I was interested in renting at the Reserve a few months ago. I was impressed by how well the grounds were kept and the seemingly professional demeanor of the staff. The floorplans are also spacious, which is important. I looked at a unit and immediately completed an application to lease a 3rd floor apartment with a view of the lake for $655/mo. which was an AWESOME rate. The whole time, the office people were telling me how I was getting it for a steal. I left Memphis the next day for a business trip.

On that day, I received a call from the leasing agent informing me that there was a discrepancy with SafeRent (the screening company) with regard to my SSN and birthday. We couldn't move forward until that was taken care of. After the initial call, The Reserve was not helpful at all and did not tell me anything new unless I called them first. I verified my info with the Social Security Administration during a 3 minute phone call, but had to submit a form to SafeRent to have them release my file, then submit ANOTHER form to have them reinvestigate any inaccurate info upon receiving it. Everything with them is automoated if you call, and any e-mail inquiries will be met with the standard dismissive reply that directs to you the FAQ that answers absolutely nothing. To make a long story short, it took SafeRent an entire month to FAX (not mail) a copy of my consumer report, which showed no noticeable differences between what they had on my file and my real information. I never had the file reinvestigated because there was no good reason to do so based on what I saw in it.

Once I went back to them with report in hand to try to put the situation to rest (about a month later), I was told that I would have to redo the application process, give them new deposit checks, and pay $810/mo. for the same type of unit as opposed to the $655. Their justification was that rental rates are only good for 24 hours. Needless to say, I said no thanks and went down the street to my 2nd choice (who also uses SafeRent). I filled out an application there and was approved within 2 days. I'm getting a SLIGHTLY less attractive rate than the Reserve's initial offer, but it's WAAAAY better than their second one. Plus, it's only smaller by 50 square feet. The layout is done very well and the size difference is negligible. In terms of visuals, it doesn't compare to a lake view, but we're just talking about apartments. I hope to relocate from Memphis in the next couple of years anyway.

The Reserve clearly tanked my application with SafeRent to keep from having to honor the $655 rental rate. If the deal sounds too good to be true, it is. They'll get you excited about the apartment, then snatch the rug from underneath you and try to sell it to you at a higher price. I have no idea why because I'm sure SOMEONE got that rate during that month...or maybe not. There was definitely some funny business going on there, and the possible explanations are endless. If you've got the money to spend and aren't a person of principle, then more power to you. Personally, I don't want to stay at a place where there's that much drama involved in just getting in! Also, PRAY that you never have to deal with First Advantage SafeRent, because you are literally at their mercy and they go out of their way to insulate themselves from consumers. I was on the verge of contacting the Better Business Bureau, but they finally faxed my report.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 04/24/2008
I went in and viewed an apartment on a Sunday afternoon @ the Reserve also when they had AWESOME rates. I went in looked @ a 1053sqft 1 bedroom for $680/month. I took home the app and returned it the next day to pre-lease the amount, since it would not be available for another month. I looked again at the Reserve's website, a couple of days later, for a friend of mine an apt and the rates had gone up to $845 for the same floor plan, same view, same floor level. I am a Real Estate Accountant for CBRE and know that what the Reserve is practicing is logical. Whenever the market rate goes up or down in that area, for whatever real estate it may be (land, suite space in a plaza, office space, retail space, residential, etc.), the property manager who is trying to lease space in that property will adjust the rental rates for the market rate at that time. I preleased my apartment for the $680/month rate, lease I signed was for $680/month and I have been paying $680/month. Ohh and it didnt take but 5 mins for them to run my information through SafeRent to approve the application. I hate your experience for the initial rental wasnt as pleasant as mines. Now a few months from now I will let you know how everything else is going....

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