Due to some recent changes, I need to move to an apartment. I’ve seen a few really nice places but reading online reviews makes me wonder if there are any good apartments.
The majority reviews are very negative. Any advice on looking for an apartment and how much weight should online reviews be given. I know many reviewers review only when there is a problem. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
IMHO, online reviews are heavily skewed towards the negative. (as mentioned in OP)
If you’re happy or content with something, how likely are you to talk a lot about it? Or are you more likely to not even think of it?
On the other hand, if you’re pissed off about something, you may be feeling like venting. If nothing else, just to ‘get back’ at the offending party.
So, IMHO, take neg reviews with a grain of salt.
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AncientHumaniod is correct in that people with an axe to grind are far more likely to leave a rating. the important thing is to look at the nature of the ratings. If the complaints are petty BS like “they wouldn’t do anything about my neighbor’s cat meowing outside my door” then you can ignore them. Yes, there are people who will bitch about stuff like that.
if the negative reviews are for things like problems with the building and/or a slow or non-existent response from management, that’s more significant.
You should also look for problems that get mentioned in multiple reviews. Those are much more likely to be real.
I know when I’m looking at Yelp reviews I can often read negative reviewers other reviewers and either determine they have terrible taste and/or work for a competing business.
In my experience apartment living is terrible though, so they could be legit.
I hear a lot of people say that, but I guess I’m the luckiest son of a bitch around. I’ve lived in one apartment for 11 years and my only complaints are petty and minor. The buildings were put up in the early '60s; they have substantial walls so I don’t have to hear people fucking or arguing, management is responsive to maintenance requests, and so on. The only real gripe I have is with the water pressure, but water is included in rent so I’m sure they have incentive to try to minimize that cost.
the only thing which is going to drive me out of here is the prohibition on parking motorcycles inside the complex.
Your best bet is asking people who live in the building about their experiences. Spend a while in the common areas just asking people the ups and downs.
My building has terrible reviews because the staff isn’t particularly friendly. They do their job and stuff gets done efficiently enough, but there aren’t a lot of smiles or "good morning, sir"s. That’s fine with me, I don’t really mind if the desk clerk is playing Candy Crush all day, as long as I can eventually get their attention. The rent is cheap and the rooms are big, so I’m happy.
But someone else might hate that, and they are the ones writing reviews.