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If there's a negative review about 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and the same guy lived there for the last four years, the landlord will have a pretty good idea abo

If there's a negative review about 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and the same guy lived there for the last four years, the landlord will have a pretty good idea about who's writing the bad reviews. They can evict the tenant in a retaliatory manner, or if what they wrote qualifies as libelous, take them to court easily. So the incentive to write fake reviews to steer competition away is just not there. This doesn't mean that there won't be fake reviews, just that worrying about fake reviews of this particular sort doesn't make much sense.

aurareturn 2y ago
Ok, how about if I'm a tenant applying for an attractive apartment. I would be incentivized to write a fake negative review about the apartment to steer competition away. The landlord would have no idea that it was me. Might even blame the existing tenant. Or how about a neighbor who values quietness and doesn't want the landlord to be able to rent out the apartment? Since it's "anonymous" multiple parties could have incentives to write negative reviews.
- redserk 2y ago
  Sure it’s possible, but is it likely? I’d argue the bigger issue is bogus reviews in favor of landlords. Open Google Maps, pick any apartment complex. You’ll see lots of 4-5 stars for “Great tour!” “Staff were so friendly to show me around!” “I’ve lived here 1 month and it’s PERFECT” These reviews are disingenuous. Some landlords encourage prospective tenants and tenants with bonuses to quickly rush out a review before any actual behavior can be observed. What’s stopping a sour neighbor from marking a unit as a business in Google Maps and tossing on a bad review?
  - aurareturn 2y ago
    There is a difference between businesses like restaurants which can have thousands of reviews. Over time, any fake reviews will be drown out by a large enough sample size. An apartment will have 1 review every 1-2 years at most. Any fake review will substantially influence the landlord. For large apartment complexes, Google Maps and Yelp already handle those. What’s left are small time mom and pop landlords. That’s what this website is aiming for based on my observations.
newsclues 2y ago
https://www.michelleslist.com/properties/1600%20Pennsylvania%20Ave%20NW,%20Washington,%20DC%2020500%20US https://www.michelleslist.com/properties/1600%20Pennsylvania...

aurareturn 2y ago

Ok, how about if I'm a tenant applying for an attractive apartment. I would be incentivized to write a fake negative review about the apartment to steer competition away. The landlord would have no idea that it was me. Might even blame the existing tenant. Or how about a neighbor who values quietness and doesn't want the landlord to be able to rent out the apartment? Since it's "anonymous" multiple parties could have incentives to write negative reviews.

redserk 2y ago
Sure it’s possible, but is it likely? I’d argue the bigger issue is bogus reviews in favor of landlords. Open Google Maps, pick any apartment complex. You’ll see lots of 4-5 stars for “Great tour!” “Staff were so friendly to show me around!” “I’ve lived here 1 month and it’s PERFECT” These reviews are disingenuous. Some landlords encourage prospective tenants and tenants with bonuses to quickly rush out a review before any actual behavior can be observed. What’s stopping a sour neighbor from marking a unit as a business in Google Maps and tossing on a bad review?
- aurareturn 2y ago
  There is a difference between businesses like restaurants which can have thousands of reviews. Over time, any fake reviews will be drown out by a large enough sample size. An apartment will have 1 review every 1-2 years at most. Any fake review will substantially influence the landlord. For large apartment complexes, Google Maps and Yelp already handle those. What’s left are small time mom and pop landlords. That’s what this website is aiming for based on my observations.

newsclues 2y ago

https://www.michelleslist.com/properties/1600%20Pennsylvania%20Ave%20NW,%20Washington,%20DC%2020500%20US https://www.michelleslist.com/properties/1600%20Pennsylvania...