High Tech Tips To Capture The Gen Y Rental Housing Market

October 25th, 2011 by Crystal Beran| Posted in Apartment Interiors, Apartment Market Info, Apartment Marketing, Apartment Relationships, Apartments Go Mobile, Multifamily, Multifamily Executive, Multifamily Social Media, Multifamily in the Cloud, Resident Life, Technology, Tenants & Management Relationships | 1 Comment »

Gen Y-ers are moving out of the dorms (and out of their parents basements) and into apartments. This group, which comprises renters between the ages of 18 and 28, forms a large portion of the new apartment renters out there and there are tens of thousands more that enter the rental market each year. This means that apartment communities need to figure out how to attract these tech savvy young adults and how to keep them happy in their apartments. One of the best ways to do this is by making apartments more tech friendly.

1. Make sure that cell reception is great.

Adults in Gen Y use cell phones to connect with friends and family on a more or less constant basis. They text, call, Facebook, tweet and email from their smart phones and they spend a lot of money to use this convenient piece of technology. It’s vital to make sure that the cell reception is great everywhere in the complex and in the apartments because there is nothing more annoying that not being able to use your phone in your own apartment. Keep in mind that most people in Gen Y have absolutely no interest in having a land line so offering this as an alternative is not going to cut it.

2. Provide wireless access.

One of the best perks you can offer a person in Gen Y who is looking for a new place to live is access to internet (and fast internet at that). People in this generation who are just moving out of the dorms are used to having the internet at their fingertips at all times. Ensuring that wireless will be available throughout the complex is a great way to attract young renters.

3. Install sound systems throughout the unit.

An apartment complex that is constructing a new building or retrofitting an old one would do well to invest in internal speaker systems. These systems are embedded into the walls and allow renters to plug their devices in and enjoy their music in every room of the apartment. They can also be connected to televisions to provide quick and easy surround-sound. While these systems come at a cost, they are also a huge plus for a generation that brings its music and entertainment everywhere.

4. Turn your community room into a high tech rec room.

In many apartment complexes, the community room consists of a few couches and chairs and perhaps a coffee table littered with old magazines. These rooms largely stand empty and it’s no wonder: they don’t have anything to offer. Turning this empty gathering place into a kind of high-tech, private coffee shop is a great way to help renters feel connected to the apartment community. Make sure there’s wireless available but also include a few computers that your renters can use free of charge in case theirs are down. An espresso machine and a gaming center with a large television and the latest X-Box games will also get your Gen Y residents to gather together and help build up your community.

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