Spring and summer are the two most popular times of year when folks are looking for a new community to join. In the fall, many are preparing for winter, and in the winter, many find that the weather makes a move more difficult, so they wait for spring and summer to have the easiest transition to a new space possible. What this means for property management teams is that staging is most important in these seasons, and you’ll want to take advantage of what the season has to offer in order to attract these prospective residents to your community above all others. 

 

The most important thing to remember and consider when staging residences for spring or summer leases is the temperature in the space. Whether you’re touring the actual residence the prospective occupant will be leasing, or a staged residence for show, keeping control of the thermostat is what you should be considering first. Chances are, those coming to tour your spaces during this time of year will be dressed for the outdoor weather, which means a lot of shorts, sandals, tank tops, and other breezy cool clothing options. 

 

What you don’t want is to have these prospective residents stepping from the warm outdoor air into an icebox, as this will make their tour uncomfortable and they’ll be unable to fully focus on the residence they’re looking at. However, you also don’t want the space to be uncomfortably hot for the same reason. A good way to set the temperature is to make sure it’s between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, which will make it cool and comfortable when compared to the outside, but also not too cool that summer clothes are uncomfortable. If the cooling is turned off in the residence, make sure to turn it on about an hour before the scheduled visit to give the space time to cool down to a comfortable temperature. 

 

Another thing to consider is the outside, as weeds and grass tend to thrive in early summer weather, but suffer on the latter end. If it’s early on in the year, make sure the grass has been sufficiently cut and the weeds pulled from any flower beds or around the property area. If it’s later on, and the grass has begun to turn brown and dry, give it a little water if weather permits and allow it its best chance at looking lush and healthy once again. A well maintained outside will set the stage in prospective residents’ minds of what they can expect when they walk through the door.