A building where you can mind your own business.
Pros
-It has central heat. -Rent Increases were reasonable/rare
Cons
-Building is not regularly mopped so floors get grimey and covered in undeliverable mail. -Lightbulbs in the building are not changed regularly -Building has dealt with multiple rat problems, sometimes crawling in the walls. -The super tends to be combative, disorganized, and often ineffective. He used to be straight up abusive, so I didn't call him for years. Does not have a smartphone or calendar so good luck planning around his visits. Will agree to repairs and then tell you it wasn't in the scope of his work as a super and charge you directly which is ILLEGAL. -Block can get very dirty, especially in the summer time, as the neighborhood has rats. -Building had a wasp infestation which stung pets in the building. Super got it under control, but this wouldn't have happened if regularly exterminator visits were a part of the building procedure. Instead, mgmt waits till there's a major problem, instead of getting rid of problems at their source.
Good starter apartment
Pros
Pro: updated, good water pressure, heat/A/C units in each room, balcony off back room, garbage is always taken care of before it piles up, maintenance guy is very nice, flexibility on move out, fan in bathroom
Cons
Thin walls, can hear conversations from neighbors, lack of responsiveness from owners, had to threaten legal action to get deposit back, violent neighbors in building that scream and fight, no hood over stove in kitchen
Advice to the owners
Be willing to negotiate rent with tenants.