Not all online reviews are accurate
The first thing to keep in mind about online reviews is that they may not all be accurate. Some may even be fake, posted by trolls or the landlord or property management company to boost their image. Some reviews may also be exaggerated in either direction, positively or negatively, due to issues unrelated to the property or even the landlord. When reading reviews, look for those that seem to be from verified sources, such as from current or past tenants with verifiable profiles. Ignore the rest.
How to read and assess a review
After learning how to find verified reviews, it’s crucial to read and assess them effectively. You can assess a review by employing the following instructions:
- Look at the language and tone used by the reviewer. Do they provide specific, detailed examples, or are their complaints vague and general? Is the reviewer emotion-driven or providing a more objective analysis of their experience? Search for reviews that discuss both positives and negatives about the property. A review with only glowing praise or harsh criticism may not be as accurate.
- Don’t just focus on the star rating. Analyze the specific comments and objections made in the review. Are they valid concerns or easily fixable issues?
- Look for patterns in multiple reviews. Do certain concerns come up repeatedly? Are they mostly positive or negative? Did the landlord react to the review, try to make things right, or thank the reviewer for their review? This can give you a clearer idea of the overall experience at the property.
- Keep in mind your priorities and preferences when reading reviews. If you work from home and don’t plan on having many visitors, a negative review concerning noise levels may not be as significant to you. Something that may be a dealbreaker for one person might not matter as much to you.
Examples of good and bad online reviews
An excellent review may discuss certain property features and personal experiences, such as “The management team is very responsive and accommodating. They fixed a plumbing issue in my unit within 24 hours.”
An unfavorable review may be excessively dramatic or vague, for example, “This place is a nightmare. Do not move here.” The latter lacks concrete instances or evidence to support their claims. Always take into account the language and tone used in a review and the source of the review when appraising its legitimacy.
The importance of evaluating reviews correctly
When searching for a new rental property, it is critical to properly evaluate online reviews. Deceptive or incorrect reviews can give you a false impression of the property and result in potential issues and regrets in the future. Before making any judgments about a property, consider visiting it in person to get a first-hand look at the rental and speak with the landlord or Elgin property management company.
In general, keep in mind to take online reviews with a grain of salt and use them as one tool in your rental decision-making process. You can make a more informed decision and potentially have a better rental experience by correctly assessing reviews.
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