The national apartment retention rate currently stands at 57%.

This number is more than an industry statistic. It is proof that most residents are willing to renew their leases if they find the right home.

A property manager’s real battle is not finding new residents. Rather it is in keeping the existing residents.

What better way to ensure resident retention than with apartment resident event ideas for October 2023?

Apartment resident party planning is about strengthening a sense of community and providing a good resident experience. A simple rule of thumb is this: customer satisfaction leads to higher renewal rates

Here is your guide to fun and exciting resident events for Fall 2023.

Resident Potlucks

Potlucks are a great idea regardless of the season. Imagine your residents coming together, each bringing their signature Autumn dish. Now that sounds like a party.

With a Fall theme, your residents can bring dishes like pigs in a blanket, brisket chili, pumpkin-chocolate brownies, or apple pie for dessert.

The beauty of potlucks is that they are a great way to welcome new residents into the community.

Pro tip: ask all residents to pen any allergens they used in dishes. This will help residents with allergies avoid those dishes.

As the host, ensure that residents with dietary restrictions like vegans and vegetarians are also accommodated.

Movie Night

Movie night is not a seasonal event. It is perfect for every time of the year including October.

You only need a projector and a whiteboard to set up the perfect resident movie night. Prompt your residents to bring along camping chairs or picnic blankets for sitting. Beanbag chairs are also welcome.

The cherry on top would be providing an inclusive snack table where residents can grab something to munch on before the movie starts.

But it wouldn’t be an October movie night without a costume contest.

We advise pairing the resident movie night with a Halloween costume contest. The prizes don’t have to be extravagant. Halloween-themed ribbons or even a “treat” basket should do. Remember to pick something that your residents will love.

Decorate the viewing area with fairy lights, ghosts, and a few skeletons.

Here are a few family-friendly movies you can add to your Fall resident activities watchlist:

Goosebumps

Secret Magic Control Agency

Bigfoot Family

Hotel Transylvania

Pumpkin Carving

Nothing says Fall like pumpkins. Though planted in May, pumpkins are harvested in October in the US. This makes them the perfect choice for both Halloween and Thanksgiving.

You can use this golden orange fruit to unite residents through pumpkin carving. After all a pumpkin carving contest is an honorary member of the Halloween resident event ideas club.

Pumpkin carving contests usually don’t have institutional protocols. That means you can design your own rules.

According to your resident demographics, you can decide the duration of carving and the number of participants in each team. Enlist the help of local craftsmen or artists to develop judging guidelines.

Our only tip is to keep it fun and fair.

Apple Picking

October is an apple-picking season. Who wouldn’t love filling their basket with Fuji, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, or even the Honey Crisp apples; straight from the tree?

Apple picking is a simple science: lift the fruit and twist. Ensure that you leave the stem connected to the fruit so it stays fresher for longer.

When picking; work your way from the front to the back. The ripest apples often rest on the outer branches.

You can arrange a tour with your local apple orchard. Remember to ask the farm management what they offer on the grounds and what you should bring yourself.

A few necessities you and your residents will need to pack include picnic blankets; preferably waterproof, plates, and food boards. Most orchards provide clients with baskets, so you shouldn’t have to worry about that. But ask just for certainty.

If you will also be preparing lunch for your residents, go with an apple-themed meal. Think of apple and nut salads, apple pies, and apple and cheddar sandwiches.

You can also bring some games along.

International Coffee Bar

For coffee lovers, October 1st is an exciting day. Across the globe; coffee connoisseurs, drinkers, and enthusiasts stand in solidarity to celebrate the humble cup of mocha during International Coffee Day.

You can join the celebrations with your own coffee bar.

If your property has a lobby or a big common area, set up a coffee bar there. The setup shouldn’t take more than an hour or two.

The key to an awesome coffee bar is in the blends and the toppings.

Go with varying coffee beans or blends. However, be sure to label the pots or flasks.

Include an array of toppings. Start with basics like sugar cubes.

Work your way up to creamers; have both full cream and vegan creamers. Finally add flavored syrups, peanut butter and caramel sauces, and cinnamon sticks or powder.

Join the environmentally-conscious property managers by abandoning plastic spoons for wooden sticks.

Dessert Bar

Fall is a food season. We have National Dessert Day, National Nachos Day, and National Chocolate Day; not to mention National Food Day.

If you are looking for a reason to indulge your residents in some October treats, here is your guilt-free license. Celebrate these days with a dessert bar.

Much like a coffee bar, you can host a dessert bar party in your apartment’s common area.

All you need is a table decked with impeccable Fall desserts. Have classics like pumpkin and apple pie. Add an assortment of caramel apple cookies, pumpkin cheesecakes, Halloween squares, apple cider donuts, and some pumpkin truffles.

Cup desserts like pumpkin trifles, salted caramel apple sundaes, and pumpkin patch dirt cups will make a great addition to the bar.

For decorations, use Fall backdrops, pumpkin lanterns, and Autumn leaves.