When searching for apartments, you’ll probably want to know everything about the communities you’re interested in. You’ll look at pictures, read property descriptions, take virtual tours, scope out available floor plans, and peruse amenities. You may also read some online reviews.
Reviews can be tricky. On one hand, seeing what other residents think of the apartment community gives you great insight into what it’s like to live there. But how reliable are online reviews? How useful are they when comparing properties? To find out, let’s analyze apartment reviews in this review reviewing reviews. (In other words … it’s review time.)
How to Read an Apartment Review
Let’s deconstruct apartment reviews and locate those golden nuggets of information. If you know what to look for as you read reviews, you’ll be able to get the most out of them. Here are some things to consider when reading reviews:
The date
First, check the date. An older review can still provide insight, but you don’t know what has changed since then. Is the property under new management? Have there been personnel changes? Has the property undergone renovations? These changes likely wouldn’t be reflected in a review that’s more than a year old, so keep that in mind when reading older reviews.
The author’s motives
The motives behind the review are important. When everything is fine, people are less likely to write a review. Reviewers are often motivated by extreme feelings, either positive or negative. If a negative review seems vindictive, it’s probably a good idea to discount that review, especially if all the other reviews are more positive. This reviewer likely just wanted to vent, and their experience won’t necessarily be your experience.
An author motivated by sheer delight might write a glowing review because they want to share their discovery with the world. They’re excited and it shows. The apartment community is probably amazing to inspire such enthusiasm, but this reviewer may overlook specific details in their rush to share their joy. While these reviews are fun to read (lots of capital letters and exclamation points), you’ll probably get more help from an objective, balanced review. These reviews can provide you valuable information that you can use when deciding what questions you'd like to ask the property manager.
The star rating
It is very common to see reviews at the low or high end of the star rating since these are the motivated authors. While there are usually fewer scores in the middle — the three and four-star reviews — these tend to be more detailed and objective. While you’ll want to read all of the reviews when looking at apartments, you’ll likely gain more insight from the middle reviews.
The attention to detail
A vague review with little detail may be the work of a fake poster. Sometimes called a “review troll,” this person never actually lived at the apartment community. They simply enjoy posting fake or misleading complaints on review websites to see what kind of response they can get. The “issues” are often the same and are typically rather vague. If you are reading reviews on Apartments.com, you're less likely to see these types of reviews since the reviews go through a manual approval process, but it's good to know what to watch out for. You may come across a review that’s a generic complaint about pests. They don’t offer any details, but they will make a blanket statement like, “This place is overrun by roaches!” They may also complain about “terrible management” and tell you to “never rent here,” but they don’t provide anything specific because they don’t know anything about the property. If you look at multiple review sites, you may see the same review posted several times, a sign that it is likely a fake review.
The length of the review
A helpful reviewer will give you specific details about what they like or don’t like about living at the community, and these detailed assessments tend to be longer than other reviews. Take the time to read through these because you’ll probably find great information to help you make an informed decision.
The most helpful reviews will cover every aspect of the apartment community, from the office staff to maintenance requests to the fitness center. They’ll share personal experiences and provide a glimpse into what your life might be like if you choose to rent there.
For example, while researching reviews for this article, I found one that said, “There’s coffee in the leasing office at all times. I stop in every morning on my way to work.” This is great information if I’m a coffee drinker who doesn't have time to make coffee in the morning, but it also lets me know that the apartment community is involved and caring because they make coffee for residents all day long.
Read Multiple Reviews
As you read reviews, a clear picture will begin to emerge about the apartment community. The things residents truly enjoy will become clear, since those things will likely be mentioned by multiple reviewers. If there is a real issue, that will become clear, as well. By getting an objective view of the community, you’ll be able to weigh the pros and cons and decide whether you want to take a tour or apply online.
Where to Find Reviews on Apartments.com
There are a variety of websites where you can read reviews, including Apartments.com. When you conduct a search and select a property, you’ll find the reviews located about halfway down the page (just below the property’s office hours). You’ll see the average rating, which is determined by combining renter reviews with property features such as building design, construction, exterior spaces, and amenities. Below the overall score, you’ll be able to sort the reviews by most recent, most helpful, or by rating (low to high or high to low).
Once you’ve found the ideal apartment, you might want to help others find their dream home. You want to write an inspiring, detailed, and thoughtful review. If you aren’t sure how to do that, let’s move on to writing reviews.
How to Write an Apartment Review
Aim for balance
In your review, describe the things you like about your apartment community. If there are things you think an apartment hunter might want to know (like the coffee in the leasing office), share those things, as well. Information about the amenities, maintenance, the staff, and the overall atmosphere will all be appreciated by those reading your review. What challenges might a resident face? For example, is it difficult for visitors to find parking? If there is an issue, what solutions or workarounds have you found?
Be honest
Well-written reviews can be incredibly useful to those looking for a place to live. To achieve a well-written review, just be honest. If you described the apartment community to a friend considering moving to the community, what would you tell them? That open, honest advice will make your review very helpful to those reading it.
Give dates
Let people know the date you moved to the community and how long you’ve lived there. Are you a long-time resident or did you just move in? This will give those reading your review a better understanding of your experience.
Offer advice
When you were searching for an apartment, what would you have wanted to know? These tips are very helpful. For example, when is the best time to contact the office? What’s the best way to submit a maintenance request? Does the community have get-togethers or events you’d recommend?
Stay on topic
To keep your review relevant and helpful, stick to the topic of what it’s like to live at the apartment community. Avoid writing negative or personal things about individuals. Try to remain objective, and make sure you use appropriate language (many sites, including Apartments.com, will remove a review that uses inflammatory language or profanity).
If you decide you want to submit a review on Apartments.com, you can click “Write a Review,” located just below the average rating. If you’d like to know more about leaving reviews on Apartments.com, be sure to visit the Apartments.com Help Center. Now, go forth and review. Or view reviews. Or even review reviews!
