School’s out for summer, but summer recess shouldn’t just be for kids. Add some sunshine to your residents’ daily routines with these simple (and affordable!) suggestions below:
Tickle Their Tastebuds:
Frozen Fun: Kids of all ages (we’re talking toddlers to seniors) all scream for ice cream, so treat their sweet tooth by arranging a weekly stop from your local ice cream truck. If you’d prefer a more personal experience, purchase a large cooler and stock it with frozen treats from the grocery store for your concierge to keep and distribute at the front desk. Alternatively, you can host an ice cream social to encourage community (‘Sundae Sundays’, anyone?) or rent a snow cone machine to provide cool poolside snacks on a sunny Saturday.
Food Truck Feast: Food trucks are trending tremendously right now, so arrange for a local truck to stop by after weekday workhours. Your residents will appreciate having a quick and convenient option for dinner, allowing them more time to relax with their families instead of cooking in a hot kitchen.
BBQ Bash: Get your residents fired up with a friendly cook-off competition. A barbecue theme goes perfectly with summer; your grill masters can battle for “Best Burger” while your home cooks vie for “Best Summer Side”. Alternatively, simply host a monthly BBQ to get your residents chatting over chicken wings and chili dogs.
Summer S’mores: Have a fire pit on your patio? Get some bulk chocolate bars, graham crackers and marshmallows and treat your residents to some s’mores. The cost is minimal, and you’ll take them back to their camp days.
Drink Delights: Treat your 21+ residents to a wine & cheese night out on the patio, or bring in a local mixologist to give them a lesson on creating cool, summer cocktails.
Doggone Fun: Don’t forget about your furry friends! Pamper the pets of your property with a “Yappy Hour”. Provide treats and cookies in your lobby or at your on-site dog park.
Endless Entertainment:
Invite the Neighbors: Create community and support your neighborhood at the same time by inviting local vendors to showcase their services at your property. For instance, hire a fitness instructor to conduct an outdoor class, a photographer to take family photos of residents who sign up for a 15-minute complimentary session, or an art instructor to offer a group lesson painting a live summer sunset on your patio. The vendors will love the publicity and opportunity to reach your residents, and your residents will appreciate the added amenities and activities.
Starry Night: Let your residents watch the stars under the stars by turning your patio or rooftop into an outdoor movie theater. Rent or invest in a projector, set of speakers, dvd/blu-ray player, screen (you can also use a blank wall), family-friendly movies, and – if you want to go the extra mile – a popcorn machine! Suggest that your residents bring beach chairs or blankets to lounge comfortably.
Pool Party: Throw a pool party to cool your residents down on those dog days of summer. Be sure to take your building’s demographic into consideration when planning your party’s theme. For instance, if most of your residents are millennials, hire a DJ to spin summer hits; if your residents are mostly families, coordinate outdoor games such as a hula hoop contest or a water balloon toss. Be sure to stock the pool with plenty of beach balls and fun floats; it’s a small investment for big fun! Most importantly, ensure you have ample lifeguards on deck to keep your attendees protected.
Ear Candy: Liven up your lobby or patio with live music. Hire a local musician to play a couple sets of acoustic tunes after work or over the weekend. Your residents will love having on-site entertainment just steps away from their home. Be sure to hire someone who will play music that speaks (or in this case, sings) to your audience; for example, ‘Today’s Top 40’ for millennials or a medley of music from previous decades for your older residents.
Charitable Cheer:
Righteous Raffles: Show your residents you care about charitable causes by raffling off no-cost amenities at your property and donating the money to a local charity or organization. Think about your ‘free’ amenities; is there a prime parking spot everyone vies for, or a lounge chair at the pool that gets the best sun exposure? Raffle your prize under the term that the winner gets exclusive use of the specific amenity through Labor Day. By limiting the length of time, you’re able to run the contests seasonally, allowing more residents the chance to win while donating more money to charity. Everyone wins!
Donation Drives: Make it easy for your residents to donate their ‘preloved’ belongings during their end-of-summer cleanouts. Arrange for a clothing collection in which residents can simply leave their bag(s) outside their door on a certain day, or arrange for an organization like Habitat for Humanity to pick up old furniture/home goods. The convenience will make it easy for your residents to give away their items, likely increasing the amount you’ll be able to donate to those in need.
The more you invest in your residents, the less likely they will be to leave. Many of the above suggestions would be of little to no cost to you, yet would make a huge impact on your residents. Maximize your efforts by creating a community calendar with all of your upcoming events listed, and consider making them as routine as possible. If every week has “Food Truck Friday”, your residents will be much more likely to remember and participate.
Taking care of your residents is your passion; taking care of your property is ours. Let the Planned Companies team cover your building services needs for you, so all you have to worry about is which toppings you want on your ice cream at the sundae social. Call 973-240-0310 for more information on how we can help enhance your property this summer.
This article was written by Jillian O’Connor (Marketing & Communications Manager) for Planned Companies, the industry leaders in janitorial, maintenance, concierge/front desk, and security services in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Catering to both residential and commercial properties, we proudly provide services throughout New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC.