Many people who get into the business of owning rental property fail to realize that it is a business. They think of effortless property management as never having to do anything but cash the rent checks each month. What you should be doing as a landlord is taking steps to ensure that running your business is as simple and carefree as possible. It will involve some work on your part, especially in the beginning of your relationship with each residents. But the effort will make life much easier for you down the road, especially when it enables you to keep good renters long term.

Read More

This is a guest post from Gabrielle Castaneda, who is currently enrolled at the University of South Florida pursuing a bachelor’s degree with a major in marketing, a minor in international business and a minor in management. In her spare time she enjoys doing outdoors activities. 

Although advertising on campus and social media is essential when it comes to marketing to college students, there are other creative ways to reach out to the college crowd. Read More

Apartments.com SVP and GM, Dick Burke, was invited to appear on FoxNews.com to discuss the current state of the rental industry and the direction it’s headed. In addition to addressing the impact foreclosure in the housing market are having on rental units, Burke provides apartment hunters with tips on where they can stretch their rental dollar the furthest.

Read More

The housing recovery rolls on, and the latest reports reveal some very interesting trends for renters. Here are some takeaway figures. Note that these statistics apply to the urban market only:

• 11.5% increase in list price since last year
• 21% decrease in homes on the market since last year

Read More

After a rough few years in the housing and rental market due to the down economy and recent recession, it appears as if everything is beginning to turn around in 2013. While it’s too early to invest everything in the rental and housing market at this moment, there are some emerging trends that are clearly evident so far in 2013 that are important to know if you work in the real estate and property management business. A number of these emerging trends are listed below.

Read More

The market for renters is competitive. Regardless of your rental property’s size, any unit vacancy is revenue going down the drain. High renter retention rates can minimize these gaps, but even the best properties will need a strong approach to recruiting new renters as openings occur. Depending on the demand for your property, there are a number of marketing strategies you can employ to fill vacancies and stir up interest in your rental units.

Read More

Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to spend less time stressed out and more time on things you enjoy? If so, you’re like many others! Some of the top ten New Year’s resolutions include spending more time with family and friends, fitting in fitness, learning something new and getting organized. What is the common denominator in those resolutions? You need more time!

Read More

If you work in marketing for the multifamily housing industry, you may have heard Apartments.com has launched community reviews. And, you most likely sit in one of two camps: nervously optimistic or somewhat ticked off (I heard from both sides at last week’s NMHC OpTech conference in Dallas).

Let me explain why we’re going down this controversial path and why we believe it’s the right thing to do: Read More

The team at Apartments.com had the opportunity to give a recent grad a leg up on relocating for a sought-after job opportunity on the Ellen DeGeneres show. Watch as Ellen surprises a Spokane-resident with her dream job as a production assistant on her favorite talk show. Job hunters should take notice of how the recent grad created a video resume rap showing just how much she wanted to work for The Ellen DeGeneres Show. With a little help from Apartments.com to make the move from WA to LA, Erica Norris’ dream is now a reality!

Read More

Social activities are a great way to build rapport with your residents, encourage them to get to know their neighbors and become involved in your apartment community. If you’re looking for ways to make your property and residents more social, these are some ideas to get you started:

Summer Socials: Take advantage of nice weather and create outdoor activities for your residents. If your property has a pool, invite renters to attend a pool party and grill up hamburgers and hot dogs for the guests. Have an ice cream social one night, or hand out treats to residents as they pass by the leasing office as a nice surprise as they come home from a long day at the office. Read More