Budget season used to be a fall affair. Not anymore. 

For many multifamily teams, planning now kicks off as early as June — and the stakes are higher than ever to make strategic choices that drive year-round impact.

As some operators debate the ROI of cold plunges and podcast studios, the smartest ones are staying focused on what truly drives retention — convenience-focused amenities residents use every day. 

Some amenities promise a lifestyle. Others actually deliver it. We’ve rounded up five high-impact community amenities that do both — appealing to prospective residents while offering tangible daily value. These amenities align with shifting expectations and have a measurable impact on satisfaction and retention.

Coffee That Functions — and Feels — Like a True  Community Amenity

Two out of three Americans drink coffee every day — and more than half aren’t settling for gas station drip. They’re ordering custom specialty drinks made to their specifications. But in many multifamily communities, coffee is still treated like an afterthought.

SipWithMe makes it easy to treat residents to barista-quality coffee — without headaches or hassle. Residents can quickly and conveniently customize dozens of hot beverages and be on their way in under 60 seconds. 

According to a recent WithMe survey, nearly 1 in 5 SipWithMe users saves 15 minutes per coffee break, and over a third save at least $20 a month on coffee. 

For on-site teams, SipWithMe is also refreshingly low-lift. Built-in Cup Allowance technology simplifies usage management, while automated supply reordering and real-time support keep things running smoothly in the background.

You could say SipWithMe helps “brew better communities.” 

According to Asset Living Community Manager Harlan Fredenberg, “Not only has it saved us probably about $500 a month, but we have about five times as many residents taking advantage of the new machine for a much lower cost.”

Residents get the coffee shop experience without leaving home, and on-site teams get their time, budgets and sanity back. Win-win.

Printing That Works Like It’s 2025, Not 2005

Sure, we live in a digital world — but 78% of people still say printing is important to daily business. And with 70% of residents working from home at least once a week, a broken-down printer (or one locked in the leasing office) is more than an inconvenience — it’s a dealbreaker.

PrintWithMe modernizes printing for the way people live and work today. Residents get secure, wireless access without the hassle of USB cables, drivers or clunky interfaces. Documents are encrypted upon upload, printed on demand with a secure release code, and auto-deleted once the job is successfully completed.

For staff, it’s even easier. Reliable machines boast 99%+ uptime, WithMe fields all the questions and troubleshooting, and supplies are automatically shipped. Plus, built-in Print Allowance technology offers full control over usage and an effortless way to keep costs predictable.

In a recent WithMe survey, 82% of users labeled PrintWithMe an “essential” amenity. When something is this simple to implement, maintain and use, it’s easy to see why it ranks among the best community amenities for both residents and staff.

Remote Workspaces That Work as Hard as Your Residents Do

Over one-third of U.S. workers with remote-capable jobs now work from home full-time. Even more are hybrid.

What they need isn’t a Pinterest-perfect coworking lounge. They need focused, functional spaces designed for how people actually work.

That means quiet, purpose-built rooms with strong Wi-Fi, great coffee, ergonomic furniture, reliable printing, and private, soundproof spaces — everything required to stay productive, minus the distractions and design fluff.

These aren’t your average shared spaces. They’re thoughtfully appointed workspaces specifically designed to support concentration, flexibility and everyday use.

Set your residents up for success, and your property becomes their productivity HQ — no WeWork subscription required.

Smart Package Management That Doesn’t Overburden Your Team

Online shopping is up nearly 10% year-over-year. That means more packages, more deliveries and more pressure on property teams to keep up. When they can’t, the impact is immediate: overcrowded package rooms, missed deliveries, overwhelmed staff and frustrated residents.

Secure and efficient package handling isn’t just a nice perk — it’s a major leasing consideration. Fifty-five percent of renters say package management influences leasing decisions, and 37% will pay more for premium handling. 

That’s why smart package management systems are quickly becoming one of the most essential apartment community amenities. Smart lockers. App-based scheduling. 24/7 access. No staff bottlenecks. Just on-demand pickup.

When residents receive dozens of packages each year, how your property manages them becomes a core part of the resident experience — and one of the smartest community amenities you can invest in during this budget cycle.

EV Charging Built for High Expectations and Low Maintenance

Last year, 1.3 million electric vehicles (EVs) were sold in the U.S. — yet fewer than 5% of multifamily properties offer charging.

That’s a massive gap — and a massive opportunity.

Properties that offer EV charging don’t just stand out — they attract a fast-growing segment of residents and help support long-term lease decisions. And for operators, the math makes sense: many utility programs cover much (sometimes all) of installation costs, and federal and state rebates remain widely available.

This isn’t about checking a sustainability box. EV charging is fast becoming a baseline expectation — and a practical, high-impact community amenity to plan for before demand leaves you playing catch-up. 

Real Value Starts with Real Use

The community amenities worth investing in don’t just look nice on paper or on a website — they’re used daily, deliver ROI and solve real problems for real people.

As budget season ramps up, the properties that prioritize functional, tech-enabled amenities will be the ones that spend smarter and perform stronger in 2026 and beyond.If you’re taking a fresh look at your amenity strategy, let’s talk about what truly drives ROI — and deserves a line item in next year’s budget.