Topic: Do you give residents a gift for a review on Apartment Ratings?

Without going into any ethical, legal, or terms of conditions issues, I'm curious whether anybody gives their residents gifts for placing a review on Apartment Ratings. I created a poll: Do you give residents a gift for a review on Apartment Ratings?

My company does! They also include Yelp! and Google, besides Apartment Ratings.

I would never buy good apartment rating reviews with gifts.

I will treat everyone who walks in my door, including all residents, former residents, prospects, or vendors, with the same level of kindness.

I have found that asking everyone for reviews- including any unhappy former residents, I get better reviews. Even the residents who left my community because they were unhappy usually have something positive to say if we are sincere and kind.

Even though it's an uncomfortable conversation, I think it really helps to communicate move out costs rather than surprise former residents with them after the fact. If you meet with them and honestly tell them what they will be charged for, their anger about the charges has time to difuse before they move out, get the bill, and get motivated to post a negative review.

I know, your question was "without going into ethics" but this is something I'm very passionate about. :)

How much are these reviews worth? What do most give away or pay?

Just to clarify... I originally asked outside of legal issues, but I want to make sure everybody knows that it is illegal to pay for reviews unless the review specifically states that they were compensated.

Wow Brent! Great question and thanks for the information I had no idea.

We do not pay for reviews. I am with Rose on this one!

Brent, What is illegal about it?

I have done more research and found that it's not illegal totally. Like brant mentioned The person writing the review must disclose within their review that they were compensated for leaving the review. No matter the type of compensation. It's a Fair trade law.

Bribery in any form, if not explicitly illegal, is highly frowned upon. I was not aware that it was spelled out being illegal on this instance so I am glad you specified that Brent, even with the loophole that Michelle specified so that all bases are covered. I do think, though, that incentives towards positive reviews is a great idea if done the right way.

The increase in consumer initiated review sites has been a bit of a headache for many managers. As opposed to finding a way to control it, monitor it, fight it or even eliminate it - embrace it and use it to your advantage. Have printed materials for some of the top sites for reviews and give it to your applicants upon move in or at resident events. Supposing you are being friendly and helpful you should see your reviews increase and hopefully the demand for your property as well.

When I had my own property I never did. My thought and teaching were, if you give good Customer Service, people will talk positive about you and you do not have to ask. Most people will read, but they put more faith in that face to face endorsement or non endorsement.

From my personal experience, I have never worked for a management company who has compensated residents for online reveiws. I have however, asked happy residents to go online and give us a review. That usually works very well. Sometimes you can have them use the business center in the office to write their review. The only drawback is that most sites track IP addresses, so you may have to ask them to write a review from the comfort of their home.

I am interested in learning what "gifts" are given as compensation?