Girls, Girls, Girls a post by Eric

Mike has posted about this already, but I would like to hear feedback from the community, about specific marketing and product offerings specifically directed at the female market. This isn’t a new trend, but one that I do not think most if any apartment operators/developers are picking up on, there are more and more single females buying things every year, and for the first time ever single straight females outnumber single straight males. And they are staying single. To this point, why aren’t we marketing and designing, to the extent we can a product specifically for single females. I am not suggesting the property would be only single females, but if we design a flair toward that with colors, lighting, and certain features that are highly valued by single females, we will naturally draw upon that market, and thus create a certain following, that will by design create a target niche within a niche, and we will get more rent, at least for that slice of the market if we hit it right. So, the question from this babble is, how much latitude do we have to alter colors, lighting, and certain features? Your thoughts and feedback are appreciated

Comments

[Mike]

Great Post E.

I think closet organizers are a must.

M

[Mike]

I think women in general are very concerned about feeling safe. With that I think at very least having the option of an alarm in their home would be key.

[Mike]

Details rule with women. In that respect I think drawer liners in bathrooms, kitchens and kitchen cabinets should be included. Not only that, they should be changed out on every turn. They should be those cool rubbery ones.

[Diane]

I love that you're thinking of what women would love in their apartments! Closet organizers are good--simply offering abundant closet space is better! I'm not a fan of drawer liners, especially the cool rubber ones, because they collect ICK underneath them. Drawers just need to be CLEAN...immaculate, really.

I would say that the most important items to attract women are for a space to be: immaculately clean, show terrific attention to detail, have loads of closet space (and closet doors with full-lenth mirrors!), and great laundry areas with seating areas to read/chill and not leave your loved garments all alone.

Women also love CHOICES...of paint colors, lighting fixtures, move-in gifts, etc.

OH! The floors...women will appreciate maintenance staff members who fit a pair of those silly shoe covers over their dirty boots EVERY TIME they enter an apartment--whether or not it's dirty weather season! Knowing that dirty shoes never touch their floors WILL make a difference--make the wearing of shoe covers standard policy for your maintenance crew!