When you’re building your property management website, it’s important to remember that you’ll have a variety of visitor types coming across it. Prospective residents will come looking for listings and amenities you offer; owners will look for information to help them decide if they want you to manage their properties for them or not. Here are some tips on catering to two different, but equally important, audiences.

Writing a Resident Page

To create a resident page, ask yourself the following questions to get started:

1. Who are my typical renters? (Think demographics: age, gender, single, married, kids, etc.)
2. What do my renters complain about? What do they rave about?
3. What lessons have I learned from my renters?
4. What percentage of my renters have renewed their leases over the past year, three years, and five years?

The list of questions could continue on, but these four are a good starting point. The common element with all of these questions is that they focus on specifics. The key to writing a successful (i.e. useful) tenant page is providing good detail. Don’t simply state that you’ll “provide open communication with all residents.” Instead, explain exactly what type of communication you’ll provide. Do you offer text messaging services, portals for easy rent payments, simple maintenance request processes. Highlight how you address the typical frustrations that may be reasons why a person is looking for a new place to live.

Put yourself in the renter’s shoes and think about what you would be looking for in a potential home. Go a step further than boasting about your “recreational areas” and spell out what you’ve got to offer—is it a pool, fire pit, barbecue area, children’s playground?

Do you have really good statistics on renewal rates? If so, brag about it. It shows people that your property is well-liked. Add some quotes from real residents on why they keep renewing their leases. (Ask their permission first, of course.)

Include links to your social media profiles, photo albums of any community events you’ve hosted, and positive reviews from current or former residents. Remember, you’re trying to build a buzz about your property by speaking and relating to potential residents.

Writing an Owner Page

With owners, you are trying to show transparency, trustworthiness, and the ability to successfully turn a home into a lucrative Real Estate investment, so you need to try on a completely different pair of shoes in this scenario. Preferably a less flashy, more reliable pair. Your owners page should show why they should use your services. It shouldn’t be a sales pitch. It should clearly show what services you offer and how you can turn a home into an investment property. Possible areas that you’ll want to explore include:

• How will you market a home?
• How do you communicate information with owners? Do you off an owner portal?
• What type of screening process do you use for potential tenants?
• How will you maintain the home?
• How are rent prices set?
• When and how will you collect rents and security deposits?
• How and when will the owner receive their payments?

By including the answers to some of these important questions that owners ask, you’ll provide them with what they need to pick up the phone to start a conversation. Websites are the door to get people interested, and catering to different audiences is vital to grabbing and keeping their interest.

Appfolio | Company Website | LinkedIn Connect | AppFolio, Inc. develops Property Management Software that helps businesses improve their workflow so they save time and make more money. Appfolio submits articles & blogs including topics of Resident Retention, Improved Owner Communication, Time Management, and more.

Should I upgrade my unit? It’s a question we get frequently from owners of rental properties. The short answer is yes. Improving an apartment will increase its value to renters and will enable you to charge more per month in rent from your tenants. But there are a number of factors to take into account, and it’s important to be smart about which upgrades you choose.

How much is my unit worth?

When considering the potential value of an upgrade, what we are really asking is, “How far up the value spectrum can we push this unit?” To understand what we mean by this, imagine all of the rental properties in a neighborhood lined up and sorted from least to most expensive. Here, for example, is the current price range of two-bedroom rentals in The Richmond:

Price Range of Two Bedrooms in The Richmond

We’ve broken it up into five levels—one star for the least expensive units, all the way up to five stars for the most expensive. Three star priced units are right around the median for the area, about $3,600 for The Richmond.

There are some things that are generally true about units as you move up the value spectrum: properties tend to get larger, have more attractive features, and higher quality finishes. There isn’t a one-to-one relationship between any one thing and price; it’s the combination of size, features, and finishes that determine the price. This is an important principle that we’ll return to later.

What upgrades should I make?

If you’re looking to increase your unit’s star rating, and in turn, the value, here are some of the upgrades you should most seriously consider:

Washer / Dryer: +⅓★

Everyone has clothes that need to be washed, and when given the choice between competing with the other tenants in the building for a shared laundry room versus doing your own without leaving home, it’s easy to see why an in-unit washer/dryer is one of the most broadly desirable features to renters. Generally, we’ve found that a washer/dryer adds a third of a star to the overall rating.

Hardwood flooring: +½★

Flooring is something that gets the most wear and tear in a rental. Some owners opt for cheaper carpet for this reason, hoping to minimize the ongoing expense of cleaning and replacing it once it wears out. But flooring is also something that contributes a lot to overall feeling in a renter’s mind of how nice a place is. Good quality hardwood flooring can last a lot longer and require much less maintenance year after year than carpet. New hardwood flooring typically adds a half a star to the overall rating.

Remodeled Kitchen: +⅔★

Bay Area renters place a high value on a quality kitchen. Granite countertops, efficiently used space, and new appliances can make an apartment feel like it’s on another level than the standard run-of-the-mill place. It can be a fairly sizeable investment to remodel a kitchen, but opting for good quality materials and appliances will make this investment last for a long time. Upgraded kitchens often add as much as two thirds of a star to the overall rating.

But how much is it worth?

You’ll note that we haven’t yet discussed dollar amounts. The location contributes heavily to the potential value of upgrades. Let’s look at the price range of two-bedroom units in The Richmond again, and compare it to two bedrooms in a pricier neighborhood, The Marina.

Price Range of Two Bedrooms in The Richmond

Price Range of Two Bedrooms in The Marina

Potential rental value of upgrades

You’ll notice that upgrading a unit in The Marina is going to net more in monthly rent than a similar unit in The Richmond. That comes down to one key factor: location.

Additionally, as you move up the value spectrum, the price-jumps get larger from one star to another. For example, moving a two-bedroom apartment in The Richmond from a 2-star to a 3-star is an increase of $320, but moving a 3-star to a 4-star will gain $352.

How do I get the most out of upgrades?

It’s important to keep in mind that upgrading piecemeal will get you less of an overall bump than combining upgrades. Mismatched materials or quality of features may seem odd or confusing to potential renters, so you should strive to make an overall improvement to the quality of the apartment. Ultimately, you’ll get the most bang for your buck by upgrading your rental unit to be more attractive (and thus more valuable) to renters.

Joe Golike Joe Golike is the rental market specialist for Lovely. When he’s not pouring over data at Lovely HQ, he can be found mixing fancy cocktails for coworkers.

When a tenant must move out of a rental property before the lease expires, another person may choose to take over the former tenant’s lease with a Lease Assumption Agreement. This new tenant, known as the “assignee,” is expected to meet the former tenant’s obligations as stated on the original lease agreement.

How Rental Property Lease Assumptions Benefit Landlords

Although you are not required to allow a new tenant to assume a former tenant’s rental property lease, keep in mind that this type of agreement usually benefits all parties involved. By allowing your tenants to enter into this type of agreement, you avoid the hassle of finding a new tenant to replace the one that is moving out.

It’s important to note that a Lease Assumption Agreement does not relieve your former tenant from the contractual requirements of the original lease. If the new tenant, or assignee, fails to meet these contractual obligations, both tenants may jointly be held liable for damages to your property and unpaid rent.

Lease Assumption Agreement versus Sublease Agreement

Typically, a Lease Assumption Agreement is used when a tenant must move out permanently with no intentions of returning to the rental property. In contrast, if a tenant is only planning to move out temporarily, a Sublease Agreement may be more appropriate. Before approving either type of lease transfer, make sure the correct landlord forms have been completed by both the new and former tenants.

With a Lease Assumption Agreement, the original tenant transfers all remaining interests in the lease to the new tenant, or assignee; whereas in a sublease situation, the original tenant only transfers limited rights to the new tenant, known as the “sub-tenant” or sub-lessee.” The original tenant retains certain rights to use the premises outside of the terms of the Sublease Agreement. The original lease, known as the “master lease,” is still in effect.

For example, say your original tenant signed a 12-month lease for your rental property then signed a Sublease Agreement with a new tenant for three of those months. After the three-month sublease period ends, the original tenant can move back into the rental property, just as long as it still falls within the 12-month term of the original lease agreement (or master lease). During the three-month sublease period, you are considered to be the “sub-landlord” or “sub-lessor.”

How to Minimize Your Risk with a Lease Assumption Agreement

The former tenant may request that you, the landlord, release him from future lease liability once the new tenant moves in. However, by signing a release form, you give up the right to sue the former tenant for damages or unpaid rent if the new tenant, or assignee, doesn’t hold up his end of the deal. This is usually not in the best interest of the landlord.

Before allowing a new tenant to assume an existing rental property lease, confirm that the assignee meets the same criteria that any other potential new tenant must meet before moving in. You certainly want to ensure that the new tenant is able to pay the rent on time, even if the former tenant is still liable for any unpaid rent and damages of the assignee. This can prevent plenty of headaches and hassles in the future.

Landlord-tenant laws often vary from state to state, so before you approve a lease assignment transfer between tenants, protect yourself by discussing the details of the agreement with a real estate lawyer or other legal professional.

– See more at: http://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/property-management/landlord-quick-tips/lease-assumptions-101/#sthash.IdyPGbFh.dpuf

American Apartment Owners Association | Company Website | At the American Apartment Owners Association (AAOA), our mission is to serve the interests of landlords, real estate brokers, property managers, real estate owners and apartment building owners nationally. Visit www.AAOA.com for more information about membership details!

Okay, many of you have had a Facebook page for years, others may be new, and now you are the proud manager of a Facebook page. You just have to wait for thousands of fans to beat down your virtual door, right? Wrong! If there’s no engagement, your post will not be prominent on your fans’ news feed. That is because the Facebook algorithm automatically shows the most engaging post to more users, so it is important that you find ways to improve engagement with your fans. These five tips should boost engagement so that you market yourself, your property, or company effectively on Facebook.

Targeted Content The content on your Facebook page must be high quality and related to your niche market. For example, if the focus on your fan page is apartment home living, you should not post fashion-related content unless it ties in with the theme and is either useful or entertaining for your fans. If the content is not targeted to your fan base, you will not get many likes or shares. Remember, your fans liked your page for a particular type of content, so you should provide quality, related content on a regular basis.

Ask Questions Work on some original and engaging questions for your audience. Ask what fans think about a particular product, or be a bit cheeky and make them laugh when they read your question. This will encourage fans to comment and share, therefore boosting engagement. This works best with a related picture, or you can ask a relevant or fun question on a picture. It should be the first thing that comes to mind when you see the picture, as the best questions are spontaneous ones.

Run a Contest Hosting a contest is a great way to drive engagement on your page. The more attractive the prize is, the more people will be tempted to participate in the contest and share with their friends. It does not have to be expensive, and something related to your product or service offerings keeping with your overall theme is a great way to stay connected to what may interest your audience. There are various apps to help streamline the process and make contest posts look professional and engaging.

Post Helpful and Informative Content When there is an event around your property that your audience might be interested in, it is a good idea to publish content to your page, even if it is unrelated to your niche. Maybe there is a big concert, rally, or sporting event taking place, so you can use your local knowledge to post traffic updates, event times and snippets of interesting information. This is useful for your audience and shows your fans you genuinely care about them, and that you consider their wider interests. It does not have to be all about the niche to be engaging, but it does have to be helpful and informative.

Post When Your Fans are Online Thanks to Facebook insights, you can work out a time when the majority of your audience is online. This enables you to schedule your posting time for maximum visibility. This, of course, depends largely on your target audience. If you cannot post at a particular time, you can schedule the post to be published automatically at the most effective time for engagement.

The amount of engagement on your Facebook page will help to determine how visible your posts are in the news feeds of your fans. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your content is good enough to attract and engage their attention. These simple tips should help you to do just that.

Happy Posting!

MultifamilyZone.com | Company Website | MultifamilyZone.com provides a listing of products, services and industry-related companies, technology tools, marketing trends and is a resource for information and news. Our goal is to assist individual owners, as well as fee and national management firms in the operations of their assets by connecting them with professional vendor partners.

Persuasive web content is what makes your website successful. You should use a combination of appropriately sized images and verbiage to get attention, hold it longer, and make a perfectly timed call to action. When all of these facets work together, you will have persuasive content.

You need to know your target audience, so you can design your content to persuade. Market research will tell you the kinds of people who are likely to visit your site and determine the best way to keep your visitors there long enough to convert them into prospects or residents. You need to determine just what your potential residents need and how to give it to them in a unique way that grabs and holds their attention.

Don’t make them think too hard to grasp the information they need. Gone are the days of ‘call for pricing’ – this frustrates the user as they want the information “now” to know if they want to proceed with a phone call or visit. Because visitors do not want to think too hard, here are five principles to persuade them to remain on your site long enough to potentially convert.

Make Your Message Clear Make the most important item on your website or landing page an image or verbiage that will create a positive attitude and let the visitor know this is what you do. Tell them why they should choose your property or services over all others.

The time you have to make a lasting impression is a fraction of a second. Images speak louder than words (but, make sure they are true to form – you will lose them quickly if what they viewed on your website is not what they discover when they arrive). Don’t use superlatives or clichés. Make sure your visitors are not confused about what type of property you have.

Use Interesting Graphics Again, first impressions will win them over or send them packing. If your site is too busy or complex, has poor navigation, slow-loading pictures, small print, or too many words, you will lose visitors’ attention. User-friendly navigation is a major visitor concern. Also, sites should be visually attractive.

Studies by Google showed that people prefer websites that are simple with a familiar type of format. You want your site to have some unique qualities, but familiarity is appealing to your visitors.

Use Images That Sell Make sure visuals encourage them to want to take the next step. You do not want to use those first milliseconds they spend on your site on an obscure image or being overburdened by too complex a framework. Remember, they do not want to think that hard.

In spite of what you may have heard, specific colors do not make visitors buy your products. The most important color may be the open white space. Don’t try to fill up space. Keep it simple.

If your goal is to convert them, ensure a “Call to Action”, or “Register now” button. That is a good place to use a splash of color to make sure they find it easily and fulfill your objective, which is to convert this visitor into a prospect.

Got Their Attention? Keep It! Studies show that people spend most of the time on your site “above the fold”, or closer to the top of your website. Also, since most visitors read left to right, the most important information or images should be aligned to the left.

Change things around. People like to see new things, and it makes their brains take notice. Possibly align photos and text left, then right, and back to keep the visitor engaged.

Use some filtering so visitors can find the type of information they want easily. Product images need to be large enough for details to be noticed, not in long rows of small images. People usually make decisions based on how something looks.

Your web design can help you get what you want if you use these ideas to persuade visitors, with and without words, to choose what you offer. Clarity of objective and interesting images and content, paired with a decisive call to action, can make sure your content persuades visitors to linger and to become your customer.

Have a Decisive Call to Action When the Visitor is Ready Know what you want the visitor to do and offer that action when they have had time to get motivated. Don’t ask visitors to commit too early. When you feel the visitor has reached their highest motivation to act, that is where to place the call to action. Examples may be the floor plan page – add a ‘reserve now’ or ‘make an appointment to tour today’ button.

There a larger number of qualified vendor partners that offer solid website templates or have customized options and are well educated to assist you in your website strategy. As a marketing consultant, our team has worked with some major players for onsite property websites as well as vendor and corporate websites. Just be sure your website provider has a clear understanding of your goals and always be open to their recommendations. We choose vendor partners for their expertise and expect them to share best practices. Understand and review your analytics often, so changes can be made to enhance your website and user experience as needed.

Lisa Young, CEO & Founder of Multifamily Zone, LLC provides Marketing, Sales & Project Management Services to the property management industry. MultifamilyZone.com is all-inclusive resource, offering everything multifamily professionals need, including industry information and news, products, services, technology tools, marketing trends, training opportunities and much more! Our goal is to assist individual owners, as well as fee and national management firms in the operations of their assets. Contact Lisa at lyoung@multifamilyzone.com or 650.279.9799.

It seems like every time I visit an apartment community to collect information for my market survey, I leave with another feature discovery that will help me convince prospects my apartment community is the best choice for their new home.

Shopping the competition is required each month. Updating a market study analyzes pricing and availability. The data offers advice to adjust prices using the principles of market trends, competition pricing, supply and demand. Much of the pricing and apartment style information is available on Craigs List or through the property internet advertising. However, visiting the property, touring the apartment homes; always reinforces the features available in the apartments at my community. These are the cupholders that will sell an apartment.

Know Your Competition

• Are first floor apartments walk out or garden level?
• Do second and third floor apartments offer balconies?
• Are the washer dryers stackable or full sized?
• Are the hallways/stairwells enclosed or open to the elements?

Each of these nuggets of information can be game changers to a prospect. Savvy marketers offer the best and most limited bargain in their print and social media advertisements. Anticipating, if they are able to get a nibble, a phone call, an email, or best possible result, a visit to the property. the skilled leasing crew can reel in the sale.

Quoting The Competition

Prospects are quick to offer the competition content when attempting to negotiate the best deal for pricing.

“Property A offers no rent for the first month”

Our response, that’s true …but that property doesn’t accept pets over 25 pounds. I know how important your dog is to your family. So I don’t think that property would work for you.”

“One bedrooms at property B are $50 a month less than here.”

Our response, thats true, but the one bedroom are all garden level…below grade..no patio door, limited day light and no walk out.”

“Property C has a move in special”

We know Property C does not include water, sewer and trash. They are billed by the utility to the resident and may require a deposit. At our property services and utilities are included in the rental rate.

Linear and cubic closet space, Energy Star kitchen appliances, heating and cooling systems are “secret ingredients” that can contribute to a successful sales presentation.

Effectively understanding the competition includes so much more than the rental rates listed on Craig’s List, and the occupancy statistics which are probably not disclosed to competitors. Being armed with detailed knowledge about the competition demonstrate a skilled leasing professional is prepared, informed and knowledgeable.

Selling the Customer Service

A strong preventive maintenance program that minimizes the need for maintenance calls which many residents perceive as an invasion of their privacy, is another secret weapon.

• The date on the furnace filter tells you when the filter was changed.
• Our maintenance team has a recurring schedule to paint and touch up our hallways so they always look fresh.

Each of these observations prepares the leasing team with so much more than simply a rental rate, or the current special.

Parking availability, dog walks, package pick up, maintenance response time, the features of a property are truly endless. Being prepared to highlight the features of your apartment community requires preparation. Every minute of touring the competition is a challenge to identify benefits to showcase our apartment features.

Using marketing meetings for team members to compare property features adds to the leasing sales “kit.” Tour the competition make the mental notes for strengths and weaknesses. Pointing out rooms to a prospect is a wasted opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of your property. Dazzling them with the square footage of the closets, pointing out the value of the third shelf in the kitchen cabinets creating a third more storage space are the feature moments that will secure a sale.

Lori Hammond | Company Website | LinkedIn Connect | Lori has 30+ years’ experience in the Property Management Industry, working with both market rate and affordable housing. Lori has been privileged to work with some tremendous industry leaders during employment tenures with Oxford Management, NHP Management, AIMCO, Alliance Residential, Boston Capital, The Sterling Group, P.K. Housing and currently Management Resources Development.

Access to screaming fast Wi-Fi and mobile apps that manage everything from fitness plans to doctor appointments—the modern renter relies on technology to stay on budget and on schedule. Being able to make payments from the road (without pesky paper checks) is the new norm. If your property isn’t already accepting online rent payment, why not? It’s mutually beneficial for your residents and your business: it’s convenient, saves time, reduces labor costs, and improves cash flow consistency. Here are five major benefits your property management business could realize by allowing your residents to pay rent online.

Why Manage Rent Collections Online?

1. Control management fees. Online rent collection reduces overhead for property management teams. Reducing operating expense means you can keep property management fees low, a definite advantage for your property owners. 2. Improve customer service. With less time devoted to collecting and processing rent checks, your team can focus on marketing efforts and building better relationships with residents and owners. 3. Minimize past due accounts. With multiple electronic options that include paying rent with a credit card, e-check, or PayPal you can reduce late payments drastically. Using mobile alerts to remind residents that rent is due (or the due date is quickly approaching) often triggers payment immediately if your system is optimized for mobile devices. 4. Enhance security. Online payments eliminate risks associated with cash payment policies. Your insurance company may even reduce your coverage rate if you aren’t keeping cash on-site. 5. Simplify dispute resolution and create an audit trail. Online rent payments create a digital paper trail. When a resident claims he or she made a payment, you can check the system instantly to verify or disprove the claim. A fully integrated property management software package also updates owner statements, assesses late fees, and tracks split payments automatically. Secure rent payment processing and owner disbursement processes automate workflow without compromising sensitive private data. With a single click, your accounting team can get a snapshot of who has or hasn’t paid, enabling better-informed financial decisions.

What Do Your Residents Expect from an Online Rent Payment Portal?

Past surveys have revealed that it’s common for residents to assume the best properties offer online payment options. Along with 24/7 availability, renters expect online payment portals to:

• Be user friendly and easy to navigate
• Include itemized monthly statements that list extra fees and services separately
• Allow multiple payment options like credit and debit cards
• Enable automated recurring payment setup
• Come without processing fees, especially if online payment is mandatory for all residents

Why Do Electronic Payment Options Matter?

According to MarketPlace.org, roughly half of all U.S. consumers paid bills online in 2013. That number continues to grow as more companies add mobile options and financial institutions embrace digital banking solutions.

Based on information from Pew Research and the Federal Reserve:

• 56% of consumers pay at least one bill online per month via online banking
• 90% verify account balances and recent transactions
• Almost 70 million U.S. consumers do their banking online

There will always be those renters who prefer to bust out their checkbooks on the first of the month, but the above stats about banking behavior suggests people are more comfortable with digital transactions than ever before. If you don’t currently offer your residents and owners the advantages of online rent payments, it might be time to seriously consider it.

Appfolio | Company Website | LinkedIn Connect | AppFolio, Inc. develops Property Management Software that helps businesses improve their workflow so they save time and make more money. Appfolio submits articles & blogs including topics of Resident Retention, Improved Owner Communication, Time Management, and more.

So you think you can be a property manager? It’ll take dedication and hard work, but with over 500,000 property managers who have already made the leap, you can do it if you follow the right steps. Whether you lean toward commercial management or residential management, you’ll be a liaison between property owners and residents. So if you’re well-organized and good with people, you’re already poised for success.

Our Step by Step Guide to Starting a Property Management Business covers:
•The skills you need to be a successful property manager
•The four basic steps to starting your business
•How much of an initial investment you’ll need

Being a property manager isn’t for everyone, but if you have the personality and skill set to take care of buildings and personal relationships it can be a very rewarding—and profitable—business venture.

Starting a Property Management Business: A Step by Step Guide from AppFolio

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Appfolio | Company Website | LinkedIn Connect | AppFolio, Inc. develops Property Management Software that helps businesses improve their workflow so they save time and make more money. Appfolio submits articles & blogs including topics of Resident Retention, Improved Owner Communication, Time Management, and more.

Property managers are proud members of the customer service industry. Whether it’s speaking to a prospective resident, discussing market analysis with a home owner, or improving business relationships with a fellow property management professional, having great customer service skills is a must. In the competitive marketplace it is no longer enough to say “please and thank you.” You must go above and beyond the call of duty to meet the demands of every renter, owner, and guest who walks into your property management office.

The most professional and successful property managers will have the following traits in common.

Attentive. You need to pay attention to what a client is actually saying. Truly listen to each and every word, without letting your focus waver. You must be willing to pay attention to the details. I can’t emphasize enough that you should not check your email or text messages mid conversation (even though your guest might do it). It’s also important to be on time for appointments and alert clients of cancellations in a timely manner. A real customer service agent must be attentive to the unspoken needs of both residents and homeowners, as well.

Positive. Remaining upbeat and using positive language when presented with the most challenging or frustrating of situations is critical. In simple terms, “keep your cool.” As a property manager you will meet confrontation head on and often without warning. You never know who will walk into your office and for what reason so approaching every situation with a smile and a good attitude will help you resolve issues quickly and effectively. But there is a fine line between positivity and sounding disingenuous or sarcastic, so just be aware of how you’re coming across.

Personable. As a property manager, you need to relate to tenants, owners, and other employees. You must be able to put yourself in another person’s shoes so that you can better understand and respond to unique situations. Everyone is from a different background; however, customer service agents must be able to relate to each person on a one-to-one basis. Most likely you’ve rented in the past or are currently renting—think about how you would like to be treated by your own property manager.

Calm. Often residents and homeowners enter a property manager’s office in distress. When these instances occur, you must be able to respond calmly to stressful situations. Role playing possible scenarios with your coworkers can help you practice keeping calm under pressure. Another tip: Try to keep your office clean and tidy because messy spaces can cause anxiety or added stress. Make it a peaceful and inviting place for your residents and owners to visit.

If you’re thinking about moving into the property management business ask yourself if you embody these traits. You might have to work hard to keep your stress level down or maybe a positive, sunny disposition isn’t in your natural wheelhouse. That’s OK, I guarantee we all have to work on at least one of these things. Keep practicing, and you’ll be a better property manager and all-around employee for it. Added bonus: You might see a boost in resident retention, referrals, and positive online reviews.

Appfolio | Company Website | LinkedIn Connect | AppFolio, Inc. develops Property Management Software that helps businesses improve their workflow so they save time and make more money. Appfolio submits articles & blogs including topics of Resident Retention, Improved Owner Communication, Time Management, and more.

It might seem obvious, but the contact page is one of the most important areas of your website when it comes to getting potential residents—and it’s also one of the most neglected. The focus of your contact page should be value and functionality. Simply put, can an interested prospect contact you quickly? Many websites put the contact page last on the priority list and that results in a loss of quality leads. While it might not be the first page a potential renter will visit, it certainly could be one of the last, so make it work for you.

One important thing to remember is that while your contact page should include these following features, you should also place your contact phone and email, as well as any social profiles, in the footer of your website so it is easily visible on every page for immediate access. If a prospective renter is on your amenities page and has a question, the phone number and email should be at their fingertips.

Include a [working] contact form. Listing only your email address or business phone number is a good way to lose a large percentage of your intended audience. Use a simple form to encourage people to reach out to your business at the exact moment that they are thinking about doing so. But please make sure the form is optimized—the fields have a long enough character limit to include complete information, the submit button actually submits, it works as expected on mobile devices—basic functionality that can make or break a deal. And don’t overcomplicate it. Ask for only pertinent information; you can collect the rest when you speak to the interested party. It’s also nice to include a thank-you page that states your response time (i.e., one hour, 1-2 business days) to help manage expectations and start the relationship off on a positive note.

Additional features to include:

• Hours of operation (days, hours, timezone)
• Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram (if available)
• Google Map of office locations (for easy mobile navigation)
• Optional: Chat or Skype contact information (a quick way for out-of-towners to video chat you for a more personal experience)

As with the rest of the site, consider a unique design—something that reflects your brand. But remember, this page is about function over fancy. Take a moment to review your company’s current contact page. Does it meet all of the above criteria? If not, start tweaking your contact page so that you can turn more prospective leads into residents.

Appfolio | Company Website | LinkedIn Connect |AppFolio, Inc. develops Property Management Software that helps businesses improve their workflow so they save time and make more money.  Appfolio submits articles & blogs including topics of Resident Retention, Improved Owner Communication, Time Management, and more.