Why do people complain about rental prices on social media ads?
My work in real estate rental marketing requires me to post adverts on Facebook, especially during the initial lease-up period of a new property. And, every time, without fail, I get comments complaining about the rental rates of the advertised property, and it confuses me to no end.
I will not post where I work or the advertised properties, but I will express my views on people and what I will call their entitled attitude. We have been accused of ripping people off, raping seniors, and taking advantage, and I am really confused about how we are doing this by offering housing?
We literally post all the information about income brackets, requirements, policies, rents, deposits, fees, features and amenities, and publish photos of the community. We do not mislead in any way, but by being more expensive than some people would like, we are taking advantage and ripping seniors off?
My response is, Would you expect Ferrari or Lamborghini to sell their cars for $25,000 because you cannot afford to pay $100,000+?. I do not respond to these people on social media because most can see that these people are unreasonable, expecting everything to be at their price point.
The latest is a property lease up for a senior property in the Kansas City area, where a range of apartment homes is currently available for $900-$995. These homes are aimed at seniors not reliant on social security and Section 8 income-based housing. There are plenty of towers that offer low-income senior housing, but apparently, every owner has to cater to these people as well, which is utter nonsense.
This particular property was built in 2023 and targets a higher-income clientele. Features and amenities are much higher-end than what you will find in a typical income-based senior tower, and these features come with a premium price; as with anything in life, high-end products sell for a premium price.
I find it funny that Generation Z and Millennials are often accused of not wanting to work and wanting everything for free. My experience is very different; seniors are the ones who complain about the cost of things, expecting things to be cheaper because “I can’t afford that.”
I’ll leave you with some comments, and my responses, if I were to respond on social media.
“Ridiculous. Rent far too high for most seniors. Stop taking advantage!“
How are we taking advantage? Just because you cannot afford it does not mean we are taking advantage.
“A retired person can’t afford $995 A month!!!!!!“
You cannot afford $995 per month; plenty of seniors can afford $995 per month; stop attributing your personal situation to every senior. Whether something is affordable is subjective.
“HIGH DOLLAR. .. BUT THANK YOU FOR RAPING ME AND OTHER RETIRED PEOPLE ON A FIXED INCOME OF LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE…. I’M SURE YOU SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT WITH THE DREAMS OF GREED RUNNING THROUGH YOUR HEAD …..“
Wow, the owners are rapists because they build something to a higher standard than the typical income-based senior property and charge more rent for a higher-end living experience? In reality, these owners make very little money in terms of a percentage after running costs, mortgages, insurance, and property taxes. The common misconception is that property owners are raking the cash in; this is not the case.