Methodology
Apartment Characteristics Negatively Affecting Improvements Ratings
Certain characteristics negatively impact property improvements ratings. These factors also range in importance as Highly Significant, Important, and Moderately Important, and generally describe as:
Highly Significant Negative Characteristics
Poor quality of construction, resulting in strikingly negative appearance
A unit mix of small studio and one bedroom floorplans without inclusion, or limited presence, of other unit types
Multiple bedroom apartments include only one bath
Bath detail includes Masonite, or vacuum-formed plastic, tub enclosures; no medicine cabinet is provided; bath sinks are free-standing
Restricted interior storage
No private patio or balcony
Ramp (motel) type unit entries, or interior corridors are narrow and poorly lighted
Incomplete, or low-end, kitchen appliances (i.e., no dishwashers; refrigerators are single door, or non-frost free double-door; ranges are small).
Kitchen cabinetry reflects a high degree of obsolescence of appearance (i.e. dark wood patterned laminate-faced), and/or kitchen storage availability is limited.
Important Negative Characteristics
Ceiling heights are below standard (i.e. seven feet)
Limited, or no, architectural appeal
Floorplans offered are significantly (20% or more) smaller than market average size
Second floor systems are composed of plywood (not finished in Gypcrete)
Lack of (limited, or no) covered parking availability
Lack of refrigeration in warm climates
Moderately Important Negative Characteristics
Sparse landscaping
Central metering of electric utilities
Flat roofs
Second floor stair landings are wood (rather than concrete)
Kitchen lighting is by a standard incandescent fixture