Making the Most of Student Turns: 3 Tips to Get it Right

The school year is winding down, which means it's time for student housing managers to think about turns season. Turns season is an opportunity to give properties a face-lift. Unlike conventional multifamily unit turns, which can occur throughout the year, student unit turns typically take place all at once, when the majority of residents depart at the end of the school year. With budget constraints and a limited window of time before students return, maintenance teams must focus on planning and coordination. Here are three tips to make student housing turns more efficient.

Evaluate Early

Timing is key when it comes to student housing turns. There's often only a matter of weeks to inspect, repair, clean, and prepare housing units for the next wave of students. But, if you begin planning in late winter or early spring, then your unit turns will unfold more smoothly. Use these months leading up to the busy summer season to inspect units and identify any items that may need repairs or updating. Start at the front door and work your way through the entire unit, inspecting everything. To make the turns process faster, easier, and more efficient, use our Student Housing Turns Checklist to help your team stay organized and on task. Keep in mind that turns are also a smart time to "go green" with updated LED bulbs and fixtures, water-saving faucets and toilets, and other ecofriendly products.

Stock Up

Properties around the country are going through turns season at the same time. That means every student housing property is ordering supplies in a short time frame. It's a good idea to take a holistic assessment of your supply needs and pull together your shopping list early. That will ensure you have what you need when you need it. The earlier you have the supplies you need, the better you'll sleep.

Trust Reliable Resources

Most properties today are spread too thin, which makes having a reliable labor partner with valuable service offerings more important than ever. Find a reliable resource to provide everything you need for turns season. HD Supply Facilities Maintenance can serve as a single-source provider, delivering both product and labor solutions. Student turns season can seem like a whirlwind, but with a well-planned strategy and the right sourcing partner, you can turn stress into success.