Several weeks ago, a client asked me to come out to their property to help them with some leasing tips for their staff. Long story short, upon my arrival, there was a little more that needed my attention than just leasing. The property was in need of a little TLC and ‘beautification’.
I walked every inch of the property with my client and wrote a list of items that should be addressed immediately in order to drive more (qualified) traffic into the property as well as increase resident morale. This particular client owns multiple properties in the area, however, we just walked the one I was out consulting on that particular day.
Two weeks later, I went back to check on the progress. I could not believe my eyes! Not only had this client gone above and beyond what I recommended, but the recommendations had been taken and implemented on all of their properties.
The majority of the recommendations had to do with the landscaping of the property. This client felt that this was a place they could cut back, however, those of us with years of experience in the apartment industry know and are taught that ‘curb appeal’ is a key factor in getting your property full and keeping it full. This is a common mistake we see owners make that they aren’t really aware is a mistake. All of the improvements were actually a one time expense to the properties, with the exception of the color that is seasonal. If these improvements are watered and tended to as needed, there should really never be an expense like this again on any of the properties and the seasonal color change is very minimal. This is also a somewhat affordable way to dress up your property and attract a more qualified prospective resident to walk through your doors and ultimately lease with you!!
Now….here comes the best part of the story! As we were walking past the now unbelievably beautiful and clean courtyard, a resident was on her cell phone up on one of the catwalks. Apparently she overhead me complimenting my client on what a great job they had done with my list, and yelled down to us. She asked if I was the owner. I told her I was simply a consultant, not the owner.
She asked if I had anything to do with the ‘clean up’ of the property and the client responded and said I was the one responsible for everything and had suggested it all but they simply implemented it.
She put her phone call on hold and stood and said “From the bottom of my heart I will NEVER be able to thank you enough. I now feel like I live in a beautiful place and am no longer embarrassed to bring my friends over. When I look out my windows or am out here on my phone, going to the laundry room, to and from my car, etc., I now have something pretty to look at and it makes all the difference. Again, the residents and I cannot thank you enough! We really love all the changes and they make a huge difference to us!”
I seriously almost started crying because I thought it was so sweet of her to say that to me. It’s one thing to hear it from my customers here at Lifestyles that my consulting is making a difference, but quite the other to hear it from one of their customers.
It meant the world to me and was COMPLETE AND TRUE confirmation that what we do here not only affects the lives of our customers, but also really affects the lives of their customers too (those that cannot afford the most luxurious and spectacular places in town….but yet deserve a nice, maintained, clean place to call home)!
