Wanted: Apartment advice

[BookstoreEscapee]

OK, there is an apartment available November 15th. It is upstairs (we want that). We have an appointment to go put down a deposit on Saturday (assuming we decide to do it).

One reservation I have is that we cannot see the actual apartment because there is still someone living there. We have seen the model, but that is only one bedroom, so we haven't seen how the 2 bedroom is actually laid out or how big the rooms really are. We have the floorplan from the brochure, and assuming it is accurate, the second bedroom is about the size of my current bedroom. The master bedroom is a LOT bigger. I am totally willing to pay extra to get the bigger room, but we really haven't discussed that yet. I don't want a huge disparity to cause problems. I talked to one person who also had the issue of having to decide without seeing the place. Things turned out relatively OK for him. I talked to another friend who says we shouldn't do it without seeing it.

I also found, in my internet hunting, a site where people can rate apartments. This place has some really bad reviews (2 of them just from September). Now, for all I know they are written by the same disgruntled person. I try not to pay too much attention but it floats in the back of my head. However one theme I see is that the woman in the office is not very nice or forthcoming when there are problems (she's only nice until you sign the lease, apparently). Even the good reviewer said that. Of course, if there are no problems we probably wouldn't have to deal with her much. Other complaints are about bugs and mice...whether that's a problem with the apartment or the tenant, I don't know.

So I'm not sure what to do here...any advice?

[Andara Bledin]

Other complaints are about bugs and mice...whether that's a problem with the apartment or the tenant, I don't know.

So I'm not sure what to do here...any advice?

I can't help you with the rest, but if there are bugs around, get some Sevin Dust. Deals with them a treat, is as harmless to vertibrates as a bug poison is going to get, and the biggest issue is to not use it near waterfowl breeding grounds or bodies of water they breed around.

^-.-^

[digilight]

You could always walk around the complex and talk to current tenents and find out their opinion. Maybe you can find someone with the same model you are looking at and agree to let you see it. Be careful if you go this route, don't go in the apartment with a ax murderer or anything.

[blas]

Sometimes you have to take ratings with a grain of salt.

If me and my ex roomate were to rate our old apartment, we'd both give it a low rating. Because the landlords are money hungry mongrels who don't appreciate good tenants when they have them, they give no notice before remodeling or projects being done to the building, they just show up whever they feel like it, they will charge you your firstborn child if you don't clean the toilet properly before you leave.......

Bear in mind, I have already advised everyone I know who is apartment hunting to NOT go with this landlord company.

Tenants who have had bad experiences will give low ratings. You can't always tell if they had a legitimate reason to hate the place, or if it was someone who was angry because they were evicted for not paying rent.

This is a toughie!

[Giggle Goose]

I took a chance and signed the lease for my apartment without looking at it first, even though we had seen the model. It didn't look too much different from the model, and we fixed it up so nice and pretty!!!! :D I couldn't be happier; and the staff is very nice and helpful.

But I was so desperate to get out of my mom's house that even bugs or mice would be better than living with her and my sister and little brother. I think I've said it before and I'll say it again: I've seen frat houses that are cleaner.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Well, we've decided to go for it. Tomorrow we go with the deposit. Wish me luck :)

[Jester]

I hope you don't.

Here's why:

1. They are making no effort to let you see the actual apartment. Think about this. The current tenants are moving out, so they have to know that someone will be moving in to their vacated apartment. Yet the management of the complex has made no effort to arrange some time when the current tenants will be home for you to look inside.

2. The good review of the place said that the management is very unhelpful when there is a problem of any sort.

3. The theme of bugs and mice seemed to be prevalent in the reviews, not in just one, but in several, if I read you right.

I have never and would never move into a place I have not personally seen, let alone put down a deposit for same. You have no idea what, if anything, could be wrong with the place. It doesn't sound like the best place to live, personally, and if I were you (and I know I'm not), I would keep looking for something better.

Just my opinions. :wave: