Revamp Your Property to Appeal to the Work-From-Home Crowd

The workforce has experienced a widespread shift from traditional office environments to working from home (WFH) over the past year. This trend will likely become permanent. So, now is the time to revamp your residential properties to accommodate the WFH revolution. It’s imperative to cater to the needs of prospective and existing residents by adding apartment amenities and services that complement their remote-work lifestyle. As a result, more renters will renew their leases and bring in new prospects through referrals. 

Even the smallest changes go a long way. Upgrading your properties to adapt to the work-from-home crowd doesn’t have to involve large-scale renovations. By installing property technology (PropTech) throughout your building, you’ll empower residents to maximize their productivity. Not only does PropTech elevate residential life, but it also helps create a contactless and touchless environment that keeps residents safe and healthy. 

PropTech Amenities for the Work-From-Home Crowd

Intercom System for Food Delivery and On-Demand Services

There’s a common misconception that employees working from home have more time on their hands. In reality, remote workers may face more challenges in achieving a healthy work-life balance.

On top of doing the same amount of work-related tasks—often even more—they also need to take care of their children and juggle household responsibilities. As a result, many remote workers hire on-demand services—such as TaskRabbit and Handy—and order food delivery to ease the strain. Installing an access control system, like a video intercom, allows residents to grant property access to food delivery people and service personnel without ever leaving their apartments.

• Pro tip: For ultimate convenience, choose an intercom with a mobile app that lets residents open the door from their smartphones. 

Smart Keys to Reduce Lockouts

When working remotely, renters go in and out of their homes several times throughout the day. They might not remember to take their keys each time they leave.. As every property manager knows, handling accidental lockouts is a time-consuming activity for the property staff. 

That’s why installing smart locks on each apartment door is a must! Smart locks let residents open doors from an app on their smartphones, which saves everyone time.

• Pro-tip: Choose smart locks that integrate with your intercom system for the most seamless access experience.

Desk Reservation System to Manage Community Workspaces

Working and living in the same space can present unique challenges for residents. So, adding workstations or desks to communal areas—like lounges or the lobby—can offer a refreshed environment for your renters to focus on work. If you provide a community workspace, use a desk reservation system to cap the number of people in that space at any given time.

Invest in software that lets your residents reserve a desk in your community workspaces for specific times to prevent overcrowding. Remember to choose cloud-based software with a mobile app so renters can easily book desks anytime, from anywhere.

• Pro-tip: Install a keypad or other type of access-control system at the workspace entrance that only allows entry to residents with a desk reservation. 

As society evolves, the way people conduct business and live their lives follows suit. Many industries are embracing full or part-time remote work. Regardless of your location, you’ll see more residents working from home in the months and years to come. As a property manager or owner, you can respond to this “new normal” by updating your buildings to accommodate renters who need to make the most of their at-home work environment.

About ButterflyMX

ButterflyMX is a complete property access solution, providing a secure, convenient, and cost-effective way to simplify property access for residents, visitors, and delivery people. ButterflyMX empowers your residents to open the door or gate for themselves and guests right from their smartphones. And best of all, ButterflyMX integrates with Rent Manager to ensure your rent roll and intercom directory are always up to date.

_{This article was contributed by ButterflyMX, a Rent Manager integration.}