Are you moving to a new apartment? Finding a good one can be a challenge. Over the years, my wife and I have packed up and moved
many times. We've learned a few things about investigating new
apartment communities. Here are some tips to help you thoroughly scope
out an apartment complex before you sign a lease:
1. Apartment Ratings.
The best way to learn about an apartment complex is by talking to
tenants. The next best thing is to read reviews posted online by
tenants. Apartmentratings.com
has lots of anonymous reviews for complexes all over the United States.
However, beware of positive reviews that are written by people working
in the rental office. Pay attention to well-written negative reviews
that mention bugs, plumbing problems or rats.
2. Craigslist.
The rants and raves section of Craigslist is a place for locals to air
their gripes about things in their communities. If you ask about a
well-known complex on Craigslist, you might get some very candid
answers. While some responses may be completely fictional fabrications
by Internet trolls and others may be politically incorrect rants, there
may be a kernel of truth in some of the feedback your get about
apartment complexes.
3. Online Discussion Forums. You can ask
about well known apartment complexes in online discussion forums like
CityProfile.com or City-Data.com. A few good questions about crime,
safety, fire protection, schools, and neighborhoods can yield a lot of
valuable information. You can learn a great deal about neighborhoods and
apartment complexes.
4. Personal Tour. If you live
near your prospective new complex, take an in personal tour of the
apartment complex. You can examine the fixtures and ask questions from
the rental office staff. Tour the actual apartment that you'll live in
so that you can ensure that it is up to your standards.
5. Spotcrime.
Google's maps and "street view" photos make it easy to see what your
apartment complex looks like. But, if you really want to know what's
going on, search for your area on Spotcrime.com. The Spot Crime website
will provide a detailed street-level map with all the crime incidents in
a specified area and time frame.
Moving is always a leap of
faith. These tips should make moving a little less scary and increase
the odds of your moving to a great community.
[By L Spain. This post was originally published on Yahoo Voices on July 21, 2012.]
No comments:
Post a Comment