By Lindsay Schlatter, Regional Manager, R&R Realty Group Management Professionals, Inc.
One of the things that has always kept me in the apartment industry is how different every day looks. It’s fast-moving, people-heavy work. You might start the morning reviewing financials, get pulled into a maintenance issue by lunch, and spend the afternoon helping a team work through a resident concern. It rarely looks the same twice, but the goal behind it all doesn’t really change — keep communities running well and make sure residents feel taken care of.
What has changed in recent years is what residents expect when they walk into a community.
Across the market, and especially in growing areas like Waukee, renters have more choices than they used to. New development has added supply, increased competition, and brought concessions back into play in a way we haven’t seen for a while. Leasing incentives can still get attention, but they don’t seem to carry the same weight for renters long-term. They may influence the decision to tour or apply at a community, but they’re no longer a factor whether someone decides to stay.
So what does?
More and more, today’s renters are looking for simplicity. They want the leasing process to feel easy, communication to be clear, and maintenance requests to be straightforward. People are used to convenience in nearly every other part of their lives, and housing is no exception. If something feels slow or complicated, it stands out right away.
Once someone moves in, consistency becomes even more important. A smooth move-in experience is great, but what really shapes their opinion is what happens after that first week or first month. Are issues handled in a timely way? Does communication feel reliable? Does the community feel like it’s being cared for day in and day out? Those everyday interactions end up carrying more weight than anything else.
Technology has helped improve a lot of those processes, and it’s become a key part of how communities operate. But it also raises expectations. Residents want faster responses and more efficient service, while onsite teams are often working within different staffing structures than they were a few years ago. The challenge is finding the balance between efficiency and connection — using technology to make things smoother without losing the personal side of the experience.
Another thing renters notice quickly is whether a community feels cared for. It’s not just about amenities or finishes. It’s the condition of the property, how quickly things are addressed, and whether follow-through actually happens. Those details are directly tied to the onsite team and how supported they are in their roles.
Leadership plays a big role in that. When onsite teams are aligned, supported, and communicating well, it shows. Operations feel more stable, service is more consistent, and residents notice even if they can’t always pinpoint why.
At the end of the day, strong communities aren’t built on one standout feature. They’re built on consistency — people showing up, paying attention, and caring about the small things that shape the overall experience.
The housing industry will continue to evolve, but the foundation hasn’t really changed. Renters want to feel like they made a good choice. Teams want to feel supported. And communities work best when those two things line up.
Everything else tends to fall into place from there.
At R&R Realty Group, candidates often comment on the energy of the office during interviews. What stands out is not a specific feature, but the way people move through the space and interact with one another. Those everyday moments communicate far more about culture than any written description ever could
Intentional Design Matters
The design of a workplace plays a significant role in shaping those interactions. While formal meeting areas are important, much of the real value comes from informal moments. Quick check-ins, spontaneous conversations, and brief exchanges between teams often lead to stronger relationships and better collaboration.
Those moments do not happen by chance. They are supported by spaces that allow people to naturally cross paths throughout the day. R&R refers to these spaces as ‘collision zones’. A well-designed office creates opportunities for this connection without forcing it, which over time strengthens how teams work together.
This has a direct impact on retention. Employees who feel connected to their colleagues and their organization are more likely to stay engaged and invested. The workplace contributes to that sense of connection in ways that are easy to overlook but difficult to replicate
That same environment also supports performance. When employees feel equipped, aligned, and connected, they are better positioned to do their best work. The workplace can reinforce shared goals, make leadership more accessible, and create opportunities for learning that happen naturally through day-to-day interaction. For newer employees in particular, being able to observe and engage in real time can accelerate their understanding and growth.
Office Space is a Strategy
For business leaders, the most important takeaway is to approach the office as a strategy, not a design project. Decisions about space should start with how teams work, what behaviors an organization wants to encourage, and how the environment can support both performance and well-being.
During R&R’s headquarter move to the Westfield Building in West Des Moines, that meant looking closely at how employees collaborate with one another and using that insight to shape the space in a practical way. Teams were positioned based on how they interact most often, while still allowing for natural points of connection across departments. The result is a workplace that feels intentional and very functional, not just visually appealing.
The workplace is no longer something that can be treated as an afterthought. It is an active part of how an organization operates and grows. For companies across the Des Moines region, there is a real opportunity to think more deliberately about what their space communicates and how it supports their people.
When done well, the office becomes more than a place to work. It becomes a place where relationships are built, ideas are shared, and people feel connected to something larger than their individual role.