Many brokers have shifted to virtual showings and meetings to sell properties during the pandemic, but the trend could outlive social distancing.
In response to social distancing efforts throughout the country, many real estate professionals have turned to virtual showings and transactions. The residential market has been a leader, with many agents already familiar or set up for virtual deals, and the trend could have a lasting effect. Consumers could prefer the ease of viewing properties virtually and handling obligations online.
“Once the pandemic ends, we expect that prospects will become increasingly comfortable with making buying decisions using virtual tools,” Crel Vogel, sales manager at Optima Kierland, tells GlobeSt.com. “They will see how seamless and effective the virtual tools are and might gain further confidence in the process knowing that many other buyers have adopted this modern method of home purchasing. The sales associates may see a shift in how they spend their time, with more relationship-building and cultivating contacts via phone and video chat rather than in person drop-ins.”
High-rise, sustainable living in Arizona has reached a whole new level this week with the opening of 7180 Optima Kierland, the 12-story residential tower that boasts meticulously designed condominiums, along with the most impressive and expansive luxury amenity offering in the state, all within North Scottsdale’s most desirable address.
With the opening of the building also comes the official debut of the next evolution of Optima’s award-winning, green-building design created by David Hovey, Jr., AIA, president and principal architect of Optima. Optima is known for cutting-edge, residential buildings that have been nationally and internationally recognized with over 50 prestigious awards for the company’s commitment to design, innovation and sustainability.
Perched at the pinnacle of the nearly sold out 7180 Optima Kierland in North Scottsdale, four spectacular penthouses have just been unveiled that are poised among the most impressive and luxurious high-rise residences in Arizona.
As part of The Mountain Collection, this limited selection of luxury penthouses is priced from $1.349 to $1.445 million and offers unsurpassed views of the McDowell Mountains through the sweeping floor-to-ceiling glass walls, allowing for the ultimate indoor-and-outdoor living experience. Two of the penthouses are now available for private tours starting this week.
“We’ve truly saved the best for last as we debut these very special penthouses that grace the top floors of 7180 Optima Kierland and serve as a capstone to the most elevated building that we’ve ever created here in Arizona,” said David Hovey Jr., president, COO and principal architect of Optima. “This exclusive, highly curated collection of residences embodies our collective vision for what refined, high-design living is all about.”
Each penthouse features an expansive private terrace adorned with lush, hanging greenery – a signature of Optima’s award-winning design aesthetic – and upgraded finishes including European Oak wood flooring and Gieffe Cucine cabinetry, polished granite countertops, tiled terraces, upgraded lighting, 10-foot ceilings and appliances from high-end brands Bosch and Elicia. Hand-selected by the Optima design team, the finishes within these coveted residences are the epitome of sophisticated living in the Sonoran Desert.
In today’s apartment marketplace, where rents and occupancy are at historically high levels, quality customer service is proving to be the differentiator.
Of the many consequences of contending with the pandemic, one of the most visible has been a groundswell in expressions of frustration. From air travel to dining to work and school, the list of grievances runs long, and rental housing residents are no different, from the perception that maintenance takes too long to coffee machines running dry.
One of the biggest complaints has been the difficulty of working from a small apartment, according to buzz at the National Multifamily Housing Council’s (NMHC) 2022 annual meeting, says attendee Mary Cook, founder of Chicago-based Mary Cook Associates (MCA), a commercial interior design firm. “Two years ago, 20 percent might have worked from home and now 45 percent do a few days each week,” Cook says. “They get upset if staff is making noise blowing leaves or cutting a lawn.”
Property managers have complaints and frustrations, too, facing a shrunken labor pool and disrupted supply chains. Despite the apartment industry experiencing historically strong occupancy levels, managers are not taking the high numbers for granted. If COVID-19 has brought home any message, it’s that situations change—fast.
Many are listening closely to residents, taking notes about leading causes of dismay and sources of joy, developing creative solutions to increase net referrals. The strategies that seem to make the biggest difference are good customer service and value. Some companies, like Chicago-based Optima Inc., a developer and property manager that created 2,135 units in Illinois and Arizona, has trademarked its Optimized Service, the equivalent of an in-home concierge, to make clear it prioritizes service.
As rent prices climb, quality service becomes more critical. The following are 10 ways to achieve it.
Award-winning real estate development firm Optima recently announced the grand opening of 7190 Optima Kierland, the fifth and final tower within the Optima Kierland development in north Scottsdale.
The 10-story tower is comprised of 216 residences including studio, one-, two-, three-bedroom and penthouse apartments, along with the development’s first Olympic-length pool and 24-hour concierge. The amenity-rich building has already been met with high demand, achieving 30% leased even before residents moved in.
“We are excited about opening the final building for Optima Kierland. We appreciate all of the support from the neighborhood, councilman Jim Waring, the Phoenix City Council, the planning commission and the city’s planning and building departments,” said David Hovey Jr., AIA, Optima’s president and COO.
“We hope the community is proud of our project and what it brings to the local economy. The location will always be highly coveted, but what sets our developments apart has been our dedication to unique architecture, high-quality construction and providing the next evolution of amenities.”
The 10-story tower is comprised of 216 residences including studio, one-, two-, three-bedroom and penthouse apartments.
As a further expansion to its already impressive lineup of amenities, the final tower features a rooftop Sky Deck with a 50-meter Olympic-length lap pool, as well as a quarter-mile running track, spa and cold plunge, lounge seating, fire pits, outdoor bar and kitchen with TVs and breathtaking views of the McDowell Mountains.
Additional amenities include an indoor basketball court; an outdoor pickleball court; an expansive indoor/outdoor fitness center with state-of-the-art cardio and fitness equipment, free weights, yoga studio and Pilates studio; indoor golf simulator; sports lounge; and an outdoor putting and chipping area.
Amenities like this indoor golf simulator are aplenty at Optima Kierland.
The apartments, which range from $2,600 to over $11,000 per month, are complete with high-quality materials and fixtures, soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, gourmet kitchens, spa-quality bathrooms and smart home technology. Lush hanging gardens and expansive private exterior spaces bring the outdoors into perfect harmony with indoor living. 7190 Optima Kierland also features offerings such as fire pits and grills on the terraces of the three-bedroom and corner two-bedroom residences.
A cornerstone of community design at Optima Inc. is including green space to seamlessly connect residents to nature. Numerous studies suggest that contact to nature has positive effects for human physical and psychological well-being.
At Optima Kierland Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, a development of luxury rental and for-sale residences, residents have access to lush rooftop landscaping, an outdoor Zen garden and 5.5 acres of lushly landscaped courtyards with fountains.
A multiphase development project, each building within Optima Kierland Center is connected to the others through aesthetic structure and physical pathways amid lush gardens. Within the building, an innovative vertical planting system features self-containing irrigation and drainage, including vibrant and colorful planters at the edge of each floor. The system ultimately culminates into a beautiful rooftop garden.
At Optima Sonoran Village in Arizona, 60 percent of its grounds are open space that not only mediate the harsh desert climate but also create visually stunning landscaped areas to be enjoyed by residents and the community. A Kaleidoscope Juice Bar with patio seating is also on site.
In Chicago, luxury rental tower Optima Signature offers residents and the surrounding Streeterville neighborhood access to a tree-lined public plaza near its front entrance with a short walk to the lakefront and the Riverwalk.
The FOX 10 Phoenix Morning Show features the amazing amenities at 7180 Optima Kierland! Watch as 7180 Optima Kierland sales manager Crel takes FOX 10 on a tour from the Sky Deck through the model homes and to Club One to practice his golf swing.
Perched at the pinnacle of the nearly sold out 7180 Optima Kierland in North Scottsdale, four spectacular penthouses have just been unveiled that are poised among the most impressive and luxurious high-rise residences in Arizona.
As part of The Mountain Collection, this limited selection of luxury penthouses is priced from $1.349 to $1.445 million and offers unsurpassed views of the McDowell Mountains through the sweeping floor-to-ceiling glass walls, allowing for the ultimate indoor-and-outdoor living experience. Two of the penthouses are now available for private tours starting this week.
“We’ve truly saved the best for last as we debut these very special penthouses that grace the top floors of 7180 Optima Kierland and serve as a capstone to the most elevated building that we’ve ever created here in Arizona,” said David Hovey Jr., president, COO and principal architect of Optima. “This exclusive, highly curated collection of residences embodies our collective vision for what refined, high-design living is all about.”
