Michelle's Leasing Lesson of the Day

Ever since I was a little girl, my Mother always told me "You get what you pay for."  As a little girl, I never understood these words.  Now, they ring true to me more than ever. 

If you go into apartment searching looking for a cheap place, you will find it.  As long as you keep into consideration you will not be living in the Hamptons or staying at the Ritz, this shouldn't be a problem. 
I can't tell you how many tenants I have dealt with that move in knowing they're getting "the best deal out there" and then are not willing to live with the flaws of making that choice.

Case-In-Point:  Marie and I had a tenant move in to the complex last summer who had never seen the actual apartment until the day he moved in. He was from California and had done all of his applying through e-mail and over the phone.  Marie had sent him a floor plan with exact square footage, along with pictures of the apartment.  The day he comes into sign his lease, he brings his Mother with him.  After he signs the lease, the college student and his Mother go and look at the apartment he's moving into.  You can only guess what happens next.  All of a sudden it doesn't "fit his needs."  They don't like where the electrical outlets are placed so they want them moved around (side note: electrical outlets cannot be moved around), the closets are way too small so they want the closet extended (side note: we can't extended anything in an apartment), and one of the bedroom's was smaller than the other (side note: he had already seen the floor plan). 

So here we have a tenant (and his Mother) who are really upset their apartment isn't up to their par when they chose to go with the good deal, they chose not to look at the apartment ahead of time, and they chose to physically sign a 12-Month Lease before seeing anything.  There were also minor bumps and bruises to the apartment (a few drops of paint on the tile, scratch on the kitchen cuboard, etc)  These things happen when you choose to go with a good deal. It doesn't mean the apartment is bad, it just means it's not PERFECT.

I can assure you, we have absolutely NO sympathy for someone who doesn't listen or someone who doesn't look at their options before they move into the complex.  Especially because we now have your money and signature and literally don't need anything else from you until rent is due on the 1st.  We will GLADLY listen to reasonable requests but just to let you know, you are RENTING.  You do not OWN THE PLACE.

So last words of advice:  before you drop money on an apartment or house, look at it first.

Michelle