Some property managment companies and landlords disgust me..

[Patrick Yungck]

Today I just got back from looking at apartment and townhome rentals in DeKalb, IL. A friend of mine is attending Grad School there and was looking at 2 and 3 bedroom places. The reason I am writing this is to say that from what I have seen I am disgusted at the property management companies and landlords. The properties were absolutely filthy on the inside and the outside had roofs that looked as if they hadn't been replaced in 50 years. Being a landlord and property manager albeit my company is strictly commercial (retail and office space currently) when a tenant has an issue we respond immediately with a solution and as well we value our properties and keep them in immaculate shape. Appearance is EVERTHING and really leaves a lasting impression upon potential renters as well as the community as a whole. If you are a property manager or Landlord keeps your properties manicured and cleaned as if you yourself lived in then.

[Aaron Montague]

Is this a place with a great deal of student housing?  Many landlords and PM companies have found that abusing student populations is a great way to make extra money.  There were several articles on the landlords here in the Boston area doing just that.  

People need places to live and the kids coming out of high school tend to not have much of a clue about tenant-landlord relationships.

I agree with you wholeheartedly on the advice to keep your places up.  There is a reason that landlords have a lousy reputation in this country.  No one remembers the "normal" places they lived, just the holes.