Marketing and Letting
Every scheme is marketed to maximise its brand awareness with the intention of achieving 100% occupancy. Innovative media techniques are used from web sites and portals to brochure and leaflet distribution. Specific campaigns take place in each city to match the profile of the student population.
The key to most of our campaigns is the marketing suite , demonstrating to students and parents the quality and design features of the accommodation and the personnel who will be running the schemes. Vital close working relationships with Universities and Student Unions are established and developed from the start.
On-site Operations
On-site operations are a critical factor in the success of a scheme, not only in terms of the students’ enjoyment of their accommodation and University life but also in terms of the financial success of the scheme to the investor.
The services provided include the following:
- Reception and administrative duties
- Enrolment of student wardens to support site - based teams
- Checking in and out of all students at the beginning and end of tenancies
- Inventory management
- Inspections of apartments and bedrooms each term
- End of year apartment inspections including deep cleaning, repairs, renewals and redecorations
- Regular cleaning of common areas, stairwell, reception, management suite, laundrette and common room
- Reservation and contract administration
- Security and emergency management
- Planned and reactive maintenance with input from specialist sub contractors
- Solving students’ occupational needs and issues
- Day to day marketing
- Overseeing summer lets
- Control of rental voids and bad debts including legal action where necessary
On-site Teams
Each on - site team is led by a manager and supported by head office. This is supplemented by expert technical , accounting, marketing, PR and legal advice. In addition to the lead manager, a 400 - 500bed scheme will have at least one assistant manager and a number of student wardens to provide support during out of office hours.
Head Office Functions
The head office teams manage the following property management and accounting functions:
- Preparation and control of the service charge budgets
- Establishment of tenancy deposit schemes
- Rent and deposit demands, collection and remittance
- Provision of regular statements and accounts
- Engagement and payment of all sub -contractor suppliers
- Health and safety audits and risk assessments
- Compliance with all health and safety requirements within the scheme
- Employment and management of on-site and regional staff and managers
- Procurement of all relevant insurances
Investor Relations
SFM ensures all investors are nominated a senior manager who will act as the principal point of contact to represent the multi-disciplined functions of the facility management team. Regular reports are provided to review the investment and facilities management performance.
