One of the biggest things your next tenant is looking for in an apartment is smart home features, or the ability to integrate their own technology into their at-home experience. So, how can you stay a step ahead of all the other apartments on the market? Add in some basic pieces of tech, and you’ll be sure to attract quality and long-term tenants, minimizing your turnover and maximizing your rent!
The following are the three easiest and most beneficial technology components to add to your rental unit today.
- Smart Lock: Who enjoys having a ring full of keys taking up space in their pocket or purse? No one! Adding a smart lock not only is a huge selling feature for potential tenants, but it also makes the everyday tasks of apartment management that much easier. Not only do your tenants not need keys to access their home, as a property owner or manager, neither do you. With smart locks, gone are the days of a property owner or manager walking around with a giant ring of keys, only to seemingly never have the right one. Smart lock technology has the additional benefit of allowing vendors to access properties themselves as well, saving you time, and ultimately money. Easy to install and configure, smart locks are the number one recommended upgrade if you are just entering the smart homeworld.
- Smart Thermostat: We all like saving money, something your tenants will appreciate. Thermostats from companies like Nest and Ecobee not only allow you to fully customize your HVAC temperature preferences and settings, but they also allow control from anywhere in the world. This is particularly important for a busy property owner or manager when going through the turnover process, and the owner is responsible for the utility payment. Have you ever walked into a vacant unit and wondered why it was either freezing cold due to the AC having been left on, or warmer than a midsummer’s day because the heat was cranked all the way up? With a smart thermostat installed, you’ll never face this uncomfortable reality again, and more importantly, you’ll never see the damaging results of negligent use of a dumb thermostat on your bottom line. Installation is typically quite simple, and your tenants, along with your wallet will be thanking you.
- Smart Lights: Lighting technology has come a long way and is a super simple and inexpensive way to attract and maintain tenants and save a few dollars along the way. From simple smart LED bulbs to integrated switches, the options are endless. From an owner’s standpoint, less is more here, as there is no reason to fully outfit an entire apartment. Stick to just a couple of main light sources, and your rental unit will really stand out from the crowd. Think entryway lighting, principle living space lighting, and potentially a bedroom light. With those in place, your tech-savvy tenants can take it from there and fully customize their lighting solution to what works best for their lifestyles. And you’ll be able to control those lights during vacancies and turnover, once again saving you precious dollars. More importantly, you’ll be saving energy and doing your part to help the environment. Every little bit helps, and you’ll certainly want to do your part.
While entering the world of smart, connected living spaces may seem daunting, this article should hopefully help you to see it’s really not that complicated. Additionally, the long-term cost benefits far outweigh the initial investment, so it really is a no-brainer for most. Plus, if you haven’t already deduced, you’ll be able to increase the asking price on your rental unit, providing positive ROI in no time at all!
If your property needs help with integrating smart home solutions, contact BLDG Creative Company at info@bldgcreative.com or 619-796-2560 to schedule a consultation today!
