The multifamily industry is firmly in the middle of peak moving season. From May to September, approximately 60% of all annual moves in the United States occur. According to U.S. Census data, 12.1% of Americans moved in 2023, representing approximately 41 million people.

This makes peak moving season the most important and busiest time of year for multifamily communities. On-site teams are focused on leasing to new residents, prepping units for the turnover, and staying on top of daily operations. Managing a community during this time presents unique challenges. Video surveillance is a powerful tool that can help ensure the moving season is both smooth and successful.

Why Peak Moving Season Occurs and Its Impact

Many reasons contribute to the spike during peak moving season as opposed to other times of year.

Families tend to move when school is out of session to avoid disrupting children’s education in the middle of the year. College students are on the move as spring semester ends in May/June and fall semester begins in August/September. Companies tend to onboard new hires or perform transfers during summer months.

For the reasons above, and simply because the weather is better for moving during summer months, many lease agreements are written to end during the peak moving season window. This allows apartment communities to take advantage of all the moves and capture new leases.

The impact of peak moving season is felt by the onsite teams. With the high turnover, units need to be prepped for new residents. Leasing offices are busier with tours, applications, and move-in/move-out schedules. Demand for the maintenance team is high as there is an increase in unit inspections. This can create repair needs or the discovery of maintenance issues. Supplier partners are in higher demand, which can make it more difficult to secure services like carpet cleaning or painting.

On-site teams are stretched thin. Operational planning and support are crucial to ensure new residents are welcomed and existing residents’ needs are not overlooked.

How Video Surveillance Can Assist

As is the case with many seasonal occurrences in the multifamily industry, video surveillance is a needed tool for navigating peak moving season. A robust camera system can assist with the following:

• Increased Traffic: Moving trucks and additional visitors are expected. With video surveillance, camera views of loading zones and parking lots allow documentation of traffic accidents or unauthorized parking.
• Increased Contractor Activity: Multiple contractors may be performing onsite services. Video surveillance can be used to track contractors, ensuring they are there to perform the work and confirm vendor charges.
• Management of Move-In/Move-Out Schedules: Many apartment communities require move-ins/move-outs to be scheduled with onsite management or to occur during specific hours. With the right system, property teams can check activity as it occurs or provide documentation for residents who may not follow the established policies.
• Property Damage: Moving items can lead to damaged walls, doors, or landscaping. Inexperienced people driving moving trucks often cause accidents. Video surveillance documents any occurrences for insurance purposes or to hold people responsible.
• Illegal Dumping: The dumpsters often overflow or have bulk items left illegally. Video surveillance records the areas and can identify responsible parties.
• Unauthorized Entry: Propped doors leave buildings vulnerable to unauthorized intruders. Key entry/exit points benefit from camera coverage.
• Unattended Units and Belongings: Along with propped doors, units and belongings are often left unattended during the moving process. Video surveillance assists in discovering if a resident’s property was taken by an unauthorized person.
• Team Support: Video surveillance can be used as a second set of eyes when the team is unable to perform a physical walk.

Watchtower Security’s Solution

Watchtower Security provides fully managed video surveillance exclusively to the multifamily industry. We offload all the stress and difficulties that come with a camera system, ensuring it is operating effectively with maximum uptime. Beyond that, when events occur and the onsite team cannot find the hours upon hours to review footage, Watchtower’s Forensic Review Team does it for them. Contact us today to learn more about how Watchtower Security partners with clients to provide true value to multifamily communities across the country.