What Students Want From Apartment Tours

By Victoria Robertson on March 13, 2015

Apartment tours are the basis for which students decide where they want to spend the next year of their college careers.

They are looking for a place in which they can still study and enjoy the college experience, which may not seem like much, but is actually quite a tall order to fill.

So when selling to college students, here are a few things to keep in mind that should be covered during the apartment tour.

1. They don’t want another dorm.

When students are looking for an apartment, they aren’t looking for another space that reminds them of their dorm rooms. Apartment searching is a chance for students to find the freedom that they’ve been craving in an environment that’s still academic, but that is less structured than campus dorms.

Not only that, but students looking for apartments don’t want to feel enclosed, and many of them will be looking for an apartment with more space in which they can spread out and be on their own.

So when showcasing the apartment, make sure you emphasize the space that the apartment has as this is what most students will be most excited for.

2. They want to do the least amount of work possible.

While they are looking for more freedom, students still aren’t ready to take on much more than they have to while taking on a full course load at their university. So when they go on a tour, they are looking to hear about all the responsibilities they will need to take on up front rather than throwing everything at them later on after they’ve signed a lease.

So while giving the students a tour of the apartments, make sure you are also letting them in on the little details that could come up during a lease signing that they may not be expecting, especially as first time lease signers.

3. They want to see what they’re getting.

Very often, students will see one type of apartment and end up receiving a much different one when it comes time to sign the lease. So when students are looking for an apartment, it’s important that the leasing office makes sure their needs are filled. If they want a two bedroom apartment, show them a two bedroom apartment.

Without showing students what they are asking for, there is a higher chance there will be problems come move-in day when students realize they aren’t getting what they thought they would be getting.

4. They want to know what is/isn’t included.

Because many students are new to leasing apartments, they don’t know what is and isn’t included in the lease, and this is something that could briefly be covered before the lease signing.

When showing students around the apartment, make sure you are letting them know which furnishings are provided and which students should bring themselves. Which appliances are included and which appliances will need to be bought on your own. Which utilities are covered and which aren’t, etc.

So if there is a TV hanging on the wall, but it isn’t included with the apartment, be sure to let them know so they don’t show up expecting the plasma screen on move-in day.

The more you let the students know during the apartment tour, the less likely they are to be confused when it comes time to sign the lease.

5. The truth.

I think the most important thing that college students are looking for when taking apartment tours is honesty. They don’t want to end up with something they weren’t expecting; that’s the point in taking the tour in the first place. Especially if students are leasing for the first time, this tour is a chance for them to learn all about the potential space, truthfully.

So make sure your tour is honest: no surprises, no tricks or gimmicks. All students want is to tour the apartment to see if it’s the right fit for them, and if you aren’t being honest, they have no way of finding out whether or not that’s possible.

Apartment tours give students a chance to look around their campus and decide which place is best fitting for their college careers. That being said, it’s important to make sure you’re giving them what they want in the tours, and doing so in the most honest way. This is the only way to ensure students are getting the most out of their touring experience.

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