How OK is ApartmentRatings.com?
October 4, 2011 5:18 AM Subscribe
How OK is ApartmentRatings.com?
I've been checking out ApartmentRatings.com and see that almost all apartments have negative reviews? I've been talking to managers and they say that they say they almost always know who writes the negative reviews and those were really problem tenants? How can I find a good apartment in my area? Is there a better place to look for real information on apartments? Thanks.
I've been checking out ApartmentRatings.com and see that almost all apartments have negative reviews? I've been talking to managers and they say that they say they almost always know who writes the negative reviews and those were really problem tenants? How can I find a good apartment in my area? Is there a better place to look for real information on apartments? Thanks.
This post was deleted for the following reason: This has been deleted before, and doesn't seem like a question that is being asked in good faith. -- taz
When I worked in the restaurant industry I was told that if the customer had a really bad experience, they are likely to tell 10 people about it, however, if they customer had a really good experience, they are likely to tell 5 people. The idea is that people with bad experiences are more likely to be vocal than people with good experiences. I imagine the same thing applies to apartment ratings.
Also, you need to be careful on ApartmentRatings.com because landlords can have bad reviews expunged, or they can even write their own comments posing as a former tenant.
posted by nikkorizz at 5:27 AM on October 4, 2011
Also, you need to be careful on ApartmentRatings.com because landlords can have bad reviews expunged, or they can even write their own comments posing as a former tenant.
posted by nikkorizz at 5:27 AM on October 4, 2011
Ugh...I have a love hate relationship with that site. We recently moved from NYC to Charlotte and needed to find a place. Not knowing the area like at all, other then a few short trips for my interview and background check, all we really had to rely on when trying to find a place was ApartmentRatings.com and we found the same problem...most all of the listings were at like a 50% or lower score.
After a point we just made a list of a few places to check out, score be dammed. We love where we are now, haven't had a single problem other then routine maintenance stuff which was fixed quickly, but if I remember right I think it had a 'score' of around 65%.
posted by Captain_Science at 5:43 AM on October 4, 2011
After a point we just made a list of a few places to check out, score be dammed. We love where we are now, haven't had a single problem other then routine maintenance stuff which was fixed quickly, but if I remember right I think it had a 'score' of around 65%.
posted by Captain_Science at 5:43 AM on October 4, 2011
Take it with a pinch of salt. We googled and asked current tenants when we met them on the property visit.
posted by arcticseal at 5:43 AM on October 4, 2011
posted by arcticseal at 5:43 AM on October 4, 2011
I've done walk-throughs of a fair number of apartment complexes all over the country, and I often check out their ratings on ApartmentRatings.com out of curiosity.
The worst places have the most reviews, so if you're looking at a place with more than, say, five negative reviews, I'd be concerned. If it has more than 15-20 negative reviews, run away. Also, look at the content of the reviews. If you have two negative reviews because "the apartment doesn't offer the luxury options I expect at this price range" I would not consider it an issue. Any safety or vermin issues should be taken more seriously, especially ones that are noted by more than one reviewer.
If the page has 80% negative reviews and then two reviews saying things like "The new management is awesome! I don't know why everyone is so upset! The girls at the main office are always so nice, especially Jill!" it's a bad sign. I've never actually asked the leasing agents about this, but they have to be the ones leaving those two positive reviews.
I just looked up a really nice, well-run complex I visited a little while ago, and it has *no* ratings -- if nobody is angry enough to complain, that's a good thing.
posted by pie ninja at 5:57 AM on October 4, 2011
The worst places have the most reviews, so if you're looking at a place with more than, say, five negative reviews, I'd be concerned. If it has more than 15-20 negative reviews, run away. Also, look at the content of the reviews. If you have two negative reviews because "the apartment doesn't offer the luxury options I expect at this price range" I would not consider it an issue. Any safety or vermin issues should be taken more seriously, especially ones that are noted by more than one reviewer.
If the page has 80% negative reviews and then two reviews saying things like "The new management is awesome! I don't know why everyone is so upset! The girls at the main office are always so nice, especially Jill!" it's a bad sign. I've never actually asked the leasing agents about this, but they have to be the ones leaving those two positive reviews.
I just looked up a really nice, well-run complex I visited a little while ago, and it has *no* ratings -- if nobody is angry enough to complain, that's a good thing.
posted by pie ninja at 5:57 AM on October 4, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by quodlibet at 5:20 AM on October 4, 2011