Leasing Season Playbook: Getting Your Apartment Community Ready for Spring and Summer

Spring and summer are still the busiest months for apartment leasing. More people move when school is out and the weather is good, so more leases turn over in the summer.

But the search starts earlier than it used to. In a January 2026 Apartment List report, more than 30% of renter activity on the site (people adding apartments to their shortlists) happened in the first quarter of the year, and more move-ins now happen between January and May than before 2020.

That means the work to get ready for leasing season should start in winter. Here’s a simple plan, working back from the busy months.

January: Look at what’s coming

Review your lease expirations. Pull a report of leases expiring from March through August. Note which months and unit types have the most move-outs coming.

Start renewals early. Reach out to residents with spring and summer expirations 90 to 120 days ahead. Every renewal is one less unit to lease during the busiest season.

Spread out expirations where you can. When you offer renewals and new leases, consider lease terms that move some expirations out of the peak months. That keeps your team from having too many move-outs at once.

Set your goals. Decide how many leases you need each month to hit your occupancy target, and how many tours that takes based on your recent closing rate.

February: Fix the first impression

Walk the property like a prospect. Start at the street. Can drivers see your entrance and read your sign? Is the path to the leasing office obvious? (See our Apartment Curb Appeal Checklist.)

Schedule exterior work. Book landscaping, painting, power-washing and sign repairs now, so they’re done before spring traffic picks up.

Plan your entrance display. Decide what will go out front for the season, whether that’s a balloon display, flags or a banner, and check that it meets your city’s sign rules. (See Curb Appeal That Gets Noticed and Stays Within Your City’s Sign Rules.)

March: Get online listings ready

Update photos. Take new photos once the landscaping is fresh. Include the entrance and amenities, not just the units.

Check every listing. Make sure pricing, specials, floor plans and availability match across your website, listing sites and Google Business Profile.

Ask for reviews. Ask happy residents for reviews before the busy season, when prospects are reading them most.

Set up tracking. Make sure your CRM or guest card has a lead source for walk-ins and drive-bys, and that your team uses it.

April: Get the team and units ready

Have tour-ready units. Keep at least one model or vacant unit ready to show every day.

Plan staffing for evenings and weekends. That’s when many working renters tour. Adjust schedules or offer self-guided tours.

Speed up turns. Plan your make-ready schedule so units that come open in summer are ready to show quickly.

Practice follow-up. Agree on how fast your team will follow up after a tour or inquiry. Same day is a good standard.

May through August: Peak season

Put your entrance display up. Peak season is when drive-by traffic is worth the most. Keep your display fresh and your street message current.

Hold an event. An open house, resident party or food truck day brings people onto the property and gives you something to post online.

Watch your numbers weekly. Track tours, applications and leases against your goals. If a week comes in low, adjust quickly with a new special, extra hours or more advertising.

Keep up with curb appeal. Summer heat is hard on landscaping and displays. Keep watering, mowing and checking the entrance every week.

September: Look back

Review what worked. Compare leads and leases by source. Which channels brought in the most tours and signed leases for the money?

Note what to change. Write down what to do differently next year while it’s fresh, then start the plan again in January.

A simple timeline

The bottom line

Leasing season starts earlier than the moving trucks show up. Start renewals and planning in January, fix curb appeal and listings in late winter, and have your team, units and entrance ready before the spring rush.

Sources

• Apartment List, “The Rental Market’s Peak Season is Becoming Less Pronounced” (January 2026)

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