Some years ago, during a major renovation of a very large community, my employer did not renew leases for a particular building. We emptied it of all occupants and then substantially renovated it. It was an amazing process. We seriously upgraded all components: plumbing, windows, mini-splits, kitchens, bathrooms, added washers and dryers…the works. The full renovation took us three years to complete.
As we created vacancies, we tried to accommodate our residents who wanted to stay by offering to relocate them to units in other buildings. As you can imagine, when we started the renovation, many people were upset. Until we had completed renovating the first building, there was a lot of discontent even though what we were doing was good. Then the residents got to tour the completely renovated building.
The units in the newly renovated buildings were rented at higher rents. However, people wanted to and were excited to relocate from the unrenovated to the renovated buildings even though it meant they would pay more. When asked which feature(s) drove their desire to move to a renovated unit (was it the washer/dryer, that the unit had AC, the upgraded kitchen) the people would say,
“It smells better.”
“I just feel good in here.”
It’s like beauty. You may not be able to define it, but you know it when you see it. Or in this case, feel it.
One of the building upgrades was the addition of a mechanical ventilation system. We improved the indoor air quality (IAQ).
Have you ever walked into a building and felt like you walked into an air wall? I am not talking about the staggering temperature experience of being in Phoenix Arizona in August and walking inside a conditioned space. I am referring to the quality of the air itself. Perhaps it feels moist or cloying. There might be a heavy staleness to it, or it might make your throat feel funny. Your residents feel that too.
Post-pandemic, healthy buildings are even more desired by residents. Should you want to market your building as healthy, there are healthy building designations out there; WELL and fitwel are the most common ones that I have seen.
The point is, even if you do not market your indoor air quality, your residents will feel it. As more residents focus on their health and wellbeing, we should look beyond the apiary and yoga space and really contemplate how the building makes us feel. We should build and renovate for health. I have seen it done first-hand; it has a great return.
