I feel this website should have an in-depth disclaimer. Don’t misunderstand me; there are indeed some very undesirable communities out there. And there are certainly unprofessional management firms/owners. And in theory this would be a wonderful tool.
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<br>However, this site is not a fair rating system. It is nowhere near balanced, and should not be a deciding factor for those in the market for a new place to live.
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<br>Angry customers are 10 to 12 times more likely to voice an opinion than a happy one. For instance we do not often say, “I just love grocery store X, they are always kind, the store is clean, and parking is great!” However when we are unsatisfied with the service, we complain to our friends and family, we may write letters to customer service, and some will post opinions on the internet.
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<br>There are no safeguards in place to prevent repetitive posting by one irate, ill-tempered resident. Unfortunately, the relationship between a resident and management can go sour quite quickly. When dealing with a person’s home, we are dealing with strong feelings. I have seen people become quite upset and derogatory when asked to remove BBQ’s from decks, or to refrain from playing music loud after “quiet time”.
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<br>Aptratings.com does not have the ability to verify claims. Posts may be untrue and one-sided. This is an unfortunate effect of anonymity on the internet. People may say just about anything they like, regardless of the honesty that may be lacking in such statements.
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<br>Professional management is crucial in quality apartment home living. Maintenance and grounds keeping are absolutely priceless when provided by well-trained service people. However any apartment community is only as good as the people who call it home. If residents are unclean and disrespectful to the community in which they live: they will live in a community, which is unclean and disrespectful. Those who treat their neighbors in the manor they themselves expect, while making the community their home, will enjoy an experience that is pleasant and rewarding.
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<br>Litter, crime prevention, parking, etc…all issues that residents of every community have some degree of control over. Residents will state they are moving due to the noisy neighbors below. Ask if they had reported the problem to the office…the answer is often no. Nor have they attempted to work it out with the neighbor involved.
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<br>My suggestion to those who are perusing these pages in search for the next apartment home…choose several communities based on location, price, amenities, and design. Visit these communities in person. Ask the important questions such as crime preventive measures, maintenance response time, and residential policies. Drive through the community. If residents are in the common areas, ask their opinion of the apartment community in which they live. Visit the Property Management’s website and make note of the portfolio, years in the business, and the mission. Most importantly, take the information found here with a grain of salt.
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