Waltham’s Currents on the Charles tries to draw renters with a twist on the usual perks
The luxury apartment complex is looking to attract new tenants with a big cash prize.
A luxury apartment complex located along the Charles River in Waltham is offering renters the chance to win $5,000 if they submit a lease application before July 1.
The Currents on the Charles complex may have hit on an unorthodox method for drawing renters, but the contest is just the latest twist on a trend of perks meant to hook high-end clients. Luxury buildings in Greater Boston have recently been offering to pay broker’s fees, pick up a month or more of rent, or hand renters gift cards worth hundreds of dollars.
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Currents, which has been open since mid-December, has more than 70 percent of its units leased, according to property manager Jessica Lee. One-bedroom units start at $2,095 a month.
Residents who have already signed a lease are eligible to win the five grand if they write a review or if they refer a new tenant. Lee said the contest has created a lot of buzz among applicants.
“We’re getting some great feedback,’’ Lee told Boston.com. “Many people have never heard of anyone doing this.’’
Lee said this is not a tactic the complex needs to resort to in order to attract new tenants. Instead, she said the “Currents Cash’’ event is just an out-of-the-box tactic Currents’ parent company, the Bozzuto Group, uses to attract new lessees. Prizes at other Bozzuto properties have included a vacation getaway.
So far, the contest has received about three dozen entries but Lee expects more will enter as the contest deadline looms.
When the winnner is selected, Currents will have a large booth on hand that will send money flying while an occupant tries to grab as much as possible. But Lee said the winner ultimately gets the full $5,000 cash prize, regardless of how much they are able to catch in the booth.
“As people move they like to get new furniture and are definitely excited about the possibility of getting some additional cash in their pockets,’’ said Lee.
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