One of the most important parts of resident retention is the relationship you hold with your residents. If residents don’t get along with or feel good about management, they’re less likely to feel loyal or content with their current living situation. Building this type of rapport not only keeps residents renewing their leases, but it also makes them more likely to tell others about your community and market for you as a first hand experience resource. 4 steps to building better resident relationships are:

 

  • Keep it organized and professional – Especially during those early stages of meeting new residents and touring prospects, your organization and professional skills will be under the microscope. This is typically one of the first impressions you provide to residents, and you want to make sure it’s a good one. Make sure all documents, paperwork, and information is kept in order and readily available, so residents know that your management team is a team they can trust.
  • Embrace flexibility – You’re not always going to be able to meet resident needs, and a little flexibility can help to make those times a bit easier. Flexibility will allow you to do your best to meet in the middle, thinking up outside the box solutions that may not give them exactly what they want, but can satisfy what they need either way.
  • Always keep a record – Much like keeping things organized and professional, keeping records can give a trustworthy and stable impression to residents. Disputes, complaints, payments, repairs, and any other interaction having to do with the residence should be recorded and kept organized in order to build trust through keeping thorough and accurate information.
  • Stay open and friendly – You can’t expect to build a rapport if you’re not willing to communicate, and a little openness and friendliness really goes a long way. Even if you’re keeping everything professional, a friendly hello means a great deal, and letting your residents know that you’re open to their communications and concerns will encourage them to build a trusting relationship with you.

 

At OccupancySolutions.com, we know the power and the impact great resident relationships can make. Through flexibility, organization, record-keeping, and a professional approach, you can be well on your way to building a better rapport right away. To learn more about relationship building with your residents, check us out at OccupancySolutions.com today.