9 ISSUE 1, 2022 The rental housing industry is ever-evolving, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. The shifts seen during the past two years – both small and large – in socializing, technology and workspaces have created a different lifestyle for many residents. Naturally, these changes have inspired housing providers to explore and implement new ideas within their communities. So, what can we expect to see as we head into 2022? From innovative coworking spaces to continued advances in smart technology, here are some trends to watch for in the new year. Outdoor utilization When the pandemic hit, many communities got creative and looked to outdoor spaces to safely bring residents together and give communities different ways to connect. With additional space and open-air, this move provided residents with the opportunity to gather and participate in activities while social distancing. This adaptation has proved popular among many residents, making outdoor utilizations here to stay. Moving forward, community managers are likely to offer additional outdoor amenities, including gyms, places to work or complete schoolwork, kitchens, fire pits and green space with activities like bocce or cornhole. Additionally, we may see communities expanding their traditional outdoor areas like pools and seating to accommodate the needed space with more residents enjoying outdoor areas. Work from home spaces The pandemic has significantly impacted the concept of the workspace. Still, today, many businesses are continuing hybrid and remote work options rather than returning full-time to a traditional office space. With so many people now working from home, we’ll likely see an increased number of co-working spaces throughout apartment communities. A cross between a business center and an office, a designated co-working space provides residents the option to work somewhere other than their own apartment. These spaces foster the same meaningful social connections as a traditional office and can even create valuable professional contacts with other residents. Spaces will range depending on the community, but we expect to see a larger variety of seating options, private rooms for meetings and more access to communal technology like printers or scanners – not to mention another aspect that has become crucial in the wake of the work-from-home trend: WiFi. Now, more than ever, having a fast and reliable network will be vital for apartment communities looking to optimize their co-working space potential. Self-leasing We continue to experience a historic mass adoption of technology in the housing industry – much in part thanks to virtual and self-guided tours becoming a popular solution for prospective residents to safely view a space. We’re beginning to see more innovative digital options enabling residents to “self-lease,” such as upgraded virtual tours, consumer relationship management technology, AI leasing assistants and automated income validation. Embracing this new technology not only meets residents’ needs and expectations much quicker – but also helps housing providers adapt to the current labor shortage. With the unique challenges of this shortage, these new tools allow them to optimize workflow management and streamline Continued on page 10
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyNDg2OA==