UP Front: What Apartment Renters Really Want

Smart technology. Green space. Sustainability. For years, apartment owners have been in search of the ideal mix of amenities and building features to attract the best renters. In return, they have been met with an avalanche of suggestions, some of which have hit the mark and others washing out.

For example, while virtual tours of apartments have been heavily marketed by vendors as the next big thing, research has found that the majority of renters still prefer an in-person tour with a community representative. Such findings, of course, are rarely absolute. For instance, 14% of renters noted that they would rent an apartment sight unseen, says Rick Haughey, VP of Technology Initiatives at the National Multifamily Housing Council.

This data point comes from an exhaustive survey by the National Multifamily Housing Council and Kingsley Associates. They say the report is the largest-ever collection of apartment resident insights, featuring input from nearly 373,000 renters living in 5,336 communities across the US. In short, they hope to set the record straight on what apartment renters really want. Here are some other findings from the report.