April Resident Retention – 2010

This idea comes from Betsy Green at Sugartree Apartments #7379:

1. Betsy likes to host an egg hunt for her residents; an adult hunt and then a separate hunt for the children. For the children’s egg hunt, Betsy filled plastic eggs with candy and small toys (Dollar Store).  For the adults, Betsy handed out candy and (with DM approval) had plastic eggs that contained coupons for money off rent. Two eggs contained coupons for $25 off rent and 1 egg contained a coupon for $50 off rent. Betsy contacted her vendors and they donated 2 free carpet cleanings, one free apartment cleaning, and 5 free pizza coupons all of which were hidden in the plastic eggs. The egg hunt was a huge success and it looks like the adults had more fun than the kids!!!

National Home Improvement Time

1. Create a card/flyer to hang on each resident’s door to let them know that April kicks off National Home Improvement Month. As a way to get rents submitted on time, do an early bird drawing. The winner will receive 1 or 2 “free” hours of maintenance time to help the winning resident with odd jobs i.e. hanging pictures, touch up painting, light furniture assembly, etc.

National Gardening/Keep America Beautiful Month

When You Garden, You Grow!

Every April communities, organizations, and individuals nationwide celebrate gardening during National Garden Month. Gardeners know, and research confirms, that nurturing plants is good for us: attitudes toward health and nutrition improve, kids perform better at school, and community spirit grows.

Have a local landscape store employee or someone from your local college Horticulture Department give some pointers to your residents on gardening in small spaces. Hold a “Greatest Garden” contest and give a small prize to the winner!

Special Touches

Create a “Special Touches” card or flyer that outlines services that our residents can use or borrow.  Items might include:

• Card Tables
• Small Tool Boxes
• Moving Dollies
• Fix a Flat
• Jumper Cables

You can also provide services such as plant watering, fish feeding, and package delivery for residents who are on vacation.  Your residents will love the convenience of the “Special Touches” that you offer!

Resident Retention calls

Here is our always free retention idea! Be a good communicator.  Return your resident’s calls/emails promptly.  When you want to thank a resident, send a handwritten thank you note. Our residents will appreciate the personal interaction.

March Resident Retention – 2010

Daylight Savings Time – March 14, 2010
1. We “Spring Forward” on March 14, 2010. Send your residents a reminder flyer – now is a great time to check the smoke detector battery and air filter in their apartment home. Remind your resident’s that we available to change the A/C filter and smoke detector battery for them– we are just 1 quick phone call away!!!

St. Patrick’s Day – March 17, 2010
1. Purchase gold candy coins and hang them on resident’s doors with a note that says “We are lucky to have YOU as a resident at !” (or, use paper shamrocks in lieu of candy).
2. Send a St. Patrick’s Day coloring page flyer out for the kids!! Kaboose.Com is a great site to download coloring pages and games for kids. (http://printables.kaboose.com/jolly-leprechaun.html)

First Day of Spring – March 20, 2010
1. When “Spring has Sprung” it is time to start your “spring cleaning”! Consider hosting a Community Yard Sale! Send out flyers to all of your residents announcing the Yard Sale and provide tables and chairs for your residents to use. If your budget permits, announce your yard sale in the newspaper classified section. This is an inexpensive and effective way to drive traffic to your community!! Be sure to have a leasing table set up at the yard sale!!

Resident Retention Calls
Here is our always free retention idea! Select several buildings and call each resident to ask how things are going. Let them know that you just wanted to call and make sure everything in their home was fine.

December Resident Retention

National Candy Cane Day – 26th
1. Provide each resident with a candy cane. Make sure to attach it to a note indicating it is National Candy Cane Day!

1st Day of Winter – 21st
There are lots of things you can do with this idea.
1. Send out a calendar of events for local parks, most have winter activities such as ice skating or cross county skiing.
2. Send out a flyer with energy saving tips. With winter come colder temperatures and higher electric bills, so residents will appreciate the cost saving ideas.
3. What else can you think of?

Wrigley’s Gum was Trademarked – 9th
1. Give each resident a pack of Wrigley’s gum. Attach a note declaring that the 9th was the day this gum was trademarked with a catchy saying like “We are suck on our residents”.

Food Drive
1. Jill Penrod recently sent information about a food drive program that some districts are participating in. Check with your DM. We can offer the food drive promotion to our current residents as well as new prospects. If current residents bring in canned food, they can be entered into a drawing for a gift card or money off of their rent.

Gift Wrapping
1. With December being a slower sales month, offer to wrap gifts for your residents. You can purchase low cost wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows, etc. at the dollar store or similar. Send out a flyer to your residents offering free gift wrap. We are offering something to them this holiday season that is more valuable than anything else…our time…..to wrap their gifts!
2. If you want to go a less time consuming route, or you are all thumbs when it comes to wrapping, you can create custom gift tags to give to your residents.

Resident Retention Calls
Here is our always free retention idea! Select several buildings and call each resident to ask how things are going. Let them know that you just wanted to call and make sure everything in their home was fine.

September Resident Retention

NFL Opening Day – Sept. 10
1. Since most of you do not have clubhouses, try a tailgate party!
2. You can take this a step further and use the start of the NFL season in your specials and advertising for new prospects.

Apple Month
1. Apples are in season, so the cost is low! Give each resident an apple with a card attached declaring September as Apple Month and include a catchy saying like “Our Residents are the Apple of our Eye”.
2. You can combine NFL open day tailgate party with Apple Month. Do an apple dunking contest!

National Chicken Month
1. Give each resident a can of chicken soup. Attach a note declaring National Chicken Month with a catchy saying like “We never get sick of providing exceptional customer service”.
2. For a lower cost idea, provide your residents with a good chicken recipe. Try to find one that keys in on a low cost meal. Everyone is looking for those these days!

National Popcorn Day – 12th
1. Give each resident a pack of microwave popcorn. Attach a note indicating it is National Popcorn Day and include a catchy saying.
2. You can also invite your resident to the office for a bag of popcorn. This will give you an opportunity to talk with them and find out how things are going in their apartment.

Resident Retention Calls
Here is our always free retention idea! Select several buildings and call each resident to ask how things are going. Let them know that you just wanted to call and make sure everything in their home was fine.

July Resident Retention

Air Conditioning Appreciation Month
1. Send out flyers to each resident declaring air conditioning appreciation month. On the flyer give tips on how to be energy efficient using their A/C.
2. You can take this a step further if you want to ask maintenance to clean or replace filters for each resident.

National Recreation and Parks Month
1. Gather event schedules for local parks in your area. Create a flyer for your residents declaring National Recreation and Parks Month and include the schedule of events. Most of the events are FREE!!!

Tell an Old Joke Day – 24th
1. Everyone loves a joke every now and then! Find a cute (and clean) joke to share with your residents.

Get to Know Your Customer Day – 16th
1. Customer service is the key to our success. We need to get to know our customers and for them to get to know us. What better way to do this than a door to door campaign! The weather is great so spend some time outside. Go to each apartment, knock on the door and introduce yourself. If they already know you, that’s okay. Spend some time talking with them.

Resident Retention Calls
Here is our always free retention idea! Select several buildings and call each resident to ask how things are going. Let them know that you just wanted to call and make sure everything in their home was fine.

June Resident Retention

National Candy Month
1. This is a “sweet” and easy one! Create small cards for each resident declaring it is National Candy Month and that we are sweet on our resident. Attach a small piece of candy to the card.

Dairy Month
1. Have a good humor day. Temps are going up and so can resident frustrations. Cool them off with an ice cream bar! You can either deliver the bars to each unit or send out a flyer inviting them to the office to pick up their ice cream.
2. If you want to go all out, have an ice cream social. You can have individual cups of ice cream, different topping options and lots of conversation. Not only are you letting your residents know you appreciate them, they might meet a neighbor they didn’t know!

National Ice Tea Month
1. It is HOT outside. Let your residents cool down with a cold glass of ice tea! Instead of doing breakfast on the go, do an afternoon break. Set up in a similar manner – outside by the main entrance to the property. Give each resident coming in or leaving a cold glass of ice tea. Not only can this be a resident retention activity, you just might attract the attention of some prospects. Make sure you have a glass ready for them too!
2. Create small cards for each resident announcing it is National Ice Tea month. Attach an individually wrapped tea bag. If you want to spend a few extra cents, get the Lipton Cold Brew.

Watermelon Seed Spitting Week – 25-28th
1. Have a resident picnic! This does not have to be expensive. Ask residents to bring their favorite dish to share and a chair. You won’t have to spend much on food or tables and chairs. Make sure to include a watermelon spitting contest!

Resident Retention Calls
Here is our always free retention idea! Select several buildings and call each resident to ask how things are going. Let them know that you just wanted to call and make sure everything in their home was fine.

May Resident Retention

National Barbeque Month
1. Have a property BBQ for all the residents. It can be as simple as hamburgers and hot dogs. To keep costs down, you can ask residents to bring their own non-alcoholic beverages and even a side dish to share!
2. Freebie – find a good BBQ recipe. Make copies for each resident and door hang it with an announcement that it is National BBQ Month.

National Vinegar Month
1. There are thousands of uses for vinegar. Share those ideas with your residents! You can see if you can purchase individual sample packs of vinegar and give one to each resident along with the ideas.
2. Freebie – Give each resident the attach tip sheet on uses for vinegar. They will appreciate it since vinegar is much less expense than many cleaning substitutes!

National Taffy Day – 23rd
1. Give each resident a piece of taffy attached to a note card announcing National Taffy Day. You can also add a cute saying like “Stick with us” or “We are sweet on our Residents”.

Maxwell House Coffee was trademark registered – 11th
1. Give each resident an individual sized coffee sample with a note announcing the 11th was the trademark date of Maxwell House Coffee.
2. Have a Breakfast on the Go day. Several of you have done this already, but the residents really seem to like this. Have coffee (with cups that have lids) and danish or muffins. Set up a table at the exit to the property and as residents leave for work, give them breakfast.

Resident Retention Calls
Here is our always free retention idea! Select several buildings and call each resident to ask how things are going. Let them know that you just wanted to call and make sure everything in their home was fine.

April Resident Retention

Keep America Beautiful Month & Earth Day April 22
1. Spring is in the air and there is trash on the ground. Pick a day in April to clean up the property. Get your residents involved by announcing that it is Keep America Beautiful Month and ask them to clean up their patio areas.

This idea comes from Vicky Andrews at Foxhaven in Canton.
2. To keep the property beautiful, purchase flats of flowers and give each resident 3 plants. Not only is it a nice gift for the residents, it will beautify the property.

National Humor Month
1. Create a card to hang on each resident’s door with a cute joke. Make sure it is clean! Make sure to announce that it is national humor month.
2. As a way to get rents submitted on time do an early bird drawing. The winner will receive 2 tickets to a local comedy club.

National Park Week – April 19-25
1. Create a list of local and national parks in your area along with a list of amenities offered at those parks. Most parks have website that also have a calendar of events that you could print and include. Distribute to each resident along with a note indicating it is National Park Week.

Safe Kids Week – April 27 – May 3
1. Have a Safety Day at the property. Most police departments will offer free fingerprinting for children. You can ask the fire department to bring a fire truck and offer to teach children and parents about fire safety. Make sure to announce this event not only to residents but to the community as well. You can usually get some free advertising by calling the local newspaper to let them know about the event.

McDonalds Day – April 15th
1. April 15th is tax day. Since several of us are sending a check to the IRS, we can only afford to eat at McDonald’s. Give your residents a break. Get $1 McDonald’s gift certificates and give one to each resident. (this might only be an option on smaller properties)
2. To lessen the cost, you can do an early bird drawing for rent. Winner would receive a $10-$15 McDonald’s gift certificate.

Resident Retention Calls
Here is our always free retention idea! Select several buildings and call each resident to ask how things are going. Let them know that you just wanted to call and make sure everything in their home was fine.

March Resident Retention

National Write a letter of Appreciation Week March 1-7
1. We don’t thank our residents enough. What better way to say thank you than sending them a letter. I have attached a sample that could come directly from your DM.
2. If you prefer to write a thank you from you as the Property Manager, that is great too. Please send to your DM for approval first.

Newspaper in Education Week March 2-8
1. Call the local newspaper to have a complimentary newspaper delivered to each resident. Newspapers are struggling for subscribers. This is a great way from them to get some new customers and in return you are giving something to our residents.

National Spring Fever Week March 16-22
1. Nothing says Spring Fever like getting out of the house. Why not give your residents something to get out for? Stacy Hoover from Applegate/Willowood # 6550 submitted this idea: A coupon book
We went around/ called local businesses and negotiated deals for our residents. Ex. Snappy tomato pizza buy one get one free, Storage Plaza- 1 month free, Total fitness $5 off per month, Liberty Tax-$10 off. And much more. Then we created a coupon book and distributed to our residents. These specials are JUST for our residents. And in return for the “free” advertising we are doing for these local businesses, they are going to have our apartment information stored in their offices for customers to see.
2. Organize a community walk.
The week of March 16th – 22nd. Ask residents who are interested to meet at the office at 6:00 pm. Walk the property as many times as needed to reach 1 mile. Not only will it get folks outside to enjoy the weather, they might meet neighbors and you can do a light check!

Check your Batteries Day March 8th
1. Send a reminder card to each resident indicating that daylight savings time starts on March 8th. This is also a good time to replace batteries in smoke detectors.
2. Take this another step further and offer to replace the batteries for them. They will just have to schedule a service request.

Resident Retention calls
Here is our always free retention idea! Select several buildings and call each resident to ask how things are going. Let them know that you just wanted to call and make sure everything in their home was fine.

February Resident Retention Ideas

Valentine’s Day – Feb.14th and February is National Chocolate Month.
1. You can purchase a box of valentine cards and pass out to each resident with a piece of candy.
2. You can create a personalized note card that says “we love having you as a resident” This is an oldie but goodie!

National Canned Food Month
1. Have a food drive for the local food bank or homeless shelter. Ask each resident to bring in a canned good. If they bring in 3 canned goods, their name can be entered into a drawing for $25 off their rent or a $25 gift card.
2. Chicken soup is good for the soul! Purchase cans of chicken soup and give one to each resident with a note attached saying “We never want you to get sick of living here”.

Babe Ruth’s Birthday – Feb. 6th
1. Attach a mini Baby Ruth bar to a note card announcing Babe Ruth’s B-Day.
2. Buy a few packs of baseball cards. Give each resident a card along with the candy bar.

Tootsie Rolls Invented – Feb 23rd.
1. This is a very inexpensive resident retention idea. Buy a bulk back of little tootsie rolls and attach one to a card announcing that day as the day Tootsie Rolls were invented.
2. Have a jar filled with tootsie rolls in the office. Every resident that comes in can take a guess at how many tootsie rolls are in the jar. The closest to the actual number at the end of the month can win a $25 gift certificate. Make sure to create entry slips to have near the jar.

American Crossword Puzzle Week – Feb. 27- 3/1
1. Create a crossword puzzle specific to your property. It can have things related to the area, or your property specifically. This might take a little while to create, but residents will enjoy it more than a generic puzzle.
2. If you are not creative, you can buy a book of crossword puzzles to either copy or cut out neatly and give one to each resident with a note attached saying “ it is no puzzle why we enjoy our residents!”

FREE, FREE, FREE – this idea will be included each month and is completely free to us! Don’t take the easy way out every month by choosing this option, but it is a good alternative if you are short on time or money. Select several buildings and call each resident to ask how things are going. Let them know that you just wanted to call and make sure everything in their home was fine.

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