Tips on Keeping 1 Bedroom Units Occupied and Reducing Turnover?

[Jeff G.]

I have my eyes on some smaller multifamily units. With residential 3/4 unit complexes it's not hard to find properties that all have 2+ bedrooms. The problem is for the small apartment complexes, say a 10-12 units, are often have a large number of 1 bedroom units with perhaps a token number of 2 bedroom units. 

I'm really reticent to pick up a property that has more than an incidental 1 bedroom here or there. My perception is that this tenant pool is simply the lowest tier of whatever market the complex happens to be in. I expect turnover to be high no matter what I do. I'm open to the possibility I might be wrong though.

What are some good options to find and keep good quality tenants in 1 bedroom units in most markets? 

I have heard some landlords say that as part of their eviction procedure they keep a packet full of contact information for private / government programs that help tenants meet their rental needs during short periods of financial difficulty. For those of you who use this strategy as a stop-gap to keep turnover low, what what organizations are you normally putting tenants in contact with? How helpful is this approach with retention?

[Deanna McCormick]

I managed a 120 unit complex with 80% 1 br units.. they were easy to fill and easy to keep filled, market rent with 98% occupancy for the 6 years or more I managed it.. 

If you set criteria standards and rents are in market,, I'd prefer a 1 br building more than 2br.. less traffic, not as likely children,,, tenants seemed to stay average 2 - 3 years while I was there.