Recently I've heard more and more about IAC cutting good deals on renewals - deep discounts off your current rent, weeks free if you agree to an X month renewal, etc. I'm surprised because it's not typically their MO. While it's looking like you may be able to carve out a nice deal on your renewal, it will most certainly be on a renewal for months (6-18). It may take some hardball on your part. I recommend the following: go to a competitor apartment complex, even another IAC offering a great deal (if it's another IAC you should try to find one farther away from your current one) and place a refundable hold deposit on an apartment. Immediately go back to your complex with the hold paperwork and tell them you intend to leave unless they can cut you a better deal. You've now shown them you're an impending loss on their bottom line, rather than a threatened loss. When/if they do agree to more reasonable terms, cancel your hold within the 3 day refund period.
The reason it's better to choose a community farther away is because IAC is composed of a bunch of little fiefdoms. Complexes are grouped together and placed under the supervision of different regional managers, VPs, etc. They are all driven, hungry, and competitive. If your request makes it up to a regional manager controlling both your current complex and the one you are threatening to move to, they may be inclined to let you make that switch, especially if the building you're moving to is hurting more than the one you're in (and of course it likely will be, hence the reason they have the big discount). But if it looks like they may lose a tenant from their portfolio to another regional portfolio, they'll be more inclined to fight harder to keep you. Make those numbers look better and climb that corporate ladder, middle manager!
As far as month to month is concerned, they're not likely to budge. They company as a whole does not want ANYONE on month to month, hence why the price is so high. I mentioned it in another thread...if they do not "punish" month to monthers with a higher rate, everyone would want to be month to month after their initial lease term. You can't establish very stable budgets when your entire residency can leave on a 30 day notice. And when it comes to month-to-month, I've really heard of very few exceptions who've escaped the premium charge.
