Why, what WE do matters...

When I lived in my converted 450 sq ft two bedroom apartment in Manhattan in 2002, I was simply grateful to have a roof over my head. I would walk the streets of NYC on my way to my restaurant job, constantly ambushed by those less fortunate than I. I was in a constant state of gratitude, that I was indeed, “making it” in the toughest city in the world.

Still, there were moments when I would pass by the cucumber scented warm air rushing through the gates of the Equinox on 55th street and melt in envy. I wondered what it must be like to have a gym to go to, showers that didn’t feel like a high-school gym glass and a smoothie bar to “nourish” me. My father always took me to the Sports Club, Irvine growing up, so having that was a luxury to me.

There were also the moments when I would visit my more affluent friends and be forced to make small talk with a doorman from Queens who was inevitably keeping me there longer than necessary. Still, I felt envy once more seeing their packages dry, and protected- their mailboxes more official and kept. it felt amazing to walk into a precursor of what was to come.

Amenities to me, have always been a luxury. If someone had told me that I would be able to live in an elevator building, with a doorman, a gym, and a rooftop, I would have asked them where to sign. I’m a reluctantly proclaiming millennial, and that means that I remember when apartment size was what dictated the rent. Now, as someone approaching 40- I am blown away with what developers are offering their tenants.

And it makes sense- I would have gladly slept in a bed that pulled into the wall in exchange to have a vending machine full of organic goodies on my floor. I would have killed for a laundry room that wasn’t full of roaches and mystic liquid dripping from the roof. Because of young adults like me, amenity space has become holy ground.

That being said, showcasing these spaces is essential. No, I mean it! Sometimes we won’t even offer a unit interior because it’s not as important as the roof deck or the hot tub. So as long as these hot ticket items continue to move sales and leasing, we must continue to paint it in the best light possible.

I’ve provided clients with a VR Tour that has helped them lease out to almost full occupancy at just the pre-leasing phase. Generation Z is community-based. They populated the co-working space, they are visual, entrepreneurial force to be reckoned with, and even though we can’t create together now, believe me, the need for a communal space has never been more desirable.

In the years to come, technology be our best sales tool, so we all might as well do our best to educate ourselves and get comfortable offering it. I am shocked at the amount of companies who are not using live people in their tours, or attaching graphics to educate the prospective buyer/lessee of all a property has to offer- but times are changing, and tech is leading the way.

Please take a look at some of our favorite amenity vr tours for companies like, Greystar, and Fairfield and let me know if this is something that interests you. I’m always happy to explain our process..

Best health and wealth and happiness to you-

Sofia