\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Published on November 24th, 2025 Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n ________________________<\/span><\/p>\n For residential property management, leasing season runs from May through September, with July and August typically seeing the most volume. To maximize profits and see greater levels of success during this critical time, property management teams need to be ready long before the season begins. In addition, resources need to be fully committed and optimized during peak times in order to meet high prospect demand and expectations.<\/span><\/p>\n Keep reading to discover leasing season strategies that will give your team a competitive edge and boost efficiency before and during leasing season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A well-prepared team can make all the difference, especially during the busy months. Help them thrive during the demands of leasing season by supporting them before it begins.<\/span><\/p>\n According to the <\/span>NMHC\/Grace Hill Renter Preference Report<\/span><\/a>, 51% of renters said overall property appearance would be very important in their future leasing decision. Be sure to spruce up your property since traffic from prospective residents is likely to increase significantly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Great listings lead to more prospects and increase the likelihood that you\u2019ll<\/span> fill your property vacancies<\/span> as<\/span><\/a> quickly as possible. Here\u2019s how to stand out in the right ways.<\/span><\/p>\n Meet prospective renters\u2019 expectations for convenience and self-service with <\/span>technology that enables virtual leasing<\/span><\/a> options, such as virtual showings and video walkthroughs. These options can save renters time and reduce friction since they can view the unit at their leisure. Virtual tools also benefit your team since they can speed up the leasing process.<\/span><\/p>\n For qualified renters, offering <\/span>self-guided tours<\/span><\/a> with access to the property via smart integrated access control systems. By integrating your property management software with smart access control solutions, such as <\/span>ButterflyMX<\/span><\/a>, you can seamlessly manage and grant temporary, secure access to properties to prospective renters. This automated process further boosts your team\u2019s efficiency and provides a modern, convenient experience for qualified leads.<\/span><\/p>\n If you don\u2019t currently offer <\/span>online rental applications<\/span><\/a>, you could be missing out. Besides being a convenient application option for prospective renters,<\/span> AI leasing solutions<\/span><\/a> streamline the rental process from beginning to end by removing manual, error-prone paperwork and creating a better experience for everyone involved.<\/span><\/p>\n To <\/span>comply with fair housing laws<\/span><\/a>, create a set of objective criteria to define qualified applicants, such as credit score or previous rent payment history. Be aware that legally this list cannot include protected statuses like race, gender, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, or religion.<\/span><\/p>\n To speed up time-consuming screening processes, look for tools like <\/span>FolioScreen\u2122 Trusted Renter<\/span><\/a> that help accurately and objectively screen tenants. This screening solution combines advanced fraud detection tools with seamless Fair Housing compliance, so you can confidently approve qualified applicants while safeguarding your properties from potential risks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Regulations for housing change every year, and you may need to adjust your leasing and addenda language to account for new Fair Housing Laws or updated local or state requirements. Failure to comply with regulations can result in a possible lawsuit, so always check federal and state resources online or consult an attorney if you\u2019re unsure about what needs to be revised.<\/span><\/p>\n If your properties are priced too high, you run the risk of losing to the competition. But if they\u2019re priced too low, your ROI will suffer. This is why a smart pricing tool is one of the best ways to both fill vacancies faster during leasing season. AppFolio Leasing Signals enables you to make thoughtful, confident pricing decisions and offer flexible rates for units and renewals based on comparable public data and your occupancy goals.<\/span><\/p>\n The nationwide average cost to a property owner for every resident that vacates is approximately $3,900. Resident retention should be your number one priority \u2014 especially during leasing season \u2014 since it has a direct impact on your cash flow and property asset value.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To determine your actual resident loss cost and see just how much retention can impact your leasing season success, check out the <\/span>Multifamily Insiders Apartment Turnover Cost Calculator<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, make renewals easy and simple for your residents by providing online renewal options, allowing them to renew their lease with just a few taps on their phone.<\/span><\/p>\n When allocating your marketing budget for each property, be intentional about where you spend and track whether those marketing channels attract renters. Generally, it\u2019s best to invest more heavily in marketing channels that have led to successfully signed leases in the past, and cut down on channels that haven\u2019t yielded as many conversions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For more tips on how you can better market your business, read our top tips on how to <\/span>attract more leads with marketing<\/span>.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Leasing season can leave your team feeling overwhelmed with emails and calls, but if you don\u2019t <\/span>respond to renters within 24 hours<\/span><\/a>, you\u2019re likely to lose them to your competition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Speed up response times by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) leasing tools, like the <\/span>AppFolio Realm-X Leasing Performer<\/span><\/a>. Built into AppFolio\u2019s platform, the Leasing Performer is so much more than a traditional AI leasing assistant. It uses agentic AI to autonomously take over and transform the entire lead-to-lease process \u2014 from nurturing leads to scheduling tours and updating guest cards \u2014 empowering teams to operate with true agency. The time saved can free your team to focus on providing higher levels of service in other, more impactful ways.<\/span><\/p>\n Leasing season is a vital time for residential property management, and it\u2019s never too early to prep your team or too late to optimize your processes. With these tips, your rental properties and team members will be fully prepared for peak leasing season and ready to answer when prospective residents come knocking at your door.<\/span><\/p>\n To learn more about how you can attract more leads this leasing season, download this <\/span>guide<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n
By Brittany Benz<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Before Leasing Season: Set a Foundation for Success<\/strong><\/h3>\n
1.) Properly Prep Your Teams<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
2.) Put Your Property\u2019s Best Face Forward<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
3.) Create Descriptive and Enticing Listings<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
4.) Embrace Virtual Leasing Tools<\/strong><\/h4>\n
5.) Leverage Online Applications<\/strong><\/h4>\n
6.) Update Screening Processes<\/strong><\/h4>\n
7.) Review Leasing and Addenda Language<\/strong><\/h4>\n
During Leasing Season: Focus on Efforts That Make an Impact<\/strong><\/h3>\n
8.) Stay on Top of Pricing<\/strong><\/h4>\n
9.) Don\u2019t Forget About Renewals<\/strong><\/h4>\n
10.) Keep an Eye on ROI<\/strong><\/h4>\n
11.) Respond Quickly to Incoming Leads<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Closing Thoughts<\/b><\/h3>\n
![\"Leasing](\"https:\/\/blog.appfolio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/appfolio-leasing_season_guide-blogfooter-1140x380-1.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"