(no subject)

[amandac777]

Does anyone know how much weight you should give online apartment ratings? I've been searching through apartments in the area where I'll be teaching next fall, and I'm seeing lots of places that look nice or reasonable. And then I check the reviews (mainly at apartmentratings.com), and find that apparently every apartment in the region is pest-infested, crime-ridden, falling apart, missing most advertised amenities, and staffed by assholes.

I need to live somewhere. The "nicer" areas in the region are generally way the hell out of my price range (which isn't that low!), and I'd strongly prefer to live within a 15-minute drive, at most. I'm an utter wuss about safety, in particular. Any tips on how to look more effectively? Random comfort, perhaps? Offers of a spare room?

Comments

[solsticezero.livejournal.com]

The apartment complex that I live in has absolutely terrible online reviews, but is the nicest place I have ever lived. I wouldn't depend too much on the opinions of random angry people on the internet. <3

[arclevel.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm trying not to give them *too* much weight, but some are pretty overwhelming. :-( And the safety thing is kind of freaking me out, I admit -- I'm pretty sheltered.