🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <Pine.SOL.3.91.960507124645.7582A-100000@bio2.acpub.duke.edu>,
   Michael James Tino <mjtino@acpub.duke.edu> wrote:
>My housemates and I have rented from Apple/RAN Properties for 2 years 
 ... snip ...

Our experience with Apple was quite similar.  Deal with Richard; he is the 
best one there.  They do repairs quickly, if sometimes cheaply.  They cut 
their expenses to the bone which can be frustrating (we were never able to get 
a screen door out of them, for example, in a small house where we were dying 
for the circulation.  What kind of house doesn't ahve a screen door??)  And, 
as Michael noted, they tend to jack up rents.  I know a homeowner who deals 
with Apple and says they always give the best quotes, but I tend to think they 
make their money by seeing just how high they can raise the rent on you and 
employing el cheapo cleaners and repairmen (they manage over 800 units with 
only a staff of 2 or 3).  

Make sure you are careful with your move in list; they will dink you there 
(e.g. they charged the lady that moved out before us for dirty baseboards and 
doors, but these same items were dirty when we moved in). If you are late with 
rent even one day, get ready for the max fine allowed by the lease.  I guess 
since they rent to lots of folks in lots of income categories and lots of 
students and undergrads, they can be hard asses at times.  But I've dealt with 
far, far worse landlords.

The house I moved into has turned over 5 times in 5 years because they are 
charging $700 for a 1000 sq ft house; i suppose this is what the market will 
bear, but they have to be wasting some money on prep, cleanup, paperwork since 
they get new tenants every year at that price.  You may find the same thing.
--
gronke@acpub.duke.edu