What do your prospective tenants see when they visit your apartment complex for the first time? Is it a warm, inviting atmosphere that makes them feel at home? Or does it give off a vibe of disarray, clutter, and confusion?
Your lobby is one of the first things your new tenants will see, and it sets the tone for what they can expect if they decide to move in. Even with well-kept buildings and expensive landscaping, if the inside of your lobby doesn’t match the image you’re trying to create, prospective tenants may think twice about signing a lease.
First Impressions Matter
Most often, we think about making first impressions on a personal level, but the same sentiment can be applied to places and things (in this case, your apartment lobby).
Think of your apartment lobby as the front door to every tenant’s home. When they step inside, they’re forming opinions about what it might be like to live there. What they see will set the tone for their day-to-day living, what their unit might look like, the cleanliness and upkeep of the property, the friendliness of the service, and most importantly, the reasons why they should choose your apartment building over another one.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so it’s important to put your best foot forward at all times to create a remarkable experience.
Consider the following easy (and cost-effective) ways to noticeably improve your apartment lobby:
Go for the Right Color Palette
Color can have a lot to do with how people feel when they enter a room. Warm tones like yellows and oranges can create a friendly, cheerful vibe. Blue is often associated with calmness, trust, and tranquility, and becomes warmer when paired with brown. Green has been shown to have psychological effects on people and puts them at ease.
In essence, a little paint and texture can go a long way in enhancing the overall vibe in your lobby. You aren’t just stuck with neutral colors, so consider ways to play with color and make your lobby stand out.
Create a Secure Environment
If you don’t have a doorman or concierge in your apartment building, residents may be concerned about how you can protect them. If they can walk right into the building with no questions asked, they may think that anyone else can, too.
At the very least, you may want to consider a buzzer system for your entryway, a secure door that automatically locks behind them, and video cameras to monitor activity. Residents take notice of these things and expect to feel safe wherever they live.
In addition, good external lighting (e.g. well-lit entryways, parking lots, and signage) can continue to build their confidence. Energy-efficient lighting has come a long way and is more cost-effective than it used to be, so take advantage of these advances to improve your business.
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Update Your Furnishings
There are two important factors to every piece of furniture in your lobby: it should be functional and it should add to the overall ambiance.
But for many apartment building owners, they focus on the functionality part and neglect the way it looks. A table or chair that was in style 20 years ago still works just as well as it always has, so they see no need to change it.
But when tenants walk into an apartment lobby that doesn’t look like it’s been updated in decades, it can create an image that you’ve put the same amount of effort into maintaining your units.
You might be surprised at what new furniture can do for your space. With the right pieces, you can make your lobby seem bigger and brighter, more modern, and well taken care of.
From a designer’s perspective, it’s a good idea to choose furniture that matches the vibe of the building, complements the color palette, and adds to the ambiance. Cozy pieces can create a home-like feel that encourages your prospective tenants to stay.
Eliminate the Package Clutter
People are receiving more packages than ever before, and it’s creating a headache for apartment managers and building owners to find places to store them. Packages that pile up in the lobby create disorganization and lack security, and prospective residents take notice. Some apartments have installed smart lockers to manage the clutter, but these are often unattractive and take away from the ambiance of the lobby.
One solution that’s proving to be a game-changer is package tracking software that adds security and clarity to accepting residents’ packages. Packages are logged upon arrival and residents are automatically notified to come and pick them up. Managers can better track the package’s exact storage location and ensure they’re handing over the right package to the right person. And since residents are notified the moment a package arrives, packages aren’t lingering in the lobby for long.
Apartment buildings that use package tracking software are leveraging it as a unique amenity to attract tenants. Because it’s innovative and new, apartments who use it are gaining a competitive edge to provide more value to their tenants.
See how the best package tracking software works in a free demo and discover how it can help you provide a better lobby experience!
Improve Your Lobby, Boost Your Image
You don’t need marble columns, expensive tile, and big windows to create a better lobby experience. Even a modest investment can go a long way in building the image you want tenants to associate with your company.