As we approach the end of the year, property managers may feel inclined to delay new initiatives until January. However, setting up your resident engagement platform now, rather than waiting for the post-holiday rush, can set you apart and position your property for a strong start to 2025.
Here are 5 reasons why Q4 is the ideal time to implement your resident engagement portal and how it can give you a strategic advantage:
1. Start the Year Strong
January often brings a flood of new tasks and budget planning, leading to an operational backlog for many companies. By implementing your resident engagement portal now, you bypass this bottleneck, allowing your team to focus on driving resident engagement without the chaos of the January workload.
Smooth workflows mean fewer disruptions and delays, and a more streamlined experience for everyone involved, thereby allowing you to build early momentum and hit the ground running into 2025.
2. Leverage Q4 Downtime for a Seamless Setup
Q4 is typically a quieter period operationally, making it an ideal time for setup, troubleshooting, and refining processes without disrupting day-to-day activities. Using this downtime to familiarise your team with the platform ensures a seamless transition, allowing for hands-on training and troubleshooting before the busy new year.
A recent survey revealed that 63% of businesses implementing digital solutions in Q4 experience accelerated results within the first quarter. By taking advantage of this lower-traffic period, you’re positioning your team to overcome early hurdles, ensuring your portal is fully functional when residents need it most.
3. Get Ahead of the Competition
Companies that embrace technology early on gain a head start over those who wait until January. With many property managers scrambling to implement systems in Q1, you can stand out by being ready to engage residents from day one of 2025. Implementing now gives you the competitive advantage of a system that’s already optimised, with a trained team and established workflows in place.
Waiting could mean missing out on early engagement opportunities – and possibly facing onboarding delays as others rush to set up their systems. According to McKinsey, companies that adopt tech tools ahead of the competition see up to a 20% higher rate of resident retention. The preparation now can also help you avoid onboarding delays and any early hurdles, ensuring that your property stays ahead of the curve and well-prepared for resident expectations in 2025.
4. Maximise Resident Engagement Over the Holidays
The holiday season offers a unique opportunity for resident engagement. Many residents are more active and interested in community events during this festive period, and with a solution like Spike Living, property managers can enhance communication through clubs and forums, promote holiday events, and organise activities that build community spirit.
Spike Living‘s extensive features, such as event booking, announcements, and push notifications, allow you to easily share holiday promotions, send reminders for events, and encourage interaction among residents. By launching your portal now, you’re creating a platform where residents can easily access information and register for Christmas events, community activities, and holiday-themed promotions. This not only helps build goodwill and strengthen relationships but also fosters a sense of community that enhances satisfaction and retention.
Launching during the holiday period can create a connected, festive environment that resonates with residents, showing them that your property is invested in their experience.
5. Enjoy Quick Setup and Immediate Benefits
One of the biggest misconceptions about implementing Spike’s technology is that it requires a lengthy time commitment. In reality, our setup process is streamlined, allowing you to have your resident engagement portal ready to go in just a few weeks. This means you can launch well before January, giving residents immediate access to its benefits.
Residents today expect digital solutions. A recent report found that 93% of resident portal users consider this technology to be important. What’s more, The National Multifamily Housing Council found that 55% of residents expect tech-driven engagement options to be available by 2025. By implementing your engagement platform now, you’re meeting these expectations early and enhancing resident satisfaction, positioning your property as both forward-thinking and resident-focused.
Don’t Wait – Make Q4 Your Competitive Advantage
Taking action in Q4 gives you a head start, positioning your property for a seamless and productive beginning in 2025.
By implementing your resident engagement portal now, you’ll not only avoid the January rush but also provide your team and residents with the tools they need to thrive from day one. This proactive approach leverages the quieter months to set up, train, and tailor the platform, while the holiday season adds an ideal opportunity to foster community spirit and build resident connections. Make this season a launchpad for a smooth, resident-centered experience that sets your property apart and establishes momentum for the year ahead.
Ready to get started? Book a demo with us today to explore how Spike Living can help you make the most of Q4 and prepare for a successful new year!
