Finding an apartment used to mean making some concessions on amenities, personal expression, overall lifestyle, or more. Many people downsized their expectations to fit inside the available options—but it no longer has to be this way. Millennials and Gen-Xers are driving a new trend that is boosting demand for luxury apartment living at affordable prices.
These discerning apartment hunters seek rental properties that support their healthy, creative and social lifestyles. And once they realize they can elevate their rental living experience, they want to personalize their living spaces, work efficiently from home and enjoy many preferred amenities they see in upscale condominiums.
Property developers that recognize these trends offer premier luxury properties in walkable, thriving communities. It’s about more than just a prime location. Some companies are taking it a step further to embrace the spirit of individuality, installing unique artwork, encouraging residents to choose their wall colors and partnering with national interior design brands to offer assistance as needed.
A Unique Frame of Mind
Apartment properties are meeting the demand for distinction in innovative ways. Utilizing public artwork to differentiate a sense of place used to be relegated to commercial buildings, but no more. For example, Tampa’s Aurora by Richman Signature Properties features an exterior art installation that signals its uniqueness in the neighborhood. The custom art is designed to attract residents who appreciate a sense of individuality.
At the same time, the colorful, multi-story artwork announces on a grand scale that the building owners embrace a sense of style and uniqueness. Aurora’s artful façade enhances the downtown Tampa skyline. Thinking outside the norm in this way helps cater to apartment seekers and others looking for a different living experience.
Sparking Individuality
Creativity is important both outside and in. Astute apartment hunters will now quickly turn away if they see only limited, cookie-cutter apartment options. After all, even the most well-appointed building will not feel like home to a resident unless they can create a living space that closely aligns with their preferences and lifestyles. Residents now specifically seek this type of flexibility in many aspects of their lives, and where they choose to live is no exception.
Granting residents greater freedom on design and décor choices is another important part of the trend. Some buildings are loosening decades-old restrictions and allowing residents to add a pop of color to their living spaces. Again, Richman Signature Properties is a prime example that not only permits a more colorful lifestyle, but helps residents achieve it. Through a one-of-a-kind partnership with the leading interior design brand Laurel & Wolf, residents have access to a professional team of certified designers, expert insights on interior design trends and a collection of on-trend paint colors selected exclusively for the developer’s properties.
Move-in incentives are another way buildings can appeal to the individual. For example, Richman Signature Properties welcomes each new resident with a gift. Those who choose a “Live Easier” gift receive a free one-year membership to the Shipt shopping and delivery service; residents who opt to “Live Healthier” receive a complimentary Fitbit Flex to track their fitness; and those that choose to “Live Prettier” will receive a complimentary package from Laurel & Wolf. These are just a few ways communities are granting innovation and personalization to today’s demanding apartment seekers who crave individuality.
Offer a Sense of Home in More Than Just the Apartment
Even the most vibrantly colored apartment will feel drab if the building, amenities and neighborhoods do not generate a strong sense of excitement about living there. People should want to live somewhere that surrounds them with a sense of home—and not just in the apartment. Paying rent is a necessity, so feeling psyched about where you live should also be.
When it comes to amenities, residents who work out regularly, like to plan parties or spend time outdoors at a community pool or clubhouse will appreciate the convenience the right property offers them. For example, residents who like to exercise and stay fit are more likely to appreciate a full-service gym, state-of-the-art equipment, and on-demand gym sessions in a private studio right where they live. A resort-style swimming pool, cabanas, outdoor grills, and poolside bars are among the many features buildings can offer residents who enjoy spending time outdoors year-round, particularly here in sunny Tampa. These offers are all featured at some of Tampa’s newest residences including Aurora and Westshore’s Grady Square, giving residents the feeling of a “staycation”—but from the comfort of their homes.
Working from a Dream Home
Another growing trend working its way into residential living is accommodating the remote employee. Richman Signature Properties provides environments well suited for working close to home: a clubhouse, conference room and home theater with coffee tables and comfortable couches, for example. Residents can choose to utilize plenty of space whenever and wherever. As millennial and Gen-Xers increasingly choose flexible job arrangements, savvy developers anticipate their current and future work needs as well.
All of this is part of the bigger trend for people choosing to live in communities where they can work and play. Properties located within walking distance of vibrant downtown areas or locations with multiple shopping, entertainment and dining options close by further enhance resident lifestyles. After all, people do not just choose to live in a building; they now seek to belong to a greater community, boost their social connectivity, and elevate their way of living simultaneously.
