Jeremy
Columbia,#2Consumer Suggestion
Sat, May 03, 2008
Why would you ever, ever sign a lease agreement without first seeing the unit you would be renting? If there is a unit available for you to rent, then that same unit should be available for you to view. You should have demanded to see the open unit you were agreeing to lease, and if the company refused, you should have walked away. I personally stopped by the Biltmore while I was looking for an apartment several years ago. I found them in one of the apartment finder magazines that are outside pretty much every grocery store in the city. It looked like a beautiful complex, with balconies and utilities included - and a one bedroom price listed at about $650/month. So, I called them to set up an appointment. I was first told that the one bedroom price in the apartment finder was wrong and that the price was closer to $820/month. I was a bit taken aback by this, but decided to stop by anyway and check it out, as that was still a fair price with utilities included. I made an appointment to see the apartment on my next day off from work. When I came to the Biltmore, there was no one sitting at the front desk. I waited for a few minutes, and a man returned to the counter, I believe the same man I had previously spoken to on the phone. I told him my name and that I had an appointment to view an apartment. He said that he "didn't have time." I asked why he would schedule an appointment in that case, and he once again said, "sorry, I just don't have time." I asked when I might be able to return and see the apartment and he said, "I have no idea." At that point, I got up and left, as they apparently weren't all that serious about renting to me. I feel that this should have been your reaction as well when they refused to show you a unit before signing anything.