Improving your curb appeal isn't just beautifying your grounds to impress visitors. Curb appeal is a strategy that helps you lease residences faster, command higher rents, and stand out in a competitive market. It also plays a major role in resident retention. This summer, rather than spending money on surface-level upgrades, invest in smart curb appeal strategies that actually drive long-term value and boost your bottom line.

1. Conduct Local Market Research

Before breaking ground or writing checks, study your market. What outdoor amenities are in demand with your target renters: Bike racks? Pet areas? Shade structures? Use renter surveys, conduct competitive analysis, and read reviews to see what people rave about (or complain about). The better you know your market, the smarter your upgrades will be.

2. Create An Exterior Master Plan

Stop chasing small fixes and start thinking long-term. Bring in a landscape architect or designer to help you build a phased improvement plan that aligns with your goals and budget. Having a clear plan helps you stay consistent with branding, prioritize ROI-driven upgrades, and avoid wasting money on disjointed, one-off projects.

3. Focus On Common Area Functionality

Your landscaping shouldn't just look good. It should work for your residents. Use summer to improve how people actually use your outdoor spaces. Add shaded seating, widen walkways, improve lighting for safety, or create zones for gathering, grilling, or play. Functional outdoor areas increase resident satisfaction and support higher retention.

4. Hire The Right Pros

Don't go it alone. A skilled landscaping firm or facilities partner can handle ongoing maintenance, seasonal planting, and larger upgrades while freeing up your in-house staff. Look for vendors who understand multifamily properties specifically. They'll be more familiar with resident needs, HOA restrictions, and long-term asset value.

5. Audit Signage, Lighting, And Entry Flow

You can't boost curb appeal if people are confused about how to pull into your parking. Is your signage clear and on-brand? Are your entrances well-lit, safe, and welcoming? Summer is a great time to reassess visibility and flow from the street to the leasing office to the farthest building on the lot.

6. Track What's Working

Make it part of your leasing and maintenance routine to track how these outdoor changes affect resident satisfaction, online reviews, leasing velocity, and renewal rates. Data-driven upgrades are more likely to earn you stakeholder buy-in and repeatable returns year after year.

Looking for more ways to boost your multifamily rental's curb appeal that have a high ROI? Contact our team at Occupancy Solutions. Since 1986, we've been helping owners and managers turn outdoor spaces into valuable assets with results that show on your bottom line.