Mobile-First Living: Why Residents Expect Smartphone Access to Everything

The Surge of Smartphone Adoption in Everyday Life

Take a look around any lobby or common area – almost everyone is on their phone. Over the past decade, smartphone ownership has skyrocketed. About 91% of American adults own a smartphone as of 2023, up from just 35% in 2011. This near-universal adoption means the smartphone has become the default interface for modern life. Residents are comfortable using apps for communication, services, and controlling devices.

Consider some everyday behaviors of your residents:

• Mobile banking for rent payments or splitting utilities.
• Mobile ordering for grocery or meal deliveries.
• Rideshare apps to commute or go out.
• Smart home apps to adjust their personal devices like smart speakers or TVs.

In fact, a 2022 survey by Rent.com found 82% of renters want at least one smart device or system in their home (What Smart Home Tech Do Renters Want Most in 2023?). People are integrating technology into how they live at home, not just outside. So when they come to the entry of their apartment building and have to fumble for a key or key fob, it feels like a disconnect. “Why can’t I just use my phone?” is a common refrain. Mobile-first living is about meeting that expectation: leveraging the device residents already carry 24/7 to interface with their home and community.

Resident Demand for Smart Amenities (Keyless and Beyond)

Let’s talk specifics: What exactly do residents expect to access via smartphone? Surveys and market research give a clear picture:

• Keyless Entry & Smart Locks: This tops the list. According to the 2024 NMHC/Grace Hill Renter Preferences Survey, 67% of renters are interested in keyless smart locks and would pay a premium for them (Industry Surveys Reveal Renter Preferences for 2024 - Multi-Housing News). No more physical keys – they want to use a code or mobile app to unlock their apartment door and building entrances.
• Thermostats & Lighting: The same survey shows 72% want smart thermostats (Industry Surveys Reveal Renter Preferences for 2024 - Multi-Housing News). Adjusting the temperature or turning off lights from a phone app (or via voice assistant) is a sought convenience, especially for energy savings.
• Visitor Access: Tech-savvy renters expect to let their friend in via an app or send a guest a digital pass, rather than coming down to physically open a door.
• Amenities Booking: Many properties now offer app-based reservations for gym equipment, coworking spaces, or BBQ grills. Residents used to seamless digital scheduling in other areas prefer this to signup sheets or office calls.
• Communication & Service Requests: Mobile-first means they’d rather text or use an app to contact management (for maintenance, etc.) than make phone calls or in-person visits.

All these expectations boil down to convenience, speed, and control. Younger renters (Millennials and Gen Z) especially view these smart features not as luxuries but as essentials. One striking stat: 86% of millennials say they’re willing to pay roughly one-fifth more in rent for a smart apartment with high-tech features like automated locks and thermostats (Millennials Want Apartments With Smart Locks | Multifamily Executive Magazine). Moreover, 61% of that group would choose an apartment specifically because of its electronic access and smart locks (Millennials Want Apartments With Smart Locks | Multifamily Executive Magazine).

This is a huge signal to property owners: offering mobile and smart access isn’t just about making current residents happy – it’s a market differentiator that attracts new residents and justifies premium rents. In competitive rental markets, a fully mobile-enabled building can be the X-factor that sways a prospect to sign a lease. Conversely, a community that lacks these features might be seen as outdated. (Consider that many of your prospects probably unlocked a Zipcar or paid at a tap-to-pay kiosk with their phone earlier that day – using a metal key can feel like stepping back in time.)

How Mobile Access Enhances Everyday Life for Residents

Let’s envision a day in the life of a resident in a mobile-first community:

• Morning: Jamie uses her smartphone to exit her apartment – a quick tap on the BluSKY mobile app unlocks her door. She heads to the lobby, where her phone’s Bluetooth or a QR code in her wallet app opens the community door. No need to carry keys on her morning jog.
• Midday Delivery: While at work, Jamie gets a push notification: her package was delivered, and the delivery driver used a one-time code to access the package room (all logged by the system). Jamie taps a button to remotely grant building access to her trusted dog walker at 12:30 pm, all from her phone.
• Afternoon: It’s hot out, so Jamie, still at the office, adjusts her apartment thermostat via the resident app so it’s cool by the time she’s home. She also reserves a spot at the co-working lounge through the app for an evening video call.
• Evening: Arriving home, her phone again lets her in. A friend comes to visit; Jamie’s app sends them a visitor access link to buzz themselves in at the lobby. They ride the elevator which auto-selects Jamie’s floor because her phone credential tells it where to go (a BluSKY-integrated elevator system).
• Night: As she goes to bed, Jamie double-checks that the building’s main entrance is locked (the app can show door status) and that she armed her unit’s security alarm – all from the comfort of bed on her phone.

This seamless experience builds resident satisfaction. Mobile access eliminates small frictions – waiting at the door for roommates, misplacing keys, needing to run down to let guests in – that can otherwise accumulate into frustrations. For residents with disabilities or mobility issues, keyless access can be even more empowering, removing the physical act of handling keys or reaching awkwardly placed readers.

Additionally, mobile systems often come with added safety features. For instance, BluBØX’s BluSKY mobile credentials can be combined with multifactor authentication (phone + PIN) for secure entry, and they can be revoked instantly if a phone is lost. Contrast that with a lost physical key, which might necessitate a lock change (a cost and security risk until it’s done).

The Role of BluBØX BluSKY in Enabling Mobile-First Living

To truly deliver mobile-first living, you need a robust platform behind the scenes. BluBØX’s BluSKY is an example of a solution built for this mobile era. Here’s how BluSKY facilitates the smartphone-centric lifestyle residents want:

• Mobile Access Control: BluSKY allows residents to use their smartphone as their key. Through the BluSKY app (iOS or Android) or even integrated digital wallets, residents get secure credentials. These can unlock building entries, unit doors (if equipped with smart locks), garages, and amenity spaces. The app uses encryption and cloud authentication to ensure it’s just as secure as a key fob, if not more. For example, at a BluBØX-equipped community in Chicago, over 95% of residents opted to use the phone app rather than carry fobs – and they loved it.
• Integrated Smart Apartment Features: BluSKY isn’t just about doors. It can integrate with third-party smart apartment systems – lights, thermostats, voice assistants – via its open API platform. Imagine a resident controlling their Yale or Schlage smart unit lock and their Nest thermostat all from the same BluSKY resident app. One hub for all smart home controls.
• Visitor and Delivery Management: The platform supports sending digital guest passes by text or email. Residents can approve a visitor with a few taps, granting them access for a specific time window. BluSKY also logs every use of those passes, giving management oversight. And for deliveries, BluSKY can work with smart intercoms or package rooms – delivery personnel receive a code or can call up via a touchless intercom that contacts the resident’s phone.
• Elevator Integration: In high-rises, BluSKY’s mobile credential can link with elevator controls (e.g., destination dispatch systems). So the resident’s phone not only opens the lobby door but also calls an elevator and restricts it to authorized floors, all in one action. This is high-tech convenience that also boosts security by preventing random floor access.
• Amenity Reservations and Notifications: Through cloud integration, BluSKY can also tie into amenity booking systems or simply allow management to push notifications. If the pool is closed for maintenance, a push alert goes out. If a resident wants to book the clubhouse for an event, they do it through the same app.

For management, moving to a mobile platform like BluSKY has benefits too. It streamlines operations (no more printing keycards on move-in day – you just issue a mobile pass), and it appeals to prospects during tours. Demonstrating “you can unlock everything with your phone” often elicits a “cool!” from applicants. It signals that the property is modern and cares about resident convenience.

Data-Driven Results: Mobile Access Pays Off

The shift to mobile-first living isn’t just a theory; properties that have embraced it see tangible results. Some reported outcomes:

• Higher Lease Conversion: Properties advertising mobile access and smart tech see increased interest. Online listings mentioning “smartphone access” get more clicks. A case study from a Texas apartment community showed that after marketing their new mobile entry system, they saw a 15% uptick in lease inquiries (especially from tech industry professionals).
• Improved Security Compliance: Residents are less likely to circumvent security when it’s convenient. For example, fewer people prop doors open when it’s easy to buzz a friend in remotely. One BluBØX client observed a reduction in tailgating incidents after implementing mobile guest passes – guests weren’t waiting at doors and relying on piggybacking, they had legitimate access.
• Cost Savings: It might seem counterintuitive that adding tech saves money, but consider key management. Replacing locks and keys for turnovers or lost keys can run hundreds per incident. With mobile credentials, those costs nearly vanish. Over a year, that can be thousands saved, especially in large complexes with high turnover.
• Resident Satisfaction & Retention: While hard to quantify, the convenience factor plays into renewal decisions. In comment surveys or renewal interviews, residents frequently cite convenience and responsiveness of management. Offering top-notch tech is a sign of a responsive, forward-thinking management. Happy residents are more likely to renew, reducing vacancy loss.

One more datapoint: Video doorbells and mobile-accessible intercoms are also gaining traction, with 65% of renters willing to pay more for a video doorbell in-unit (Industry Surveys Reveal Renter Preferences for 2024 - Multi-Housing News). This ties into mobile-first living because those doorbells are managed through phone apps, letting residents see who’s at their door and let them in remotely. It’s all part of the ecosystem.

Embracing Mobile-First: Steps for Property Owners

Transitioning to a mobile-first approach is easier than it may seem:

1. Assess Current Infrastructure: Determine what can be upgraded. Do your current access control systems support mobile credentials? If not, BluBØX can retrofit or replace outdated panels/readers with cloud-connected ones.
2. Choose an Integrated Platform: Rather than piecemeal gadgets, aim for a platform that combines functions (access, visitor, etc.) – e.g., BluSKY. This ensures a unified app for residents.
3. Pilot and Educate: Consider piloting mobile access in one part of your community or with a group of tech-eager residents. Gather feedback and iron out any kinks (like ensuring Bluetooth readers are tuned for phone use). Host a community tech night to teach residents how to use the new features; many will pick it up quickly, but showing less tech-savvy folks how it works ensures adoption.
4. Market It: Once live, highlight your property’s mobile amenities in marketing materials. Use phrases like “smartphone-enabled access” or “control your apartment with an app” to catch attention. Feature a photo of a resident using a phone to open a door, for example, to immediately convey the idea.
5. Partner with Experts: Work with providers like BluBØX who have done this before. They can share best practices (for example, how to handle residents who don’t have smartphones – usually there are backup keycards or codes).

Mobile-first living is here to stay. The generation that grew up with smartphones simply expects their living environment to be smartphone-integrated. What was novel five years ago is quickly becoming standard. Properties that adapt will have the edge in resident satisfaction, security, and marketability.

Conclusion: Unlocking the Future with Your Phone

The writing is on the wall (or rather, on the screen): residents want smartphone access to just about everything in their apartment life. The convenience, security, and cool-factor of mobile-first living not only meets resident expectations but can also simplify operations and set a property apart in a crowded market.

If your community hasn’t yet embraced mobile access, now is the time. The technology is mature and reliable – evidenced by large percentages of renters already using or desiring it – and platforms like BluBØX BluSKY make implementation straightforward. From keyless entry to smart home integrations, going mobile-first transforms the resident experience.

Don’t get left behind with jangling keys and clunky intercoms. Modernize your property and send a clear message to prospective renters that you’re offering a cutting-edge living experience. Not only will you make life easier for those who call your community home, but you’ll also streamline your own operations.

Next Steps: Ready to go mobile-first? Contact BluBØX to learn how the BluSKY platform can turn your property into a smartphone-centric smart community. Request a demo and see for yourself how residents can unlock doors, manage visitors, and interact with their home all from an app. It’s time to put the future at your residents’ fingertips – literally.

Empower your community with BluBØX BluSKY and embrace the mobile-first revolution in living. Schedule a BluSKY demo today and discover how easy, secure, and satisfying resident access can be when it’s built around the smartphone. Your residents (and your bottom line) will thank you for it.