Resources & Blog

Bonnie Blair
Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Have You Walked Your Community Recently?

When was the last time you drove into your community and actually walked the path that your prospects walk every time they visit? When was the last time you walked the halls where they walk to see your major amenities? Better yet, what might you find if you came for a "Guestpitality" overnight stay in one of your guest rooms?

Sometimes we just don't see the forest for the trees. Sometimes we need a wake-up call!

Here's a list of items to spot consider as you walk around:

1. Are there areas outside that need paint touch up or pressure washing?
2. Do you have signage labeled "Future Resident Parking" for your marketing guests?
3. Are the glass doors spotless every morning to greet your prospects?
4. Are the carpets vacuumed every morning?
5. What do the planting beds look like around the entrance? Oh, no! Not weeds!!
6. Are all the light bulbs working at the entrance and in your offices?
7. Check the paint on the baseboards, doors, and doorframes or elevator entrances. Are there numerous dings and scrapes?
8. How does your marketing office smell? Is it musty?
9. What about the furnishings at the entrance? Do they look dated and tired?
10. Do you have signs TAPED on the walls of your elevator or elsewhere? OMG!
11. Guest apartments…have you spent the night in one recently? Are there quality towels? Do you have refreshments and coffee and tea for them? Do you have both regular and decaf coffee for them along with all the fixings? Does the heat and A/C work properly? Is the bed mattress comfortable? And how about the shower head?
12. Do you have things stored in full sight along the marketing paths that should be somewhere out of sight?
13. Look out of the windows…what do you see? Are there chairs and tables that have been blown over? Are there pieces of paper blown across the grounds?

I encourage you to do what some may call a "tacky tour." Walk your community once per week. Be discerning. Your prospects don't know you at first. What they see is how they judge you.

I have had numerous children comment over many years, "If you don't take care of your buildings, why would I want you to take care of my mother?" Think about it. How would you feel if today were your first visit to your community? So, as one provider called it appropriately…today it is a beauty contest between communities. How are YOU looking today?