We made it! Spring is finally here, and it’s the perfect time to plan a few resident events for your community. With the busy leasing season right around the corner, community events are a good way to:

• Build stronger resident relationships
• Collect valuable feedback
• Encourage retention
• Find a new resident or two if someone brings a friend

When it comes to resident events, your imagination is the limit. But we know you’re busy, so here are 10 resident event ideas that won’t break the bank.

1. Resident appreciation week

Choose a week that you can officially declare “Resident Appreciation Week,” and surprise tenants every day with a small treat that lets them know how much you appreciate them.

Surprises can be anything you think they’d enjoy, from a coffee and bagel bar in the lobby on a weekday morning to a handwritten note with some candy from a local shop. Be sure to promote the event a few weeks prior to its arrival.

2. Host a spring cleaning event

This event offers the perfect seasonal tie-in and encourages residents to keep their units and common areas tidy.

Try hosting a clothing or household goods drive in your lobby or common area. Leave labeled bins out for a week, then donate the items to a local charity once the bins are full. The charitable aspect can provide a stronger incentive for residents to sort through and pass on any gently used items taking up space in their units.

In exchange for donating, you can gift your residents a few cleaning products, such as antibacterial wipes, paper towels, rubber gloves and a sponge, as a thank you.

For a larger spring cleaning event, organize a community garage sale. Choose a weekend without potential scheduling conflicts with other events in town, and give residents plenty of notice so they can start gathering items.

Make the first half of the event a resident swap and shop, open to tenants only, before welcoming the public in for the rest of the weekend. And who knows — maybe some of those eager garage sale shoppers will become future residents!

3. Community potluck

Celebrate the diversity in your community by hosting a potluck dinner. Encourage residents to prepare one of their family’s favorite dishes to share, while you provide the plates, silverware, drinks and dessert.

Ask them to bring the recipe, too! Collect all the submissions, and create a digital cookbook for your residents to use and hopefully share with their own network of friends and families. Maybe you’ll even luck out with a beautiful spring day to enjoy the meal outdoors!

4. Baseball season celebration

Spring means baseball season! Invite residents to your clubhouse or party room to watch the home team in action — don’t forget the peanuts and Cracker Jack! If you have ample outdoor space, consider renting an inflatable outdoor screen and projector, and have residents bring lawn chairs and blankets to watch a night game outdoors.

Add to the fun with a drawing: Enter any residents who wear team colors or jerseys into a raffle to win tickets to a home game.

5. Painting party

Painting parties — where friends gather at a local restaurant or bar to paint their own masterpiece while enjoying wine and snacks — are a fun way to bring people together, so why not bring the party right to your residents?

The time of day you choose will likely determine the crowd you get — from retirees for a midday event to working professionals in the evenings — so consider hosting a few!

6. “Doughnut leave” lease renewals

Host a lease renewal event with a doughnut theme. Invite residents to stop by for a sweet treat during the day, and be ready to discuss renewal with them. Save a goodie for yourself — you deserve it after all those leases you’ll re-sign!

7. Bingo night

An evening of free (responsibly) flowing beer, wine and bingo is just the thing for neighbors to enjoy together. If you have an area where you can open the windows or doors, even better. Have some light snacks and a stock of prizes at the ready — from a $5 gift card to a local coffee shop to $100 off next month’s rent. Keep renewal information on hand in case anyone has questions or wants more information.

8. Lemonade stand

Spring is the perfect time to plan a lemonade stand for your residents. Set up in a comfy or cool common area with cups, ice and other fixings for the perfect refreshing drink and neighborly conversation.

Or, if you’re in the giving mood, set up a charitable lemonade stand right outside your community. Donate the proceeds to charity, and maybe garner some new foot traffic to your leasing center at the same time.

9. Family-friendly barbecue

If you have families in your community, host a special night for them with a kid-friendly evening of barbecue and bingo. Serve hot dogs, potato salad and a healthy veggie option, too. Then, gather everyone around for a few rounds of bingo. Make sure the prizes are kid-friendly!

10. Ice cream social

Check with your local school district to see when the last day of school is, and plan a late-afternoon or early-evening ice cream social for your youngest residents and their families to celebrate summer’s start.

Consider fun activities like face painting or balloon animals, and don’t forget the ice cream toppings bar! The kids will be excited to play with other young residents, and the parents can connect before the long summer break.

Regardless of the event you offer, planning and promoting are key, so get something on the calendar soon! Publicize your event by posting flyers around your property, sending postcards to residents and including a prominent mention in your resident newsletter.

Don’t forget to promote upcoming events on your community’s website or social media pages. Besides being a great way to remind your residents of upcoming events, it can also generate interest with potential renters and show them how much your community cares about its residents!