parents for help.
Fit it to your complex. Do as little or as much as you know will work for your property and that will fit into your budget.
And don't forget a "Welcome to your new home" letter/card. Let them know that you are happy they chose your property as their new home.
