Making rent: pricing in Pullman

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Price is a deciding factor for many students in search of their first apartments, but some might wonder how monthly rates are established.

“We base rent off of the average rent for the College Hill area,” said Brittany Barton, a property manager at Midway Property Management.

A Pullman-based company, Midway determines its rates by looking at those of local competitors.

The same is not true of all apartments. At the Prescott Wallingford Apartment Homes in Seattle, for instance, rates are significantly higher as they are based on income statistics for the area.

“Any tenant wanting to rent with us must pass the basic screenings like a criminal, background and credit check,” assistant property manager Dustin Schlichemeyer said. “They must also provide proof of income that is at least three times or higher the current rent for a particular property.”

Tracie Brelsford, a managing partner of DABCO Property Management in Pullman, said rates are determined by the owner of a given property, the costs of water and electricity in the area, and how recently the property was built.

“We do not base rent off of income because we understand that many college kids do not have jobs,” Brelsford said.

Stipulations for living in a DABCO-managed residence include a 12-month lease period, no pets that are not specifically approved, and no smoking in units that are not designated for smoking.

“Those who choose to rent a unit where smoking is allowed are responsible for the costs to remove the smell from the unit,” Brelsford said.

Barton outlined similar policies regarding pets and smoking in Midway-managed apartments.

“Most of our units are pet-friendly, but there are pet fees and some restrictions,” she said.

Many two-bedroom apartments in Pullman cost about $800 per month.