Monday, December 7, 2009

EXAMPLE: Rating Comparison Spreadsheet Template

In my very first post I mentioned that I use Excel all of time and in a variety of ways. One good example is when I began working at a new job after I graduated college and I needed to quickly find a new place of residence. I didn’t want to settle for just any old place. I wanted to know which location was best for me. What did I do? I turned to Excel to illustrate the pros and cons of different apartments I had chosen as candidates in order to help me decide which was the best.



Along the top you can see the names of all the apartment complexes. Down the left hand side I listed all of the features I was interested in knowing and specifically asked about when I visited the apartments. In-between resides the gathered data. The majority of the wanted features required a simple yes or no answer. The apartment rating line is the average rating given to the apartment from an online apartment rating website. I computed the yearly cost just to get an idea of how much it would be and if I could afford it.

The final line is the most important, the scores for each apartment. How did I come up with those? Well if you look at the left hand side you might have noticed a bunch of hidden rows. That is where the magic happens. Each feature is given or subtracted points based on a factor of importance I created. The last column of the spreadsheet is the base line, my perfect living arrangement, and you can see the highest possible score is 12.5.



This is what the rows look like unhidden. I gave each listed feature a rating as some of them were more important than others. I have my own microwave already so that was not as important as having a washer and dryer in the room. Price of rent was essential but having a covered parking lot was not.



Here are the formulas I used for each feature:

Monthly Cost: =IF(B5<680,1.5,0)

Sq Feet = IF(B7>790,0.5,0)

Lease =IF(B8=6,1,0)

Pet Friendly =IF(B9="YES",1,0)

Dish-washer =IF(B10="YES",1,0)

Microwave =IF(B11="YES",0.5,0)

Washing Machine =IF(B12="YES",1.5,0)

Outdoor Pool =IF(B13="YES",1,0)

Indoor Pool =IF(B14="YES",0.5,0)

Covered Parking =IF(B15="YES",0.5,0)

Gated =IF(B16="YES",1,0)

Water =IF(B17="YES",0.5,0)

Private Entry =IF(B18="YES",1,0)

Deposit =IF(B19>200,-0.5,0)

Ap Fee =IF(B20>100,-0.5,0)

Distance to Work =IF(B21<12,0.5,0)

Online Rating =IF(B22>=0.5,0.5,0)

By using this Excel spreadsheet I no longer have to guess which apartment suits my needs, I now KNOW the best fit.

132 comments:

  1. hi. is it possible to download this excel? thanks

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  2. If you give me your email address I can send it to you. Or we can try and figure something else out. If you don't mind me asking, what are you going to use it for?

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    1. hi pls send it to me on a_b_doo_b@yahoo.co.in :P, you know they do browser/ antivirus rating etc. i am also doing something similar. hope your template helps, more over, if you have something better, pls mail it across or do let me know....

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    2. Will you please email me this template? AnthonyNguyen20@yahoo.com

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  3. Hi! I would also love an emailed copy of this excel spreadsheet, if possible. I am doing a vigorous apartment search much like yours and am having trouble keeping things straight. I do have excel experience but if you are offering to email the spreadsheet, that would really save me some time. Your spreadsheet looks fantastic!

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  4. I will gladly email you a copy of this spreadsheet. What is your email address? Keep in mind you will have to change the weighting on the scoring as it is setup to address my specific needs which I am assuming will be different from yours, but yes it will save a lot of time by not starting from scratch.

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    1. Hi,

      I'd really appreciate a copy of the spreadsheet! Please send to ofuret@gmail.com.

      Thanks!!

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  5. Thank you so much! my email address is mentholbug@yahoo.com I can't thank you enough!

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  6. I just sent you the spreadsheet. Good luck in your apartment search. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

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  7. Terrific spreadsheet. Perfect for tracking mock drafts, ha!Could you send it to me?
    kevinwest@poetworld.net

    Much Thanks,

    Kevin

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  8. Greetings. I would really appreciate if you could send me a copy of this spreadsheet. I just moved and am having trouble keeping up with my apartment search. This one looks awesome!

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  9. oops, my email address is thakim@buffalo.com
    thanks!

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  10. WILL YOU EMAIL THIS SPREADSHEET TO ME? MY EMAIL IS: KAREN.S.WHALEN@GMAIL.COM. WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THE HELP. APARTMENT HUNTING IS HARD WORK...LOL!

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  11. Hi there! I was looking for a good spreadsheet for apartment hunting, and I was impressed by yours. Would you mind emailing it to me? My email is alec.fenton@gmail.com

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  12. cool sheet!! can you please email me a copy please???
    bbusy@ymail.com

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  13. Can you please e-mail me a copy? thanks tory09@gmail.com

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  14. can you send me a copy please, arisfreeman@gmail.com

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  15. Can you send me a copy? This would help my family in our search justincaseandersen@gmail.com

    Thanks!

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  16. I've sent the spreadsheet to everyone who asked for it. Please respond to my email so that I know you got it plus I would appreciate any feedback! Thanks.

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  17. I would like THIS SPREADSHEET TOO!!

    helireyna@hotmail.com

    great job...thank you

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  18. Would you mind emailing this to me also? In the search for Apts and it would help out Tremendously!!!!!!! jrluzzi@gmail.com

    Thanks!

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  19. I would like to get a copy of the Rating Comparison Spreadsheet. Can someone please send it to john.russaw@gmail.com? Thank you!

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  20. Could someone send this to manda.panda19@yahoo.com as well??? Thanks!!!

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  21. would you mind re-sending the spreadsheet, can't seem to find it in my inbox.

    helireyna@hotmail.com

    thanks again

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  22. Please send me a copy of the spreadsheet if you could at karl.d.schroeder@gmail.com.

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  23. Hi, can you send me a copy of your spreadsheet, it seems like a wonderful tool! Thanks, corokurin@hotmail.com

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  24. Hi,

    I'm trying to duplicate your spreadsheet----its so awesome by the way--and am a little confused about whether each of the amenities cells are self-referencing or not.

    Do you use the logic test formula in sequence at the end or as you go?

    My email is tiagetahun@gmail.com if it would be simpler to send me the template you made but I'd love your help figuring it out as well.

    Thanks for sharing!

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  25. Hi,
    I just came across this page, and am facing a move in a short time. Your template seems to streamline a lot of decision-making and is well designed. I would love if you could send a copy to sandygraham@netscape.net.

    Thank you so much.

    Sandy Graham

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  26. This is exactly what I am looking for! Would you send me a copy please?
    danelmorris@gmail.com
    Thanks!

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  27. could you please email this to me as well. Thx. soul_selective@yahoo.com

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  28. my email address is chad.anderson@greatclips.net could you send me a copy of this spreed sheet please

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  29. Like everyone else, I would love to have a copy of this. Please, Please email it to ace_enterprise04@yahoo.com

    Thanks so much in advance!!!!

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  30. Can I get a copy of this spreadsheet as well? Looks great...Thanks in advance! Chet

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  31. Can you please e-mail me a copy of this? kressieluvsu@aol.com

    thank you so much. :D

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  32. Hey there! This looks great could you send me a copy?

    Newtie.B@gmail.com

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  33. If it is not too much trouble, I would also love a copy! my email address is jammin0424@gmail.com.

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  34. is it possible to email me a copy as well? i would really appreciate it tweet2006@gmail.com

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  35. Can you please email me a copy? My email address is alleykris710@gmail.com. I am looking at several apartments and this would help in the decision making process.

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  36. driver.kevin.a@gmail.com

    I would really appreciate a copy of your spreadsheet.

    Thank you,

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  37. WOW! This spreadsheet looks great! I am struggling to get my search together. May I have the spreadsheet too?
    joanaline@gmail.com

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  38. I would love a copy of your spreadsheet. I hope you're still sending them out.

    dawgschiro@aol.com

    Thanks!

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  39. Can you please email a copy to lukemck@ufl.edu?
    Thanks

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  40. Would you please email a copy to me too? This is exactly what I have been looking for. steeds@bellsouth.net
    Thank you!

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  41. I would love a copy as well... You already did the work for me! vrollins@gmail.com

    Thanks so much!

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  42. I would greatly appreciate a copy of this. My email is kristen.fedewa@hotmail.com. I am familiar with excel and can change the formulas to suite me it would just save me so much time.

    Thanks!!

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  43. Hi, can you please email me this file at jensclater@yahoo.com ? I would really appreciate it. You did a fantastic job!

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  44. Great job! I plan to use your spreadsheet for my condo search. I need to change quite a bit, but it would save me an immense amount of time. Thanks in advnace,
    zokiz@yahoo.com

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  45. Hello, I was looking for a spreadsheet exactly like this for my apartment search. Can you please e-mail me a copy at: lmlomo@hotmail.com?

    Thank you

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  46. WOW, what an AWESOME job! I would love a copy for this. I just spent a good hour trying to figure out how to do something like this before going on the internet. but thank GOODNESS I did. Could you please email me a copy at:
    steph.n.starling@gmail.com

    Thanks in advance, and again GREAT job!

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  47. Can you also send a copy to jet3742@yahoo.com ?

    Thank you

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  48. I would like to try also.
    Please send me a copy too

    grpclarke@gmail.com

    thank you so much

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  49. Wow, this is great and exactly what I was looking for. Can I get a copy email too as well. Planning to relocate and this would be most helpful in planning. Email addy vary.khus@gmail.com

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  50. could you send me a copy of the excel spreadsheet? it would help me immensely with my apartment search!

    amcoral [at] gmail.com

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  51. I LOVE THIS! And I love you for creating it. If possible could you please email it to laura_fis@yahoo.com. My friend and I are trying to move within the next month and we just started looking today so this would help immensely. Thank you!

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  52. Hey,
    Could you please send a copy of this spreadsheet to snowwygirl04@aim.com. I am looking to move in the next 2 months and this would be a tremendous help.

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  53. hi could you please email a copy ASAP! moving in a month and we are trying to duplicate your sheet. obviously you are a guru at this. please send to brooks.valerie@gmail.com

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  54. This is great! Can you send me a copy of your spreadsheet?
    msohnen@gmail.com

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  55. Could you post the template in the blog? If not, can you please email me a copy also? ladylauren80@yahoo.com. Thank you so very much!

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  56. could you send me a copy of the spreadsheet chefj3ff@gmail.com

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  57. I came across your spreadsheet and was hoping you could send me a copy. Thanks!
    shannfitzgerald@gmail.com

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  58. Hi! could you send me a copy of the spreadsheet please please please jplouis19@aol.com !! Thank u

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  59. Hunting for apartments right now and could really use this spreadsheet. Could you please email me a copy? jfreund1@gmail.com. Thanks! :)

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  60. Wow, this is amazing! I could really use it for finding a place to live as well. I'm on a serious timeline, and this would be an EPIC solution. If you're willing to email a copy to shaayness@gmail.com, that would be incredible!

    Thank you so much in advance!!! =D

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  61. This is by far the best comparison sheet for apts I've seen. Could you please send me the template: leo.dasilva.phoenix@gmail.com

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  62. I would love a copy too! Artchiqe@gmail.com

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  63. Please share a copy with me too: johnny.madrid@gmail.com

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  64. Can you please send me the file to : fer9225@hotmail.com Thanks

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  65. Please email me this great apartment spreadsheet teamyearbook11@gmail.com

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  66. Please send me the spreadsheet as well. It is great and exactly what I am looking for.
    eclipseman123@gmail.com

    Thanks!

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  67. Hi can you please send me the spreadsheet to sanyal.amartya@gmail.com

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  68. This is exactly what I'm looking for. Can you send me the spreadsheet?

    tennisp21 @ yahoo .com

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  69. Greetings NWH, nice template!

    Id certainly appreciate a copy of this spreadsheet, if you are still sharing this. I will be hunting for an apartment soon in a completely new place and way, and I am still not sure how to go about it exactly. Your template seems a great start to build further on to move forward.

    Thank you, in any case.

    vyacob@hotmail.com

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  70. Hi there NTW,
    Like the many other people that commented on your spreadsheet i am very impressed and i would truly appreciate a copy to use for my own apartment search (wtsmith83@gmail.com). Im just starting college in a city that ive never lived in and it would be a huge help... Thanks ... WTS

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  71. I would greatly appreciate this speadsheet. If you would be so kind to send to me@simsilly.com Thanks Great work.

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  72. Hello, I will be starting an apartment search next week - this spreadsheet looks very useful! If possible, could you please email it to me? My email address is AnnaKPeterson@yahoo.com. Thanks!

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  73. This spreadsheet rocks! I know you've mailed to several and really would like a copy too. Please mail to lizabqnm@GMail.com.

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  74. Awesome spreadsheet! Can you please email it to cynpc7@hotmail.com? Many thanks and great job!

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  75. This looks great could you send me a copy?

    vinodmalempati@gmail.com

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  76. Please send me a copy - Thanks! puleomk@hotmail.com

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  77. Getting ready to go apartment hunting, can someone send me a copy of this excel? - kmaxam@mail.mvnu.edu

    Thanks!

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  78. Hello - this is a fantastic spreadsheet! I'm beginning my apartment search and, if you are still sharing this, I would love a copy of this.

    drobsessed723@yahoo.com

    Thank you!

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  79. This is Amazing!! If you don't mind, I would love to have an emailed copy as well. I would be using it for the exact same purpose. Thanks! Jan jrs7145@aol.com

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  80. Wow! This is awesome! Could you please email me it? Mandygurl76@comcast.net. Thanks!!

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  81. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  82. If you are still sharing this I'd love a copy as well rforest3@gmail.com I'm shocked how pathetic mine looks in comparison

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  83. I too would love to check out your spreadsheet. Could you forward a copy to me at yomoj@hotmail.com? Thanks

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  84. I would love a copy of this spreadsheet to use in my apartment search! I may modify to fit my concerns, but the format looks great! aaronkretz01@gmail.com

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  85. Could you forward me your spreadsheet? Thanks in advance for your help! jaderollc@gmail.com

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  86. I have been searching everywhere for something to assist me with keeping track of the apartments I like. Could you email me a copy of your spreadsheet? twbrpgjw@aol.com Thanks so much!

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  87. Hi, your excelsheet looks awesome! Would you mind to send it to my e-mail too? isabellacamargo@hotmail.com I will use to find one apartment here in Chicago. Thank you a lot for your help!!

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  88. HI could you send this to me? Luketdavis1@gmail.com

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  89. If you are still sharing your spreadsheet can you email it to me? trina6985@yahoo.com You did a great job on it!!! Thanks so much!

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  90. This spreadsheet looks amazing! Very professional. My husband and I are apartment hunting in Bangor, Maine and this would be a very useful tool. Would you mind sending out yet another copy? wolfthyme@gmail.com Thanks a bunch!

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  91. Please email it another to me. I would help me a lot. Thanks in advance!

    fruition_7@yahoo.com

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  92. Is this spreadsheet still being shared?

    Thank you in advance!

    csvegas@gmail.com

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  93. Nice work, you are an excel guru. Could I get a copy?

    se7fold@gmail.com

    Thanks,
    Austin

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  94. I would love a copy too!

    Fritzrac@mac.com

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  95. This is amazing! Would you be able to send me a copy as well. I am apartment hunting with a friend, your spreadsheet will help us select our best match.

    mobatusi@gmail.com

    Thank You,

    Dolu

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  96. Can you please send the excel spread sheet to my email njoraholmen@gmail.com??

    I am in the process of trying to find the best excel spreadsheet for this project:

    I have 12-15 magazines that I have been researching to find advertising information for my boss's new furniture store. I have asked 10 questions. She wants me to put together an excel spreadsheet of all the questions I asked the 10 magazines. So she can look and compare the prices, size of ads, how often magazine is issued, how many subscribers, etc.

    Do you think your apartment excel spreadsheet would do the trick? If so, please send over to my email ASAP. Thanks so much.

    -Nicole

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  97. Could you please send me a copy of your spreadsheet, as well? It would be very helpful in my housing search.

    Thank you.

    Jennifer
    jioken@yahoo.com

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  98. Could you please send me a copy of your spreadsheet, as well?

    Thanks.

    Jennifer
    jioken@yahoo.com

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  99. hey! can i also have this emailed to me at iamkarielyse@gmail.com. thanks in advance!

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  100. Hey, we are apartment shopping and i know this excel spreadsheet will help a great deal. If it is possible, could you please email to jetjaded@gmail.com

    Thank you! :)

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  101. Hi,
    I am apartment hunting and could use your spreadsheet. Could you email it to me? sfaessler@comcast.net. thanks

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  102. If anyone can send me a copy as well I would greatly appreciate it: quepito1@yahoo.com

    Thanks

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  103. The spreadsheet looks great, just what I need. I'd appreciate it if you could send it to me please.
    hsmith1616@gmail.com

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  104. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  105. Hi. I would love to get a copy of this spreadsheet. Will save me alot of time trying to create my own for apartment hunting. Less time creating, more time finding my dream apartment!

    two4carat@wi.rr.com

    Thanks alot! :)

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  106. Nice spreadsheet would it be possible for me to get a copy in my apartment hunting. kjoseph361@gmail.com
    Thanks

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  107. I would love a copy of this! my email is raedawnturner@gmail.com

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  108. This is exactly what I'm looking for, can you also email me the template? ceasar.julius85@gmail.com

    Thanks in advance.

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  109. Can I have this template emailed to me! This is exactly what I am looking for. dkgaddes@gmail.com

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  110. Hello can you please email me this template? sgermain@spsu.edu

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  111. Hi! First time apartment shopper here, would love a copy of this spreadsheet, please! rockangel49@carolina.rr.com

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  112. As said by many above, your spreadsheet is great and would welcome you sending it to me. My e-mail address is willie.green3@gmail.com

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  113. Would you please send me your spreadsheet. I am moving and can't travel till this pandemic slow down. Thank you appleolsen@gmail.com

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  114. Hi can i please get a copy of this??? jenniewinniepooh@gmail.com

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  115. As said by many above, your spreadsheet is great and would welcome you sending it to me. My e-mail address is twenika1@gmail.com

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  116. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  117. Please send to macripps@umich.edu as well - the help is much appreciated! Thanks!

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  118. please can u send me a copy to f.barjil@bankaletihad.com

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  119. Hi, could you send a copy to glenngoneglobal@gmail.com please? Looks great!

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  120. Hi! This is a very useful tool. Would appreciate it if you could share it with me via email; bintousumareh@gmail.com

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  121. I would love this template as well. my best friend and her fiance are buying their first home.

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  122. Hi there! Your spreadsheet is fantastic and just want I was looking for. I am not well versed in Excel, so would you mind sharing it with me as well? prencessaurora@yahoo.com Thank you SO much!

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  123. Your spreadsheet is incredible. I am starting over, leaving an abusive relationship & was wondering if you could please email me this template? This will be incredibly helpful and time efficient as I start to narrow down my options. Thank you! Jean77elizabeth@gmail.com

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  124. Hey, moving to a new city soon with my fiancee. We are having a hard time agreeing on what is important. I think we could tweak this to come up with a compromise. Could you email this to ryansinvestments@live.ca please?

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  125. Hey, this is so useful. I don't know if you still email the template. My email is valerie.bunao@yahoo.com if you are. Thank you!

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    Replies
    1. you can download it from apartmenthunterhq.com

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  126. This spreadsheet will save me!!! May I please ask you to email it to me? enjoylife72@gmail.com. Thank You!

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  127. This is exactly what I'm looking for.
    Can you send me the spreadsheet?

    groovecsw@naver.com

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I'd love to hear from you!
-Nick