Everyone Thinks They Are A Designer

I am sure this applies to many of my readers, though you hate to admit it.  There is a certain intoxicating rush that comes along with the opportunity to be in charge of creating a model or managing an interior designer.  The good news is we know exactly what we want, and we cannot wait to get it set up.  The before and after is the absolute most exciting part.  The bad news is, we may have a limited outlook of what goes into design.  Often these limitations have come from what our mothers taught us, what we have seen in others homes or on showroom floors and what we have purchased for our own homes.

Good apartment model design has a litany of key concepts that must be intertwined in the design in order to reach the full potential of your investment.

5 Things Not To Do When Executing Model Design

1. DO NOT go with the ordinary or traditional.  Your model should be extremely memorable and set you apart from your competitors.   This is not achieved by mimicking the traditional living rooms and bedrooms that you find in your own home, your parents home or many real estate for sale models.
2. DO NOT use earth tones.  Bright colors, unique furniture and interesting accessories are a must.  Touring a model should be a very memorable experience for your prospective resident.  Upon completion of the tour, when they ask you where to buy a specific item they viewed, it is a compliment and a sign of success.
3. DO NOT put hard to manage items in the model.  Sofas with tons of throw pillows to manage, glass top tables with finger prints to wipe off, puddling curtains on the floor to vacuum around, etc. need to be avoided.
4. DO NOT over design the models.  Keep the design streamline and closer to the minimalist end of the continuum.  This creates a larger vision of space, mobility within the apartment and visual cleanliness.
5. DO NOT use models as corporate suites.  It is inevitable that things will get damaged, dirty and worn.  A model is to be perfect.  If you cannot afford to maintain the model as a vacant unit, then abort the model concept and settle for mini-models you can transfer throughout vacants.

Models should be outside of the box.  They should reflect a hip unique view point on apartment living.  They should have hard to find items in them that become memorable conversation pieces. 

Let's face it, none of us are selling anything unique.  We have square footage, wall to wall tan carpet or ceramic, kitchens, baths, closets and balconies - typically very similar to our competitors.  Your model needs to reflect a vision of lifestyle that your potential renter has not considered.  This vision has to be so vivid that it permanently lodges in their mind.  While visiting your competitors, all they can think about is your model and the lifestyle it portrayed.  It should be MAGNETIC, drawing them back to you, eager to apply and make a deposit.

Here are some final hints to help you capitalize on your model.  The key, make them use all five of their senses.

Visual (Sight) - bright colors, cool lighting, unique furniture and unique accessories

Auditory (Hearing) - radios/music in all of the main living and sleeping areas

Tactile (Touch) - furniture, pillows, throws and accessories of touchable fabrics like chenille, velvet or suede

Gustatory (Taste) - candy, cookies and refreshments in the model

Olfactory (Smell) - room deodorizers, preferably vanilla, proven to be a calming scent