The double-edged sword that is ApartmentRatings.com

[cmeador]

Apartment shopping is really hard. Every time I see a place that looks promising, I end up reading a real mixed bag of reviews on apartmentratings.com. As much as I want to avoid brown recluse spiders, car break-ins, and sloppy management, I am starting to wonder just how accurately the reviews actually reflect the apartments. I mean, some of

Comments

[betacentauri]

Nothing will beat an in-person review of a candidate location. Just look for something basic since you aren't planning to stay in it for very long. I've never been bothered by anyone at my apartments, and I mostly keep to myself, so I'm not sure how much reports of "crime" are useful. Noise -- you can't really tell where there'll be jackass neighbors that'll play loud music all night until you move in. Can try for a corner apartment or at least a complex not known for college students, etc.

I'd make sure I really liked Nashville before buying something there.

If all of this is obvious to you, my apologies. Just trying to help. :)

[cmeador]

Painfully obvious, I appreciate it though. ;)

[roamer1]

The ratings for apartments in Atlanta in general seem heavily skewed toward the low end of the scale, which means one of two things -- a) apartments in Atlanta almost universally suck or b) people who are happy just aren't rating anything. I suspect it's b) more than anything else...people who are unhappy with a product or service typically make their unhappiness known far and wide, while those who are happy typically aren't nearly as vocal.

[cmeador]

Yup. The whole website concept is flawed because they don't have any sort of sampling, even if we assume that all of the comments are legit.

It would be nice if the apartment people would allow a website like this to solicit the residents properly (i.e. scientific survey, random sampling, etc.) The only reason such a service doesn't already exist must be because the complexes are unwilling to participate, that's my guess at least.

[igz00]

Calling the pizza places is a good idea, they usually have all the good gossip about crime, noise, safety, what kind of people live there, etc. Though, it may be the strangest call they've ever gotten.

Good idea!

[anonymous]

Calling pizza delivery folks is a good idea! They will have that inside knowledge but do not have an axe to grind with any particular property.

Chuck and I have lived in many apts and it really is a crapshoot. We usually consider the following:
1. Do they have 24 hour maintenance for emergencies?
2. How well do they keep up the exterior areas? Appearance isn't everything, but it shows how concerned they are with their public image.
3. Check out the cars in the parking spaces. Are they all junkers? Or are they a decent mix of moderate to nice cars?
4. Look at the residents' balconies/patios. Is the property management allowing residents to hang laundry/store crap that is visible from the street?

Just a few ideas. There are many things you can live with, and you can't really control the asshat potential of your neighbors. Best of luck, bro.

Melissa