.webp)
The amenities your rental property offers can be the difference between tenancy and vacancy. It's a very competitive market, and you'll need all the advantages you can get for your rental business to prosper, which brings us to the kind of amenities prospective tenants in Austin look for.
In-Unit Amenities
Smart Appliances
A unit with smart home technology can significantly boost your listing, and it'll justify a higher rent price. It can be something as simple as a speaker with smart features, or smart thermostats so your tenants can control the unit's temperature through remote access. Some of the smart home features you should seriously consider include security cameras and smart locks for keyless entry.
Laundry Facilities
Perhaps one of the most obvious amenities you can think of, laundry facilities are more of a necessity than a luxury. Providing residents with their needs first will benefit your business greatly, and providing an in-unit washer and dryer instead of having to pay for laundry services can go a long way in listing appeal.
Additional Storage Spaces
Always expect that prospective tenants will have plenty of their own belongings and will need space for storage. Even simple storage rooms or closets can be a good selling point for prospective renters. If you want to go the extra mile, you can even add walk-in closets to the unit. You will reach a wider market when you can offer this to renters, especially those with families.
Private Balconies
If you own an apartment complex, having a private balcony in each unit is something your renters would appreciate. It provides them with a view and access to fresh air, as well as a place to relax and grow plants. The outdoor spaces can even be considered extended living spaces.
Luxury Finishes
If you own a luxury apartment complex, you'll find several improvements you can implement to make your listing stand out. Some of the top luxury apartment amenities include granite kitchen counters, stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, large windows for natural light, or even a vertical garden for the ambiance.
Air Conditioning
In a city like Austin, extreme heat is a real problem the residents can experience, especially during the summer in urban areas where it can be 8° higher than the actual temperature. Having central air conditioning to combat high temperatures is among the most important apartment amenities you can offer.
Security Systems
Having a strong security system to make your tenants feel safe is of utmost importance. While you can educate residents on safety procedures to avoid incidents, security features like surveillance cameras and locks will go a long way in preventing break-ins and other unexpected events.
Community Amenities
Community Garden
Outdoor spaces where community engagement can happen can drastically boost the mood in an apartment complex, which contributes to tenant satisfaction. It can be in the form of rooftop gardens or a simple yard with walking paths and plants. Potential tenants will see this as a place of leisure where they can spend their downtime.
Fitness Center
Fitness centers are slowly becoming one of the most popular amenities among rental properties. It saves your tenants from going to the gym outside the property and paying for a gym membership, and it promotes a healthier lifestyle. About 90% of apartment communities built in the past decade have fitness facilities, and not having one puts you at a disadvantage.
Pet-Friendly Facilities
Having facilities like a pet washing station or a playpen can attract pet owners as potential renters. Even pet concierge services are becoming increasingly popular in apartment buildings. Pet-friendly units, or pet-friendly rental properties in general, can charge higher monthly rent prices, ultimately increasing rental income.
Game Room
Pet amenities are now common, but not a lot of apartment communities have game rooms, making it one of the few unique apartment amenities you can take advantage of. These types of amenities can be niche, but if you market them right, you can attract renters who think it's a huge factor in their decision process.
High-Speed Internet
Out of all the community amenities you can add, internet access is probably the most crucial. You can provide certain apartment amenities free of charge, but you can also require an extra monthly fee for easy access to the internet. Just be sure that it remains high-speed or at least reliable despite having several users connected to it.
Meeting Rooms
Usually within dedicated business centers or co-working spaces, meeting rooms are included among luxury apartment amenities to appeal to remote workers or people in the corporate industry. With the rise of work-from-home jobs, this can easily be a huge selling point among potential tenants, especially if they want a dedicated and convenient place solely for working.
Swimming Pool
Property owners are often skeptical about swimming or rooftop pools since they require a lot of upkeep, but a gated access pool is among the best additional features in humid subtropical climates and you can always hire help for that. It can even be positioned near other outdoor communal spaces, making it perfect for parties and other events hosted by you or your tenants.
Designated Parking Space
More often than not, applicants will have their own vehicle, which is why an open or covered parking space is highly ideal. You can offer reserved parking spaces or install electric car charging stations, especially since EVs are becoming more widely used than ever. It'll make your tenants' lives easier, making it a must-have amenity for all rental properties.
Where Do Property Managers Fit Into This?
Other than handling rent payments, tenant screening, marketing, and more, a company like Austin Property Management will also oversee the keep-up of your amenities. Between cleaning the pools to pruning the garden, it can quickly become a lot to handle.
With the right expertise and property management team by your side, your rental business can thrive while you earn passive income. You wouldn't have to worry about a thing. All you have to do is contact us, and we can provide a free consultation for you.
