i can has real opinion?

February 21, 2008 12:14 PM

Apartment shopping: Is it acceptable to contact the current resident of an apartment unit we're moving into?

My wife and I are in the process to moving into a new apartment. We have the paperwork going and are on the "waiting list" for a specific apartment that the current residents are vacating next month.

Is it acceptable for us to contact them in some way to get their thoughts and opinions on the complex and the unit itself? I was thinking of leaving a note on their door with a request to email me to an address I just created but I don't want to be creepy-stalker-dude.

I checked the reviews online and the only complaints are thin floor and standard desert bugs, but as this unit is on the third and top floor, I wanted an accurate gauge.

posted by phritosan to Human Relations (12 answers total)

When I moved into an apartment building in Boston, MA I ended up contacting the person livnig in the apartment I was moving into. It worked out quite well because I ended up buying their window blinds. I don't know the ettiqute of doing this but I did - and it worked out well for me and I got a good idea of the place I was moving into. I think it would depend on the person who you end up contacting. Some people will think its weird and some will think its fine and be happy to chat...
posted by irisell at 12:22 PM on February 21, 2008

I emailed my future unit-next-door neighbor, whose contact information I found on his resume via Google. It was helpful. Why not do it? Best case you find out information that can help you avoid a bad living situation; worst case some stranger who you'll never interact with thinks you're a little strange.
posted by phoenixy at 12:35 PM on February 21, 2008

I probably wouldn't do it at all, but I guess there's nothing really wrong with contacting them. Instead of looking up their email address online (that IS kind of creepy) or slipping a note under their door, I'd recommend writing them a letter. I mean, hey, you know their address, right? You can give them your e-mail address and/or phone number in your letter, but at least receiving a letter is a little less awkward than knowing someone came by your house or was stalking you online.
posted by tastybrains at 12:39 PM on February 21, 2008

I did this before and they were fine with it. If it was me, I'd be happy to inform the future residents of what's going on in the building. Phone is impersonal enough, I think.
posted by ddaavviidd at 12:40 PM on February 21, 2008

No harm in leaving a note. If they think you are being rude they will ignore it. No harm done.
posted by PFL at 12:50 PM on February 21, 2008

Yeah, contact them in some undemanding way like the note. They can always ignore.
posted by d4nj450n at 12:51 PM on February 21, 2008

Yes, but the future tenants of our terrible apartment asked us about our experience while the landlord was showing them them apartment. We couldn't really tell them while the landlord was standing there that the management sucked, the apartment was a pile and that we were climbing up the walls in anticipation of moving.

So yeah, they may be reluctant to tell you any unfortunate truths about the apartment, lest the landlord be stingy with their security deposit once he/she learns that they scared you away. I would suggest maybe contacting a neighbor, rather than the people in your specific apartment.
posted by sian at 1:47 PM on February 21, 2008

It's perfectly acceptable to contact them, and a pretty good idea too.
posted by caddis at 2:45 PM on February 21, 2008

I say do it. I used to manage an apartment building and I always encouraged prospective tenants to talk to others in the building. It helped them determine the "vibe" and see if they meshed with the artsy-hipster group. I think it is a smart thing to do, find out if house rules exist, how maintanence issues are handled, if people are generally happy overall with the management and their units.
posted by 45moore45 at 2:52 PM on February 21, 2008

Someone did sorta this to me once, in that they were moving into the building in general, not my apartment in specific. It was a very odd call,

me "hello?"
female voice "Hi this patty"
male voice"and this is Jack"
in chorus "we're the griswolds!"
me "um, hi?"
female voice "we live in boston and were thinking about moving into your building...."

I found it an odd use of my resume, but tried to politely answer their questions, then went down to the apartment office to verify they'd heard of these people (they had). I thought little more of it until a month later, when someone stole my door mat. It was an ugly cheap thing, and my only theory of who/why is that the griswolds took it for some sort of odd sentimental value. I mean come on, they were the Griswolds.
posted by nomisxid at 3:19 PM on February 21, 2008

I'd do it.

I haven't done it in the past and deeply, sincerely regretted it last year when my to-be landlady trash-talked the former resident. I had her name, but I never looked her up, and I think that if I had she could have spared me some of the grief that I went through with that place.

Seconding doing it by letter, e.g. MAILED letter to decrease the creepy/stalker effect. Be apologetic and friendly, and understand if you never get a response.
posted by arnicae at 4:56 PM on February 21, 2008

I did this for my current apartment, although the last tenant was a mother of my brother's friend and so not a complete stranger. Would definitely recommend it regardless. I learned that the basement flooded, which I doubt the landlord would've told me (I moved in anyways)
posted by boreddusty at 7:16 AM on February 22, 2008