Simple Move-In Gifts for Apartment Renters
March 26, 2018 3:23 pm Leave your thoughtsMoving into a new apartment is a big life change for any resident! Take the time to ensure that your residents feel welcome and involved in their community right from the start. Simple move-in gifts are a nice gesture that starts off their time living on your property. These gifts don’t have to be extravagant and you can dedicate a small part of your apartment marketing budget. Positive resident efforts will help you avoid more resident turnover and result in greater satisfaction.
The Value of Resident Interaction
Any property can implement resident communication and interaction to improve the experience of their community. There are so many long-term benefits to following a resident retention strategy. While creating move-in gifts or implementing resident events may seem tedious, these small gestures can greatly change your property and improve your reputation.
The world of apartment marketing has evolved to a digital forefront, but often the most powerful form of marketing is the residents you currently have. Not to mention, resident satisfaction will help you to avoid negative reviews. Take the time to collaborate with your leasing team and push forward a multifamily resident retention plan.
Tips For Resident Move-In Gifts
Prepare your leasing team to make the most out of resident move-in gifts with these tips and tricks!
- Keep it Practical: Choose useful and practical items for the new residents. Think about items that will make their move-in process or their first days in the new home easier.
- Personalize When Possible: Adding a personal touch, such as a handwritten note or a small customization can make the gift feel more thoughtful and welcoming.
- Keep it Manageable: The gift doesn’t need to be extravagant. Simple gestures often have the most meaningful impact. Focus on quality over quantity.
- Include Information: Alongside the gift, provide practical information that can help the residents settle in smoothly, such as local amenities, community guidelines, or contact information for building management.
What is a good housewarming gift for an apartment?
When considering a housewarming gift for an apartment, try to find items that are practical and space-conscious. The best kind of gifts will be ones that work in small spaces. If the apartment has a balcony, gifts such as potted plants, outdoor lighting, or cozy seating options. These thoughtful gifts will help the resident celebrate their new apartment!
DIY Move-In Gift Ideas
Your resident move-in gifts do not have to be extremely time-consuming, and you can even do DIY gifts! Use the inspiration below to select a gift that you and your team can make together. It’s a great activity for your property management team and adds a special personalized touch to your move-in gifts.
- Customized Welcome Sign
- DIY Plant Arrangement
- Mason Jar Herb Garden
- Handcrafted Candle Set
- Photo Frame Collage
- Personalized Coasters
- DIY Kitchen Kit
- DIY Artwork
If you’re looking for simple move-in gifts and ways to welcome your new residents, you’ve come to the right place! Retaining good residents is cheaper, easier, and much faster than finding new ones. One of the first steps in resident retention is providing your residents with a warm welcome into your community. It may seem like something small, but it has the power to go a long way. It also immediately lets the residents know that you care for them.
Establishing a positive relationship between residents, and property management is critical. These resident strategies work because they show your community that you’re going to prioritize them. It also benefits your property management team by establishing a positive rapport with new residents. Your resident’s lifestyle goes beyond their floor plan! Keep your renters happy right from the beginning with proper resident retention ideas including simple move-in gifts.
Simple Move-In Gift Ideas
#1 Welcome to the Neighborhood Basket
Your residents will love a welcome basket full of delicious goodness. This basket is easy to assemble but will impress your residents with your thoughtfulness. It’s the perfect way to welcome them into your community.
What you’ll need:
- A basket
- A box of your favorite pasta
- Pasta sauce
- Parmesan
- A bag salad
- Misc. Kitchen supplies
#2: “You are all that and a bag of chips”
What you need: Label and any bag of chips.
Cost: $1-$5
This move-in gift idea is simple and budget-friendly but gives your apartment renters a snack they’ll enjoy. Adding a little note letting our renters know they’re appreciated goes a long way!
#3: “You are an uh-mason resident”
What you need: Mason jar, Candy, and Label
Cost: Under $5
Fill your mason jar with candy or coupons for a local business! This is a great move-in gift idea as it’s easy to store and assemble. It also gives your residents a jar to use for later on!
#4: “Peeps For My Peeps”
What you need: Label and a package of peeps
Cost: $3
Peeps are a fun gift around holidays, especially Easter and Halloween. Adding a cute note makes all the difference when it comes to move-in gifts, so don’t forget the finishing touch!
#5: “We’re Smitten: We flippin’ love residents like you”
What you need: Brownie mix (or mix of any kind), spatula, oven mitt, label.
Cost: $5
This move-in gift for apartment renters is one of the most useful. Who doesn’t need an oven mitt and spatula? These items are all extremely budget-friendly and you can even likely find them at the dollar store.
#6: Home Sweet Home Door Hangers
What you need: Door hangers
Cost: FREE!
Door hangers are possibly the easiest and most budget-friendly move-in gift option. You can find a design on Pinterest or Canva and print it. Attach it to something for an easy gift or hand it out in your welcome folder with additional information about the property!
Inexpensive Housewarming Gifts
If you want to take your resident move-in gifts to the next level, you can also consider giving them an inexpensive housewarming gift! Keep in mind that you may be helping someone decorate or set-up their unfurnished space. Practical gifts such as kitchenware, cleaning supplies, or shower essentials can be the perfect addition to the new space. Take inspiration from the list below for inexpensive apartment gifts!
- Small potted plants or succulents
- Welcome mats or door wreaths
- Customized keychains or keyholders
- Coasters or stylish kitchen towels
- Mini tool kits or household tool sets
- USB wall chargers or portable phone chargers
- Magnetic refrigerator calendars or shopping lists
- Local restaurant or coffee shop gift cards
- Decorative candles or air fresheners
- Eco-friendly grocery bags or reusable water bottles
These thoughtful housewarming gifts will make sure your residents have an amazing first impression.
Unique Apartment Gift Ideas
A unique apartment gift idea is giving them gifts that help decorate their new place. Consider giving them stylish decor items such as pillows or cozy blankets! You can also give them wall art, framed prints, or vases with flowers.
Adding more personalization to a gift can help it feel unique and showcase that more time and effort has been put in. You can also tailor your gifts more towards your resident demographics. Depending on the type of community that you have, you can find the right gift for families, young professionals, and retirees.
These personalized gift ideas can help your residents beautify their apartments and start on the right foot!
For Families:
- Custom Family Portrait: Commission a personalized family portrait to adorn their new home.
- Family Recipe Book: Create a collection of favorite family recipes with photos and anecdotes.
- Activity Basket: Put together a basket with board games, puzzles, and craft supplies for family bonding time.
For Young Professionals:
- Coffee Subscription: Gift a subscription to a specialty coffee service for their daily brew.
- Home Office Organizer: Provide a stylish desk organizer or a set of decorative storage boxes.
- City Guidebook: Give a guidebook highlighting local hotspots and hidden gems in their new city.
For Retirees:
- Gardening Kit: Put together a gardening kit with tools, seeds, and planters for their balcony or garden.
- Memory Lane Scrapbook: Gift them a scrapbook that they can use to journal and hold their favorite pictures.
- Relaxation Basket: Include items like herbal teas, cozy slippers, and a soothing music CD for relaxation.
Involve Local Businesses In Your Move-In Gifts
A creative way to add more meaning to your move-in gifts or any sort of resident retention is to involve local businesses! You can give your residents the gift of experiencing something in your community, which is also a great way to improve their resident experience. Consider one of the ideas below to help showcase how wonderful your neighborhood is! It will also benefit the local businesses in your community, so it is a win-win for everyone.
- Local specialty foods: Look to give gifts or snacks from nearby vendors or farmers’ markets.
- Gift certificates to local cafes or restaurants: Provide them with a free meal or coffee break at a nearby cafe to introduce them to their new regular spot.
- Tickets to local attractions: Offer passes to museums, theaters, or parks in the area to encourage exploration of their new neighborhood.
- Subscription to a local service: Gift a subscription to a local magazine, yoga studio, or community fitness center to help them integrate into their new community.
Gifts For Apartment Renters
Start implementing move-in gifts for your renters to create a positive relationship from the very beginning. Thoughtful gifts will make your tenants feel appreciated and included. It will help to create a sense of belonging and encourage them to settle into their new home.
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Categorised in: Apartment Marketing, For Property Managers
This post was written by Chandra Lloyd
Chandra Lloyd is a writer for Market Apts with a focus on SEO copywriting and digital marketing for multifamily housing.