Not trying to be a helicopter parent here, just need some advice!

Daughter has been living on campus since she started Drexel, first in campus housing, then in the sorority house for the past year and a half. She has decided that while the sorority house is fine, she wants to try something else, so two friends have been looking at apartments with her. She is not yet 21, and I think at least one of the friends is. They finally found one at 35th & Lancaster that they decided was cute and acceptable. It is on the third floor of a building with a restaurant space on the first floor.

Here are a couple of concerns. Is a $65 application fee common (WTF???) And, does anyone have any experiences in dealing with I believe GAR Property Management out of Villanova? The rent for a 2 BR, 3rd floor apartment is $1500 a month, and some utilities, (holy cow, batman, they can do as well in CC) and they are responsible for some repairs as well. We are also concerned with potential rodent activity once the restaurant is re-opened.

Thoughts?

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http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/offcampusliving/


May have some info about them..


I've paid app fees... never repairs. Might be just for the college pop.

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Thanks, grrrr is correct!

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If I had renewed my last lease before buying (not in UC), I would've been responsible for "all repairs costing less than $100" (which I think meant that the property management company was overwhelmed with all the little stuff happening to the cheap buildings -- one time during heavy rain I had water pouring in from above my front door). I believe I paid an application fee of $30 for that place. $1500 is pretty expensive.

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Thanks, I thought $1500 was pretty expensive too. But there are three of them, and they filled out the application. She said they have been looking and this was the cleanest and most decent place they have looked at. She also has pretty narrow boundaries for where she would live, or she would just move back here with us. I think she is saving that for next year!

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It sounds about right from what I know, though a little high...

I'm moving into a 3 bedroom apartment about 4 blocks from there in a month or so, and that's about $1600/month. I think the app fee was 75, though I'm moving in with people who have been there, so I'm getting out of it

Unless Drexel's usual off campus housing area is vastly different from Penn's usual area, I would say that $1500 is a lot. Then again, divided among 3 people, and if the place is nice, it's probably worth it.

Not to horrify anyone with pest stories but I do have a story about 35th and Lancaster that I want to share. One of my friends used to live there about 5 years ago while he was a student at Drexel. Came to visit him right around semester's end. Walking on his side of Lancaster (south) and noticed that northern sidewalk was all black for a length of one house and the walkway leading up to that house was also all black. Curiosity got the better of us and we investigated - cockroaches. The area was *completely* covered with cockroaches. Not sure if this has anything to do with the restaurant, the 7-11, people in that specific house being ridiculous slobs, food trash after move out, etc. My friend moved soon after (for an unrelated reason) and I haven't been on that specific block to see if that happened again. Still remember my shock though.

Ugh, <shudder>, thanks for that, now I have to go cook dinner!

She likes that it is on a busier street with more lighting, etc. Right now all looks clean. She asked me to come take a look tomorrow afternoon, so I can see. One of the roommates' mother is going to see it as well.

You would think that some Property Management companies would just do pest control prophylactically, especially when they charge this much in rent!

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I've been in the prop managment business for the last 15 years. Wow, that's a heck of an application fee! Are you sure there is no credit check fee included? We charge $25 per tenant to run their credit.....but no app. fee. Unfortunately, rentals are outta sight these days.

As for the paying for repairs....well, I think that the Prop Co. is trying to get away with whatever they want. Is there anything specific that they are responsible for regarding repairs? or is it just generalized? If its a general thing....be sure to get very specific language in the lease regarding the repairs they expect the tenants to pay for. I would try negotiations on this matter. Good Luck!

Having never rented an apartment myself, this is the sort of good advice I was looking for. I knew I was uncomfortable with this vague notion of repairs up to $100, as it could take in anything, but I think the girls are starting to feel a little pressure as it is now early June and they want an apartment for 9/1. Thanks.

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