Deck the Halls and Check Your List: Property Managers’ 2024 Guide to Preparing for the Holiday Shipping Rush

As residents deck their halls with care,  and order gifts from everywhere,

Property managers lend an ear: your parcel prep guide is finally here!

It’s that time again: family gatherings, festive buffets, and holiday shopping. Which means the onslaught of packages is about to shift into high gear in the fourth quarter. As your residents enter holiday shopping mode, we have your handy holiday checklist for managing the parcel rush.

4 Festive Ways to Safely Sail Through the Holiday Season

Communication is vital in keeping your residents safe, whether through social media, community notices, or reminder emails. Here are a few things you should look to communicate to your residents ahead of the holiday rush:

1. Deck the Halls with Vacation Wisdom

Residents may dash away for a winter wonderland, but they shouldn’t advertise it via social media. Nor should they allow newspapers to pile up like snow drifts, signifying that they are out of town. Instead, residents should ask a neighbor to keep an eye on their homes.  Deploying technology is also a valid step. Apps that turn on lights act as little elves tricking folks into thinking residents are still safely snuggled in their homes.

2. Proclaim the Guest Policies

Kindly remind your residents of safety rules as guests come from near and far to celebrate various festivities. Security should be at the top of everyone’s to-do list. Keycodes, keys, and access codes should not be shared with visitors. Parking rules must also be observed.

3. Tune Up the Sleigh and Everything Else

Before Jack Frost starts nipping, enlist your maintenance “elves” to inspect chimneys, smoke alarms, snow blowers, and other wintry wonders. Don’t forget to check water heaters and pressure valves.

4. Make Your List and Check It Twice for Common Areas

Communal spaces need a holiday once-over too. Look for tangled cords, signs of water, and mold that could dampen even the jolliest spirits. And while we welcome Rudolph, look for any less than desirable furry visitors seeking shelter from the cold.

Santa’s Guide to Protecting Resident Packages this Holiday Season

Ho Ho Ho! With holiday shopping forecast to jump 8.4% this year over last year, US online sales are projected to hit a record $240.8 billion.¹ Now is the time to start planning for all of residents’ special holiday deliveries with these action steps:

• Review Your Package System — ‘Tis the season to alert residents about changes to pick-up policies. If package retrieval is managed by on-site staff, letting your residents know about schedule changes is paramount. If identification is required, please let them know. Further, inform residents about oversized package policies
• Prep for Peak Periods — Big shopping days kick off the season with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon’s Big Deal Days. These events can easily translate into package pileups starting immediately, thanks to same-day delivery. Alerting your on-site “Santa helpers” of these key dates and instituting a “no-grace period” package pick-up policy immediately can also make your package management system more efficient.
• Spread the Word About Parcel Pending Lockers — If three wise men convinced you that now is the time to add Parcel Pending smart lockers, the holiday season is the perfect time to aim for 100% resident registration to ensure everyone benefits from on-site lockers. It is also a good idea to remind residents about turning on vacation mode when out of town and any late fees for delayed package pick-up

Give the Gift of Smart Lockers & Security

Residents have placed secure, on-demand package solutions at the top of their holiday wish lists. According to the National Apartment Association, “secure package receiving options” are their most important amenity.² Lockers provide speed, accessibility, and security to residents. In recent National Business Research Institute (NBRI) surveys, package lockers have ranked as residents’ second most crucial amenity for the past 2 years – just after secure parking.^3,4 Respondents to this year’s survey cited security, accessibility, and speed as their top reasons for ranking lockers so highly.⁵

Further, the NBRI survey reveals that 78% of respondents rank parcel lockers as their preferred package delivery method — above direct-to-door delivery, leasing office pick-up, or scheduled delivery services. This amenity stands out for its universal appeal and frequent use, with nearly 90% of residents utilizing lockers in their communities. The high usage rate is supported by 73% of residents receiving 1-3 deliveries weekly.

Lockers Act as High-Tech Helpers to Boost Efficiency

As efficient as elves, and available 24/7, lockers allow residents to retrieve their holiday treasures on-demand without waiting for the leasing office to open its doors. Lockers have also revolutionized package management by eliminating the need for manual acceptance, sorting, and delivery of resident packages.

Smart Lockers: Santa’s Secret Weapon for Retaining Residents

There’s a direct correlation between resident satisfaction and loyalty. Happy residents stay longer, build word-of-mouth buzz, post favorably on social media, increase referrals, and act as brand ambassadors promoting your properties. Installing smart lockers can boost your lease renewal rates by a whopping 40%

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As the holiday season draws near, preparing now will allow for a joyful season. By decking your halls with smart lockers, you free up staff time, increase package efficiency and security, and boost retention rates, all leading to a wonderland of happy residents.

Ready to make receiving packages more secure for your residents? Lock in your secure package management solution today.

Sources:

1. Lin-Fisher, Betty. Holiday shoppers expected to shop online this season in record numbers. www.usatoday.com. September 25, 2024. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2024/09/25/online-holiday-shopping-2024-rising/75211430007/
2. National Apartment Association. 5 Key Consumer Preferences of Renters. www.naahq.org. April 26, 2023. https://www.naahq.org/5-key-consumer-preferences-renters
3. Parcel Pending by Quadient. 2023 Resident Survey Report. www.parcelpending.com. August 21, 2023. https://www.parcelpending.com/en-us/resources/2023-resident-survey-report/
4. Parcel Pending by Quadient. 2024 Resident Preferences Report. www.parcelpending.com. August 2, 2024. https://www.parcelpending.com/en-us/resources/2024-resident-preferences-report/
5. Parcel Pending by Quadient. Key Findings from Parcel Pending’s 2024 Resident Preferences Report. www.parcelpending.com. August 16, 2024. https://www.parcelpending.com/en-us/blog/key-findings-from-parcel-pendings-2024-resident-preferences-report/