Leasing Efforts in Winter Heat Up

In Indiana, once the holidays are over, hibernating under blankets seems the most attractive solution to winter’s wicked winds. And this winter’s onslaught of ice, snow and below freezing temps brought an even greater temptation to burrow in, so you wouldn’t think anyone would be relocating. But they are.

Danielle Littlejohn, Director of Residential Services at Artistry, says, “We have seen just as steady an interest in leasing these apartments during the winter months as we had in the fall when the leasing office first opened.” For many people, uprooting their lives in the middle of winter might seem impossible, but for other people, it’s an optimal time to make a move. Moving midwinter allows time to reorient and reorganize, so they can be settled into their new surroundings before the summer months bring a higher level of activity and increased social opportunity.

So February has been a very good month for Artistry’s leasing efforts, but not only in terms of new leases signed. The waiting list for apartments nearing completion continues to grow as well. “We do have interested renters looking to move in during the spring and summer months,” explains Littlejohn, “and those time frames are now within the six-month limit for our waiting list. More prospects can make a deposit on one of our units scheduled for completion in spring/early summer. Since we already have a good sense of what will be available through May, we can forecast our leasing efforts throughout much of the spring.”

Even though the weather has been challenging, Artistry has kept busy attracting new interest. In January, they held a Grand Opening for Artistry’s Gallery in conjunction with January’s First Friday Event. In February, Artistry sponsored the Winter Farmer’s Market where leasing representatives were on hand to talk to potential renters and schedule opportunities for people to tour available units. “As construction continues,” says Littlejohn, “the numbers look very good. We currently have 117 units leased and 55 units occupied already. Considering we’ve only had our doors open since November, we feel like we are way ahead of the game.”