New search data reveals prospective residents are increasingly seeking outdoor space.
In an effort to understand how the pandemic is affecting the prioritization of amentity offerings as renters search for a new apartment, Zumper reviewed its search data between December 2019 and December 2020 to determine the most desirable amenities on a year-over-year (YOY) basis.
Released earlier this month, data shows residents’ top search was for outdoor space, up 143% YOY. Storage and roof deck ranked second and third at 92% and 91% growth, respectively. Balcony (87%) and garden (86%) completed the top five. Package service, swimming pool, deck, garage parking and in-unit laundry rounded out the top 10.
Zumper characterized storage as an “unexpected amenity,” with potential reasoning involving remote work and the storage of furniture in favor of new desks, as well as stay-at-home orders leaving items like holiday decorations unused and better kept out of the way. Parking and in-unit laundry have always been popular, but even more so in 2020 as residents avoided public transportation and public laundromats.
The research also identified corresponding rent premiums for each amenity. At the top end, in-unit laundry added an average of $170 to a listing. Garage parking came in at $149, while the highest premium outdoor amenity was a garden at $144 added to the listing, followed by a pool ($94) and outdoor space ($88). A balcony added an average of $35 to the listing, with storage adding $53, roof deck adding $68 and a deck adding $75.
Data was also broken down by generation. Gen Z searched for walk-in closets, air conditioning and dishwasher, but parking-related amenities were not as important. Millennials also searched for walk-in closets at an exponential rate of 300% YOY growth. Hardwood floors also made it on the list for Millennials. Generation X looked into swimming pool and furnished as the most desired amenities. Central heat made the list for Baby Boomers, who had the largest growth in in-unit laundry searches.
For more on Gen Z housing trends, visit The Complexities of the Digital Generation: Insights From the NAA/SatisFacts/ApartmentRatings Survey on Gen Z