Read reviews when looking for apartments

[Mumpu]

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Probably obvious advice, but I strongly urge everyone to read reviews (e.g. www.apartmentreviews.net) when looking for apartments. I just checked out a place that looked quite fabulous in person but the reviews are chock full of complaints about noisy walls and dirt.

 

[dynamite]

Probably obvious advice, but I strongly urge everyone to read reviews (e.g. www.apartmentreviews.net) when looking for apartments. I just checked out a place that looked quite fabulous in person but the reviews are chock full of complaints about noisy walls and dirt.

I agree except you have to do with a grain of kosher salt cause I think some reviews are by the management and some are from competitors. Some of the reviews are just too general. I basically try to weed through till I get to one that has specific bad experiences that happened and I basically disregard all good reviews.

 

[jschwartz]

just wanted to add www.apartmentratings.com
generally there'll always be more complainers than praisers, but I'm wary if there is a theme among negative comments.

 

[lilycat]

I agree except you have to do with a grain of kosher salt cause I think some reviews are by the management and some are from competitors. Some of the reviews are just too general. I basically try to weed through till I get to one that has specific bad experiences that happened and I basically disregard all good reviews.

I agree with dynamite. On one hand, it's helpful to see if there is a trend of negative reviews with very specific examples of what is bad (ie, one complex I was looking at in Santa Monica apparently has a ton of issues with crime, pet waste, garbage, etc. -- and it looked amazing in the online ads!). However, I was really surprised at some of the poor ratings my own apt. complex got. I thought that some of the complaints were ridiculous and off-base (ie, fines for leaving garbage outside the front door). I get the feeling that people with positive experiences don't bother to rate and those that have either an axe to grind or who had some truly awful experience (either the management's fault or the renter's fault) are the ones who write a lot of the posts. Also, some of the reviews just reek of management or the competition.

 

[OUsooner]

I'm moving to Chicago and it seems EVERY apartment I'm checking out has less than or barely above a 50% approval rating. EVERY apartment I've looked at in downtown chicago area has MULTIPLE posts which are very negative at apartmentreviews.com. Just wondering if anyone else is running into this problem in other larger cities.

 

[Lloyd Christmas]

I'm moving to Chicago and it seems EVERY apartment I'm checking out has less than or barely above a 50% approval rating. EVERY apartment I've looked at in downtown chicago area has MULTIPLE posts which are very negative at apartmentreviews.com. Just wondering if anyone else is running into this problem in other larger cities.

Yup. In the city I am moving to, it seems like no apartment complex is livable according to these review sites, either that or they all are falling apart and the management are such bad people that they just randomly come along and kick your dog or yell at your little kids (as exaggerations). But I think a few of the bad reviews may be exaggerations, but if there is a place with say 32 bad reviews, as was the case for a few apts with very specific complaints, then I may head that warning. That is also why you go and do a walk through of any place you may like and make sure to get everything in writing at lease signing time.
But this whole process pretty much sucks.

 

[ORBITAL BEBOP]

I am moving to Chicago in June and have found the same problem you have. Have you found any good ones? What side of chicago will you be living on?

 

[OUsooner]

I am moving to Chicago in June and have found the same problem you have. Have you found any good ones? What side of chicago will you be living on?

Orbital Bebop, I am doing my transitional yr at Swedish Covenant on the north side of Chicago. I am lookin for places to live in Lakeview, Gold Coast, River North, Streeterville (the furthest south that I could conceivably do), and Lincoln Park (although apparently there is mostly street parking, which won't work for me in Lincoln Park). I am hoping to spend 1250 MAX w/ parking included for a descent place - not sure if this is possible.

So far I have found nothing without poor reviews - and like I said more than one or two poor reviews.

As an example I had friends who lived in McClurg Court in Chicago 3 yrs ago and loved it. It has great views and is a bit pricey for convertibles (a studio on 'roids) but seemed alright by them. I checked out the reviews, and much like every other apartment they have "new mgt", who are actually partnered with the devil himself (what are the odds?).

Let me know if you are finding anything. Good luck.

 

[KluverBucy]

Let me know if you are finding anything. Good luck.

i never want to see this out of you again. sadly your sexuality is now in question.

 

[Hellboy]

listen to a song called "Mile End" by Pulp
it will cheer you up 🙂