Apartment reviews are an interesting strategy. However one must consider the source of the reviews. In my opinion, there are basically 3 types of reviewers in the U.S.:
Ok, so you are back to square one! - You cannot trust tenant reviews, there is no media coverage or third party critics to speak of, and you have no friends or family members who can give you a heads up. (I) approximately ten years ago, Houston apartment management companies had you sign and 6 -12 month lease and you were locked into a contract. Today, there are still contracts but many apartment complexes in Houston(and nationwide) actually offer a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. Please note that most of the properties that you find from the Apartment Owners on this site offer this (peace of mind) benefit. (II) Sign a short term lease (usually 1-3 months) in order for you to have an earlier exit strategy if it doesn't go quite as you expected. The only problem with short term leases is that most always charge a premium for shorter terms. Final Thoughts - You can read reviews and be misinformed, or get a referral from a friend or relative and/or focus on the management companies who offer satisfaction guarantees. Good Luck! |
About the Author |
Mr. Johnson has been in the rental and resale Real Estate Business since 1992. http://www.houstonapartments.com/ was started in 1996 and is a great source for a fast, user freindly site for houston apartment rental information with photos and multiple search capabilities. |
Article By: David Johnson
Gary AndersonMonday, September 9, 2013
I've reviewed and found many apartment locators to be sub-par. I've used this service for years and send all my friends and family there as well.