BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Over the past month, Birmingham metro residents have spoken with CBS 42 detailing issues with the maintenance or care of their apartment complexes. The Better Business Bureau is advising upcoming renters on what to watch out for when deciding on a place to live.
Birmingham BBB President and CEO Carl Bates said they tend to see these types of issues pop up when it gets warm in the summer and when it gets cold in the winter.
“Some [apartment management companies] are very professional, some of them are not and they just don’t take care of these properties," Bates said.
If you notice heaps of trash around the complex or gutters hanging, Bates advised these are signs the property is not well maintained -- which may mean you have apartment issues yourself.
Bates said it's critically important to inspect the apartment to know what you’re getting into.
“Make sure everything that you see in the apartment is fixed before you sign anything,” Bates said. “Don’t sign your lease unless you know that the problems you saw in the apartment you know are repaired. Once you’ve signed, you’ve signed a contract and you’ve committed.”
Alongside this tip, it's also a good idea to walk through the physical unit you will be living in.
"The model always looks great. You want to walk through the actual apartment and see the condition it’s in now and see what you’ll be getting," Bates said.
Before signing paperwork, Bates encourages you to check out BBB.org or call the BBB, look for reviews and complaints online, know the steps to report a maintenance issue and be sure to document and take pictures of any issues in your apartment you didn't create.