Move-In Special

A move-in special is a temporary leasing incentive offered to encourage a prospective resident to sign a lease. It may include free or discounted rent, waived fees, a reduced deposit, or another limited-time benefit. The details should be clear, including the lease term required, the value of the concession, and whether it affects gross rent or net effective rent.

A 250-unit community has several vacant one-bedroom apartments during a slower leasing period. The property offers one month free on a 12-month lease for select units, and the leasing team records the concession in the lease addendum so the resident and operations team understand the exact terms.

Move-in specials help operations leaders manage vacancy risk, leasing velocity, and pricing consistency. They can support occupancy goals, but they also affect revenue reporting, renewal expectations, and how teams explain rent value to prospects.