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Residents want amenities that fit how they live, and building a new one is rarely the only answer. Often the better move is to look at the spaces you already have and change how they are used.
This guide covers two steps for learning what your residents want and five amenity space ideas that put existing rooms to work, from classes to remote work hours. It is written for property managers, and HOA boards weighing amenity spending can use it too.
Key takeaways
- Changing how you use existing amenity space avoids the cost of building new amenities.
- A resident survey shows which amenities residents want most.
- Reservation lists and calendars show which spaces are booked often and which sit empty.
- Workshops, classes, guest instructors, and set hours in a multipurpose room give existing spaces new uses.
- Booking shared rooms in an amenity reservations module gives each activity a confirmed time slot.
- Survey results and booking patterns should decide which change you make first.
Get More Value from Your Existing Amenity Space
Many residents want to stay active, learn new skills, and spend time with neighbors. Supporting those goals does not require a new amenity. A better use of an existing amenity space avoids the capital cost of building something new.
Amenities that match what residents want add to the appeal of your property and can support resident retention. When your amenity offerings reflect residents' interests and lifestyle goals, the community feels more personal and supportive.
Two Steps to Get Started
Begin with what residents actually want, then check it against how they use your amenities today.
- Survey your residents. A survey shows which amenities residents want most, so you can put your time and budget where they will have the greatest effect. In BuildingLink, management can create multi-question surveys for all residents, only owners, or board members only with the surveys module.
- Review how your amenities are used. Booking patterns show which spaces stay busy and which sit empty, which helps you decide what to repurpose or improve. In the reservations module, staff can filter the reservation list by amenity type, status, and date range, and switch to a calendar view to see how often each space is booked.
Survey answers tell you what residents say they want, and booking patterns show what they do. You need both to decide where to start.
Five Quick Ideas for Getting More from Your Amenity Space
Supporting residents' health and wellness goals does not call for a new sauna or a row of cold plunges. These five ideas get more value from space you already have.
- Host workshops or classes. Turn an underused room into a space for workshops or classes that teach new skills, from cooking to photography. A community partner or an expert resident can lead the session. Book the room in the amenity reservations module so the class has a confirmed time slot. You can also set an amenity to prohibit overlapping reservations, which prevents double bookings.
- Add an espresso machine. An espresso machine in a social area gives residents a reason to spend more time in shared spaces.
- Set hours for a meditation or yoga room. Instead of dedicating a whole room to meditation and yoga, set specific hours in a multipurpose room for residents who want a quiet place to relax.
- Bring in guest fitness instructors. Instructors for yoga, pilates, or HIIT classes put your gym or multipurpose room to use and support residents' fitness goals.
- Create a remote work space. As with a meditation or yoga room, you can set aside a multipurpose room during certain hours as a dedicated place for residents to work.
Each idea serves a different interest without new construction. Let your survey results and booking patterns decide which one to try first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get more value from my existing amenity spaces?
Start with a resident survey and a review of booking patterns, then try workshops or classes, guest fitness instructors, set hours in a multipurpose room for meditation, yoga, or remote work, or a small addition such as an espresso machine.
How do I find out which amenities residents want?
Survey them. A survey shows which amenities residents want most, so you can prioritize changes with the greatest effect. In BuildingLink, management can create surveys for all residents, only owners, or board members only.
How can I tell which amenity spaces are underused?
Review your reservation data. In the BuildingLink reservations module, staff can filter the list by amenity type, status, and date range, and use the calendar view to see how often each space is booked.
What are some low-cost ideas for improving amenity spaces?
Host workshops or classes, add an espresso machine to a social area, set hours for a meditation or yoga room, bring in guest fitness instructors, or set aside a multipurpose room as a remote work space.
