🎙️Episode Summary

In this episode, recorded live at the LeaseCon+TurnCon in Charlotte, host Wesley Deese moderates a candid panel with five college students about their off-campus housing experiences. The students share unfiltered feedback on the increasingly early timeline for signing leases—with some securing senior housing as early as their freshman year. The discussion covers the critical role of social media and word-of-mouth in their decision-making, often outweighing traditional marketing or AI tools. The panel also dives into the realities of move-in day, the amenities that actually matter (versus those that just look good on a tour), and the frustrations caused by poor communication and aggressive renewal tactics. This "voice of the customer" session offers essential takeaways for operators looking to improve resident satisfaction and retention.

⏱️Timestamps

00:00:00 – Intro / Cold Open: The shock of signing leases 18 months in advance.

00:00:40 – Sponsor Message: Improving resident engagement with Opiniion's Social Pro.

00:02:27 – Host Welcome: Wesley Deese sets the stage for the live student panel.

00:10:09 – Meet the Panel: Introductions from students Lydia, Erica, Dana, Kara, and Austin.

00:12:03 – The Housing Search & Timelines: From relying on word-of-mouth to signing senior leases during freshman year.

00:19:15 – Move-In Day: A look at organized check-ins versus chaotic experiences with maintenance issues.

00:33:56 – Amenities That Matter: The reality of what gets used (gyms and pools) versus marketing fluff like golf simulators.

00:36:11 – The Renewal Decision: Why students choose to leave and the annoyance of redundant renewal calls.

00:44:59 – Audience Q&A: The panel answers operator questions regarding furniture quality, the use of AI in leasing, and social media engagement.

01:03:04 – Outro: Key takeaways for operators and final thoughts.

💡Sponsor Spotlight

This episode is sponsored by Opiniion and their new Social Pro platform. Social Pro helps property teams streamline their social media management, allowing them to create consistent content, publish across multiple platforms instantly, and measure engagement without overburdening their staff.

Learn more about Social Pro: opiniion.com/shi

🔗 Resources & Links

Student Housing Insight: 

https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/

Shop Talk Webinars: Register for monthly legislative updates and pre-leasing data at

https://www.shoptalk.info/