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Apartment communities serve many purposes. While your primary goal might be providing shelter for tenants, the reality is that property managers and landlords do so much more than simply ensure a roof over tenants heads. The reality is that in creating a place for multiple families to live side by side, you are building a community. That’s something that’s too often neglected by busy property managers.

Scott Safadi of Cal Bay Property Management knows the value of investing ones time into community building. Tenants who like their neighbors and enjoy spending time at your property are more likely to re-sign their lease when it’s up, and they’re likely to recommend your property to friends looking for an apartment. Of course, there’s the added benefit of simply creating an enjoyable community in which your residents live.

If you’re looking for an easy way to build community and appeal to prospective tenants at the same time, look no further than a few affordable outdoor amenities. Though you might already offer a pool and lounge area, upgrading your amenities can help foster a greater sense of community and excite both current and prospective residents. Here are a few options worth considering:

Covered Patios

Affordable, easy to install and fun to use for virtually every tenant, patios offer a great outdoor space for entertaining. If you already offer grills on property, consider installing a patio nearby to promote a setting for family cookouts, parties and other gatherings. Most pergolas are made from stained wood, making it a great long-term investment that will require very little maintenance over the years.

Bark Parks

Dog lovers have become accustomed to bringing their pooches just about everywhere these days. Dogs can be found in restaurants, bars and coffee shops, so they should be more than welcome in your community, too. If you allow pets, a special area sectioned off for a dog park is a great way to appeal to pet owners. The best part? Outside of a fence, this costs virtually nothing to install and requires no more upkeep than any other section of grass on your property!

Bike Racks

If you’ve got a community full of athletes, a bike rack is a good investment. There’s nothing more obnoxious than climbing stairs when you’ve got a bike over your shoulder, so consider offering long-term storage for residents. The only requirement for such an offering is to make sure the rack is on a patio or under some kind of awning to prevent rusting of bikes in bad weather!

- Scott Safadi, Cal Bay Property Management