The Ultimate Summer Turnover Checklist for Student Apartments

If you are a property manager or landlord for student apartments, summer is likely a time of high turnover. There may be some people still renting your properties, but most students are away from campus for the summer. This may be frustrating, but this is a great time to get things done for your properties.

Upgrade your spaces

Use the summer months to upgrade your properties and rentals to increase their value. A great place to start is your appliances. Make sure you upgrade to energy-efficient appliances so you and your tenants can save money on utilities. See what maintenance and repairs you have to do on vacant spaces and use the turnover time to get them done. Update flooring and cabinets to keep your space looking modern. Check things like fans to make sure they work.

Bug prevention measures

While it may be tempting to ignore your vacant properties, it is important that you take measures to maintain them. Bugs are common over the summer, and it would deter people if there were bugs seen on a tour. As such, it is important to take steps to prevent a bug infestation over the summer. Seal gaps near windows and door frames. Add screens to windows so bugs are unable to get into your rentals. Clear out any trash that may be left from previous tenants and keep outdoor spaces tidy. You may even opt to lay bug traps. If bugs do get into your rentals, call an exterminator to take care of the situation promptly before things get worse.

Outside maintenance

People are more likely to pay attention to the outside of your properties over the summer and at the beginning of the fall semester. Tenants staying at your properties over the summer and at the start of the semester will likely use outdoor communal spaces. Those coming to your property for a tour will first see your outdoor areas, which means that this space is their first impression. Invest in landscaping services to take care of any plants on your property. If you are on a budget, see how much you can do on your own. Clean any outdoor furniture you have and ensure that communal areas stay tidy. Put up signs that remind tenants to clean up after themselves when they use outdoor areas.

Property safety checks

One thing that students and their families look for in a student apartment is high levels of safety. Having fewer tenants over the summer months allows you to perform safety checks of your property to ensure your spaces are as safe as can be. Make sure the lighting inside and outside of your building works and that the security cameras are updated and in working order. Check the batteries on smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they will alert you and your tenants of any issues. Look at the expiration dates on your fire extinguishers to ensure they are able to be used in an emergency. Ensure that the locks on doors throughout the property are working well.

Plan back-to-school events

If a majority of your tenants are students, you can begin planning a back-to-school event when the semester starts back up. For landlords who have a pool on your property, throw a pool party for student tenants. You can also have a cookout where you invite student tenants to meet each other. College students are often on tight budgets, so you may even offer to have a school supply giveaway to help your student tenants get what they need for their classes. These events can help students get to know each other so they know who the other students are in their complex. Getting started on planning while there are fewer tenants means that you have more time to ensure these events go well.

Advertise your property’s vacancies

While having fewer tenants means you are able to get things done, it is still important to bring in more tenants so you can have money coming in. Use this time to advertise your properties to students looking for a place to rent. Use social media or word of mouth to help spread the word. Contact the school you are near to see if they have student housing boards to post your vacancies on. Since you have fewer tenants to worry about over the summer, you have the ability to be flexible with answering questions, taking phone calls, arranging tour times, and scheduling meetings. Use online listing services to spread the word. Update your own website to reflect your vacancies and the amenities you offer. Some landlords even have virtual tours on their website to help potential tenants get a sense of the space. These things take time, so it is best to do these now when there are fewer tenants to worry about.

While it may be tempting to take things slow over the summer when you have fewer student tenants, it is important to have a checklist of things to get done during the slower months.