Have you ever considered the idea of having a website for your multifamily property? I’m here to help you figure out whether having a website for your property is the right fit for you.

Let’s begin by discussing the benefits. The first benefit is that people are more likely to trust you. This is so important because sites build credibility. Thus, people will more likely rent from you over your competitor.

The next benefit is that your property’s website, if set up correctly, will come up higher when someone does a relevant search for you in a search engine like Google, Yahoo or Bing. This all has to do with SEO (Search Engine Optimization). SEO is the process of improving the quality and quantity of the traffic to your website. According to inter-growth.co, 68% of people’s online experiences start with a search engine. This will lead people to your website. The better your rank in the search engine, the higher your website will be on the results page of someone’s search.

Both Cheryl at Colony IV and Natalie at Hoosier have property websites. Here is what they had to say about their experience with people being able to find more information about their respective properties. “I have had people comment on our website,” Cheryl tells us. “People find value in it and they’ve been able to find us online much easier.”

“I do think we are easier to find online with a website. It is a great benefit because, again, people can see what you have to offer. Initially, people would call the office to find out more about the application process. Now, they can find answers themselves through our website. Therefore, they are only calling us if they are truly interested in moving forward with applying. That saves our site managers so much time. Just a great all around benefit for the provider and consumer,” Natalie explains.

Along with prospects finding you online easier, they’re able to learn more about the property and having the application available, they have it right at their fingertips and don’t have to come in to get one. All of this increases the chances of them filling out a rental application. 

We asked Cheryl and Natalie about whether they’ve noticed an increase in prospects filling out applications for rentals. “Yes. We’ve seen an increase in prospects filling out applications because of our website,” Cheryl says.

“Being able to see a property on a computer screen and read about,” Natalie adds. “It seems to help prospective tenants decide if it is a good fit and worth the effort for them.”

Here are some words of wisdom from Cheryl and Natalie for those of you who aren’t sure whether or not a website is the right choice for you and your property. “I believe having a website provides a more professional-looking management company and is just a good way for prospective tenants to look at the properties,” Cheryl declares.

“I would tell them there are definitely benefits to having an online presence. Many people like to be able to go online and find what they are looking for. It cuts their searching time. They see instantly if this is a good fit for them, the hours of operation, they can even fill out an application online. We are a society of instant gratification and if we can do something online without leaving where we are, it is so much more appealing,” Natalie proclaims.

Let’s talk about some drawbacks. There are two main drawbacks with having a website for your property. The first is that you have to pay for it. Like anything else, we have to pay for things but some websites don’t come cheap. There are numerous platforms out there. It’s best to do your research to figure out whether or not a website fits your budget and needs.

The second is that it takes time to see results. You may spend a few months adding content to your site and feel that nothing is coming out of it. Patience is key here. It just takes some time.

In the end, having a website for your property has its benefits and drawbacks. It’s all about whether a website is the right fit for you. If you feel that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, then having a site for your property may be a good fit for you. If you feel the opposite, then this may not be a good fit for you. It’s all about what works for you.