Quote:
Originally Posted by sundaze
Take the ratings on Apartmentratings.com with a grain of salt, maybe a whole shaker of salt. I don't know about Raleigh but where I live people who are unhappy tend to post angry ratings about perfectly nice places. Also, management can post glowing ratings about places with big problems. Best to look for yourself and ask a lot of questions.
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I met one apartment manager who boasted they were highly rated on apartmentratings.com
things that make you go hmmm...
If the management / apartment owner boasts about apartmentratings.com, you can be sure that they will post some glowing reports. I rejected any place that had a rating below 50%. One negative report I saw was from one guy lived in 5 apartments in 5 years. No pleasing some people.
My Dad always said, "if you want to find the truth, you follow the money." Apartmentratings could be skewed by those with financial motivation.
I wandered around, and talked to residents that I met. My wife hates it when I do this, but these people have no financial motivation to lie. "I'm looking for an apartment, how do you like it here? Do things get fixed quikly, is it quiet?" Being a man, if I was by myself, I would only talk to men. A woman might feel uncomfortable talking to a strange man. Can't blame her. If you're a woman, talk to the women. If you're man talk to the men. If you're there as a couple, you can talk to any resident.
Just as a mutual fund's performance depends on the fund manager, a great deal of apartment life depends on the manager. Are they cutting costs, or pleasing the customers? I would ask how long the manager has been running the complex. A good approval rating + a manager who has been there 3 years + happy residents =
Most of my note taking was done with a camera. Pics downloaded into a laptop at the end of the day. The name of the complex, pool, parking, grounds, nice cars or beaters, nice things as well as bad (a clean pool or this piece of siding is rotting away). Is it an easy right turn at the exit, or will you be waiting to make a left turn across 4 lanes of traffic?
I also checked out my cellphone coverage. Took a picture using hand gestures to indicate # of signal bars. Hey, I'm an engineer. My Illinois-based work protects Navy Seals, First Responders, and the President. I can't help myself...
And yes... I
AM a geek. Thank you very much
At the end of the day, we compared places visited, pick
one favorite for the day cross off the others. Otherwise they blur together.
Stop at a nice restaurant. Have a drink. Sleep. Tell your wife you love her, even though she hates you right now. Didn't take a vacation day like she wanted. This is business.
Visit the apartment again. At night. Would my wife feel safe? Listen to your gut.
One apartment that my wife loved during the day, had 6 burned out lights in the parking lot. Maybe they'll replace them when 12 lights are burned out. No lighting at the apartment entrance. Many shadows for evil-doers to... well...do evil.
One complex that looked great during the day, had a wide open garage at night. The complex was re-roofing the garage, re-doing some siding, and one garage door was completely removed. To protect the owner's belongings, the complex put up one Yellow Caution ribbon. Anyone want a free couch? How about a wine fridge? I would never live in a place that had such a cavalier disregard for resident's property.
The apartment we picked had all of the lights lit. Excellent lighting on the buildings. A resasonable amount of open parking spaces at 9PM. The manager told me which apartment was going to be open. I circled that building like a hawk. One our third visit, I met two of my neighbors. A 70 y.o.grandmother downstairs, a nice young lady next door. Her name tag indicated she works at the complex office. If there are any problems. Retirees are the best neighbors. You have a set of eyes there 24/7.
We all have to identify the things that are important to us,
and work to fit our own (perhaps quirky) needs.
I have to be overly cautious, since my wife & son will be alone while I complete business in Chicago. Of course, the nicer the apartment, the higher the rent. This was my 5th visit to Raleigh. The first 3 visits were dedicated to finding a good school for my son.
Pick up apartment keys Aug 12
Air mattress camping in the apartment.
School Parent orientation Aug 16.
Return to Illinois for the movers packup Aug 20.
Aug 21, sleeping on a matress on the floor in the Illinois house.
Mortgage is paid off, so I can afford to rent an apartment and fly down to see my family every 2 weeks. A bit stressful, but we've had to put up with more nonsense at work... I'll move when I find a job that I will love. You have a great job when you dream about work.
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