Self-Guided Tours as an Operating Strategy
Case Study
Case Study Results
0
%
Prospects Chose Self-Guided Tours
0
%
Tours Scheduled Same Day
0
Leasing Hours Reallocated
0
%
Applications Generated from Self-Guided Tours
“At Saturday Properties, we don't view self-guided tours as a marketing tool. We view them as a core part of our operating strategy. By combining centralized leasing, AI-powered engagement, and Tour24 self-guided tours, we've built a model that allows a lean team to support more communities, capture demand outside business hours, and focus on the conversations that convert. Self-guided tours now generate approximately 62% of all our applications while creating more capacity across our leasing organization.”
Bethany Terry , Associate Director of Leasing
Headquarters Location
St. Louis Park, MN
Portfolio
1,700+ apartment homes across 15 multifamily communities
Property Type
Multifamily
Background
Technology alone doesn’t improve occupancy. Operating strategy does.
Saturday Properties views self-guided tours as more than a touring option. As part of its centralized leasing model, Tour24 enables prospects to tour when demand is highest while allowing leasing professionals to focus on the activities that move prospects toward a signed lease.
Rather than evaluating technology by features alone, Saturday Properties measures success by operational outcomes that directly impact portfolio performance.
Their strategy centers around three measurable objectives:
- Increase Tour Volume
- Decrease Vacancy Days
- Expand Leasing Staff Capacity
Results
Increase Tour Volume
Saturday Properties expanded tour availability without extending office hours or increasing staffing.
YTD Results
269 Total Tours
171 Self-Guided Tours
98 Agent-Led Tours
64% of prospects selected self-guided tours
73% same-day tours
76% toured within one hour
50% occurred outside business hours
Challenge
Like many operators, Saturday Properties faced increasing pressure to improve leasing performance without proportionally increasing staffing.
Traditional agent-led touring limited availability to office hours, creating missed opportunities with prospects who wanted immediate access.
The company needed an operating model that could:
- Capture demand outside business hours
- Support centralized leasing operations
- Reduce time between inquiry and application
- Increase productivity without adding onsite workload
The objective wasn’t simply to automate tours—it was to create a more efficient leasing operation.
Solution
Saturday Properties implemented Tour24 as part of a connected leasing strategy that combines centralized leasing, self-guided tours, and AI-powered engagement.
The operating model includes:
Home Finding Specialists → Tour24 Self-Guided Tours → ToriAI Prospect Engagement → Leasing Coordinator → Centralized Leasing Team
Each component performs a specialized role, allowing prospects to move through the leasing journey while freeing leasing professionals to focus on higher-value conversations.
Rather than replacing agent-led tours, self-guided tours became the foundation for expanding tour availability and improving operational efficiency.
Results
Decrease Vacancy Days
Removing friction from the touring experience accelerated the path from inquiry to lease.
Results
- 26 Applications
- 21 Leases
- 62% of applications originated from self-guided tours
Immediate tour availability allowed prospects to act while purchase intent was highest, helping reduce vacancy days across the portfolio.
Expand Leasing Staff Capacity
Self-guided tours created additional leasing capacity without increasing headcount.
Operational Impact
171 Self-Guided Tours × 45 Minutes = 128 Leasing Hours Reallocated
Those hours were redirected toward:
- Prospect follow-up
- Application management
- Resident engagement
- Lease conversion
- Relationship building
Rather than replacing leasing professionals, Tour24 allowed the same team to accomplish more.
Portfolio Impact
The value of self-guided tours extends well beyond completed tours.
Saturday Properties demonstrates how centralized leasing, AI-powered engagement, and self-guided tours work together as one operating strategy that delivers measurable business outcomes.
Operational Benefits
- More Tour Volume
- Fewer Vacancy Days
- Greater Leasing Staff Capacity
- Stronger Portfolio Performance
Across the Tour24 client portfolio, this operational approach contributes to an average 3× ROI, giving operators a scalable strategy for improving occupancy while controlling operating costs.