Greystar amenity survey reveals what renters want most
By Quinn Purcell, Managing Editor
Each year since 2017, national multifamily property management company Greystar has conducted a survey for renters on their most valued amenities.
The 2024 Design Survey Report presented a list of over 50 amenities to 90,000 renters across the country. The top five amenities reported by respondents represent values in sustainability, wellness, and energy efficiency.
Top 5 Preferred Amenities
Leading the list are walk-in closets, something that 88% of residents said they were interested in. In fact, 37% said they wouldn't rent an apartment without one.
In second are large windows/abundant natural light, where 86% of repondents expressed interest in. Fresh air ventilation came in third at 86% interest, followed by covered parking/garage at 84% and high-efficiency appliances at 83 percent.
Greystar's Director of Research and Analytics, Quinn Eddins, was surprised at the popularity of sustainable features and technology among renters.
“Four of the top 10 most-preferred attributes were related to sustainability,” Eddins said in an interview with Multifamily Dive. “A number of them had a large percentage of respondents who said they wouldn’t rent without them.”
Regional Multifmaily Amenity Trends
According to the report, amenities like walk-in closets and natural lighting are especially preferred in markets like Miami, Fla., and Dallas, Texas. More than half of respondents labelled these features as a "must."
The Northeast saw a particular preference for technology and security amenities, like keyless smart locks, as well as walkability/proximity to grocery stores.
In the Pacific Northwest, sustainaiblity preferences lead the pack. The South shows value in outdoor amenities more than most, whereas the availability of in-unit laundry and coworking spaces are important to renters in the Midwest.
Californians appreciate private outdoor spaces like patios and balconies more than any other region. In the Sun Belt states, pools and fitness centers were among the top desired amenities for renters.
According to Eddins, the amenity with the greatest increase in interest over the past few years is electric vehicle charging stations.
"By all accounts, that’s a trend that is going to continue to grow as EVs make up a greater percentage of vehicles on American roads,” Eddins said in an interview with Multi-Housing News.