Twitter conversations got us thinking…

Thanks to smartphones, living in an apartment is an entirely new experience than it was just a short time ago. Whether it’s for a more productive lifestyle, an entirely new entertainment experience, or just making sure that you get to work on time, there are a ton of apps out there that make for a better apartment living experience. Apps are on the upswing, and many are capable of providing remarkable conveniences to residents—everything from doorstep meal delivery to hassle-free packaging and shipping.

Hardwood floors and resort-style pools are becoming less a point of differentiation. What residents want, particularly millennials, are modern conveniences over luxury: charging stations in the lobby, pet amenities, effortless recycling, etc. That’s not to say luxury amenities and high-end finishes don’t matter to residents—just that they’re becoming less a point of differentiation in attracting residents.

So how could these apps benefit multifamily properties? Raising residents’ awareness of these kinds of apps conveys your property’s dedication to providing them as many modern conveniences as possible: “Anything we can do to make residents’ lives easier, we will.” It’s a form of relationship-building, and it’s the customer-centric approach that differentiates properties in today’s cluttered environment.

Check out some up-and-coming apps that have the power to make residents’ lives easier:

Blue Apron
For busy professionals, preparing healthy and delicious weekday meals can be a hassle. Blue Apron is a mobile app that delivers fresh farm-sourced ingredients right to your doorstep. What’s their value proposition? Beyond the convenience, Blue Apron is both local and sustainable–two lifestyle trends that are increasingly important to the Millennial demographic. Whether it’s fresh Japanese ramen noodles or wild-caught Alaskan salmon, Blue Apron sources ingredients of the highest quality from artisans and suppliers.  Coupled with fine ingredients, Blue Apron provides comprehensive recipes that allows apartment-dwellers the opportunity to become expert home chefs, by trying new ingredients and new cooking techniques every week.

Shyp

Shyp is an app that provides an easy and convenient way to send and receive packages from a mobile device without leaving the apartment. The process is simple: residents just need to take a photo of the item to be shipped and specify the final destination. Shyp will then pick up the item, package it, and ship it off. For busy apartment-dwellers, a doorstep packaging and shipping service has the potential to be a remarkable convenience.

DoggyBnB

DoggyBnB provides a safe and easy way to create a trustworthy pet-care community. This app allows residents to tap their social networks to find friends and neighbors who can take care of their pets. Think of DoggyBnB as a digital babysitting service for pets. Payments are all handled within the app, which also allows pet-owners to set up playdates with other users. As more and more furry residents move into multifamily properties, apps like DoggyBnB hold a great potential value for residents.