5 Ways to Personalize Your Property for Students

By Alicia Geigel on October 31, 2017

Student tenants are an important part of the renter community, especially in college towns and their surrounding areas. Due to the increase of people attending colleges and universities, landlords and property managers have been confronted with the opportunity to create property units that appeal to and attract students.

According to Jennifer Maughan of RentPrep, “student tenants generally range in age from 18 to 23, and sometimes even older for those attending graduate schools or specialty programs.”

Because of this increase and the difference in age groups, the standard and expectations of condominiums and apartments have slightly changed and adjusted to meet the wants and needs of this growing sect of renters. Being that student tenants are a large part of the renter community, it is important to keep track of the interests and demands of students so you can offer them the best experience at your property.

If you are a property manager or realtor looking to appeal to student renters and tenants now and of the future, check out my top five ways you can personalize your properties!

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1. Study lounge/common area: When it comes to studying, college students not only love but appreciate to have public spaces to study like the library or a café. Working and studying in an apartment or dorm can sometimes become dreary and boring, which doesn’t help students get that A they are going after.

Distractions like TV, video games, or simply a bed to sleep on can hinder the studying and working experience for students. In order to further ensure student safety and appeal to students and parents, create a common area with tables and comfy chairs as well as open Wi-Fi for students to work and study. This will not only inspire other student tenants to move into your complex but also help keep your current student tenants safe as it gives them the incentive to stay inside instead of studying late at night in the library or elsewhere. Doing so will also highlight the greatness of your property, which will be recognized by the university in the area.

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2. School spirit décor: One of the greatest elements I remember about my former apartment building was the school spirit decorations throughout the lobby and the building. Upon walking in, you were greeted with a fun banner with the school’s name on it, a football helmet, and artwork featuring buildings of the university and its surrounding area.

Though it is small, the use of decorative school merchandise in my apartment building helped to create a stronger sense of community among tenants. Due to the fact that apartment buildings for students aren’t directly on campus, some can feel a sense of detachment or isolation from the community aspect of being directly on campus. By doing this, landlords appeal to students by establishing a connection between there and the university.

3. Coffee stand/shop: Another great feature that influenced my decision to rent the apartment I did (though I may be slightly ashamed to admit it) was the presence of a coffee shop within the building. I know this is simple, but coffee is considered to be one of the most important things among college students!

I remember my mom and I visiting the building and being super excited to see that it featured a coffee shop with outdoor seating; I mean how often do you see this in a university apartment building? The coffee shop had a nice menu of hot/cold coffees and teas, smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries. Though it may be a pricey investment, students and parents will definitely be attracted to this feature, which can also help build the business of your property company!

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4. Comfortable lobby: A nice welcoming lobby is a great feature of any apartment building. Comfortable love seats, a television, a table with the college newspaper and magazines can not only attract students and parents but also draw attention to your building in general which can help you gain recognition and recommendations from people in the area!

In my former building, our lobby had all the features I stated above and during Christmas time, it had a large Christmas tree decorated with my college’s ornaments as well as fun decorative presents. This made the building incredibly cozy and helped to create a home-like feeling for those who could not be home during the holiday, which was a really nice touch!

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5. On-site laundry facilities: Though students may put off laundry and not do it nearly as frequently as they should (myself included), on-site laundry facilities are great for students in apartment buildings. By having washers and dryers in the building, whether it be on select floors or just on one, students have the convenience of doing laundry at their home rather than having to travel elsewhere to do so.

In my former building, there were washer and dryer units on my floor which could be paid for either with money or school-based “dollars” that you get as a student. Including the school-based payment can also help to build a greater relationship with the school through this collaboration.

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Though some student tenants can be difficult to deal with, most just want to be able to have a place of their own and learn adult responsibilities. By establishing going out of your way to create a better atmosphere for students, you will be able to facilitate a better relationship with student tenants (as well as their parents) and make your job a little easier. After all, these few options and changes can make your property attractive in the future and help you gain even more tenants!

As always, good luck!

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