Reading reviews is a great way to get an idea of what it is like to actually live in an apartment community. Here are some questions we recommend focusing on while reading reviews:

• Are residents satisfied with the maintenance team?

• Are service requests completed quickly and properly?

• Is the onsite team friendly and helpful?

• Are the grounds consistently well maintained?

• Does management continue to update and upgrade the community?

Be Discerning When Reading Reviews

One thing we know about the internet is that when people are very happy or very unhappy, that's when they're most motivated to leave a review. So, it's important to keep that in mind when looking at reviews! Here are some things to consider while interpreting reviews:

• Am I getting a consistent message across multiple reviews and review sites?

It is important to look for patterns. Any business can easily get one really great review or one terrible review. When reading reviews, don’t focus on any single review or even review site. There are a ton of review sites, and each has its advantages and limitations.

Yelp has strict guidelines to make sure reviews are legitimate and unsolicited. Facebook has the most users, which means more posts, pictures, and interactions. ApartmentRatings and other apartment-specific sites break down reviews into helpful categories like neighborhood, office staff, maintenance, and noise. And, Google is convenient!

• When were the reviews posted?

Sometimes the onsite team changes, sometimes issues are resolved and no longer and issue. It's great if all the residents loved the community ten years ago. But, it's not a very good indication of what you can expect today. The most recent reviews will most closely reflect the current experience living at a Camden apartment community.

• Does management respond to the reviews?

How (and if!) management responds to reviews can give you insight into their customer service. If a negative review is posted, does it seem like measures have been taken to fix the situation? When you are reading reviews and responses, imagine that the review was yours. Would you be satisfied with the response the reviewer received?

Now that you've read the tips, it's time to start reading reviews! Don't know where to start? Camden has some of the highest-rated communities in the entire nation! Find a Camden community in your area.