In the apartment industry, peak move-in season brings excitement and enormous pressure. From the end of May through early fall, multifamily housing communities often experience a surge in new resident arrivals, requiring staff to juggle scheduling, turnover, unit prep, and increased service requests, all while maintaining a high level of customer service.
Without the right structure in place, what should be a successful leasing period can quickly lead to delays, staff burnout, and frustrated residents. Bottlenecks are common during these months, but they don’t have to be inevitable.
Here’s how to keep your operations smooth, your teams supported, and your apartment residents satisfied during the busiest stretch of the year.
Plan Unit Turns Like a Project, Not a Task List
Unit turnover during peak season can stall operations if not managed with precision. Rather than treating each unit as an isolated task, approach turns like a phased project: inspection, cleaning, repair, painting, final walkthrough.
Assign target dates for each phase and build in buffer time for unexpected delays. A proactive property manager will also coordinate with the apartment maintenance team and outside vendors ahead of time, ensuring schedules align and priorities are clear.
Templates, digital checklists, and shared calendars keep everyone on the same page, especially in communities with large inventories or back-to-back move-ins.
Staff Up Before the Rush, Not During It
One of the most common causes of move-in season breakdowns is simply being understaffed. Leasing offices get overwhelmed, maintenance tickets spike, and residents start to feel the strain.
Bringing in additional help, whether it’s temporary maintenance techs or leasing support, before the rush hits allows your core team to stay focused and responsive.
A few extra hands can prevent delays, protect service standards, and create breathing room for your full-time employees. The key is starting the hiring process early, so new team members are trained and ready to go when the volume increases.
Streamline Resident Communication
Move-ins come with questions: “When can I pick up keys?” “Is the unit ready?” “Can I schedule my internet install?” When communication is unclear or inconsistent, your team spends more time answering the same inquiries and less time solving real issues.
A move-in welcome guide sent before arrival, along with clearly outlined FAQs and contact info, helps eliminate repetitive questions. Property managers can also automate key communications using email templates or community portals, ensuring residents feel informed and confident leading up to day one.
When residents know what to expect, they’re less likely to overwhelm your office with last-minute requests.
Prioritize the First 72 Hours
The first few days after move-in are when residents form lasting impressions. If a maintenance request sits unresolved or a promised feature isn’t working, trust begins to erode fast.
During peak season, designate team members to follow up with new residents within 24–72 hours of move-in. A quick walk-through or follow-up call gives you a chance to correct issues early, demonstrate responsiveness, and show apartment residents they’re more than just a number.
This small touch builds goodwill and helps reduce the number of escalated concerns that reach the property manager’s desk.
Strong Teams Prevent Weak Moments
Peak season will always bring pressure, but operational chaos doesn’t have to come with it. With thoughtful planning, temporary support, and clear communication, apartment communities can navigate move-in months with confidence.
At Premier Placements, we provide the talent that keeps your team prepared. Whether you need additional leasing consultants, skilled maintenance professionals, or reliable groundskeepers, we’re here to help keep operations on track. With the right people in place ahead of time, peak season becomes an opportunity, not a bottleneck.
Contact Premier Placements today to staff up for move-in season and protect the performance your community is known for.