Resident Engagement: Apartment Communities Get Creative During COVID-19

Asked about resident engagement during COVID-19, one savvy apartment manager says she doesn’t believe in social distancing. It’s physical distancing that’s needed, she explains, not social distancing. Why not use this crisis as an opportunity for an increase in community socializing – even if it’s only virtual? Unable to see friends or family easily or go out to restaurants and movies, apartment dwellers are looking for things to do at home. Many have been furloughed, and even those working from home are getting stir-crazy. But in apartments all around them are people equally trapped and isolated. To solve this problem, smart communities are leveraging their resident portals with fantastic results, building loyalty and garnering more reviews while boosting retention. Modern Message and ActiveBuilding: rewarding involvement Steve Ostipow, director of marketing for Drucker + Falk, says his communities have been extremely successful in fostering resident engagement using RealPage’s ActiveBuilding portal in conjunction with Community Rewards, which rewards residents for getting involved in various activities. “They earn points for taking part in activities sponsored through the portal,” he explains. “Residents can accumulate and cash in these points for a wide array of gifts from all sorts of vendors. The rewards are very modest and don’t cost the communities much, but we are all wired to love earning rewards and it’s amazing how motivating they are.” Ostipow says activities being promoted through the resident portal include virtual talent shows, virtual scavenger hunts, resident polls and trivia contests. He says the payoffs for getting residents involved are numerous. Most obviously, it keeps them happier, and properties like having happy residents. But it also connects them to other residents, creating a sense of community that’s vital to retention....