Knowing what the student is looking for is a major component in planning a student residence and being able to eventually market it effectively.  Equally as important is the knowledge of what the parents of these students want when it comes to their children’s living arrangements.  Examples of the parents’ wants are the level of security, proximity to the university, how is the property maintained, if problems arise how quickly are they dealt with and if there is an on site manager.  Although marketing information can be obtained from the parents during a rental season, which can be used for subsequent years, the previously mentioned examples are the common denominator that the parents desire to know.  This leaves the students and although there are many common denominators between them, the differences can be equally the same.  Due to this it is recommended that when beginning to market a student residence, as long as it is sanctioned by the institution, a survey should be conducted at the educational institutes’ campus.  If a survey cannot be sanctioned, it would be recommended to try and find some means of procuring entrance into the university by way of a donation; contribution or you could even be the sponsor of an educational event.

Where roommate placement is a key factor in the complex’s operations, students want to know about the people they are going to be placed with.  When roommate placement is not a key factor, they desire to know the type of people living in the community (building).  In either instance they are curious about the operation of the property, what type of students typically reside at the property (first, second, third or fourth year students), how does it differ from living on residence and what is done about noisy tenants.  What a first year student wants differs from a third year student.

Ann Street Case Study

When addressing the issue of student surveying at the University of Western Ontario, a not so uncommon response was given; there could be no non-institutional advertising done. Due to the privacy act e-mail lists and resident bulk mailing were also not permitted. What ensued was a basic guerrilla questionnaire. Already aware of the demand for a new student residence in downtown London, only a few specific questions really needed to be answered.