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The Carrington at Four Corners


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anonymous

Resident 2013 - 2014

3/10/2014

Have you ever noticed that when you read reviews on the internet, most of them are bad? I think that's because the people who are actually quite satisfied generally don't have much to say, so they don't post anything at all. Well today, I am the exception. The following is actually the first review I've written about any apartment complex ever (and I've lived in a few). So without further adieu, here are my thoughts on... THE CARRINGTON AT FOUR CORNERS For starters, let me preface this by saying that The Carrington at Four Corners has gone by a few different names over the last decade or so. Originally, the name of the complex was called, "Sarah's Place" (hence the name of the road it is located on). But since then, it has been renamed a couple times: first as "Luna Dulce" and most recently as "The Carrington at Four Corners." No matter what name you see listed out there on other websites, I assure you the complex is one in the same. 'The Carrington' is located 10-15 miles south of the city of Clermont, despite the mailing address of the complex indicating otherwise. Rather, this entire area is referred to by many as "Four Corners," as four separate county lines come together at one point just down the road. (Honestly, this whole area should have its own town name and ZIP code by now, but I digress.) Four Corners is structured around the intersection of two highways: U.S. 27 and U.S. 192, and much of the commercial and shopping areas are located off those roadways. I won't bore you with the specifics of the geography, but you can read a little more about it on good ol' Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Corners,_Florida. THE GROUNDS When you drive up the entrance to The Carrington, you are greeted with a view of the clubhouse (which houses management offices, a gym, access to the pool, etc.). The apartment buildings themselves are located left and right of the clubhouse, where the road splits and parking lots appear. The grounds themselves are actually quite pretty -- the trees here are tall and large, and provide a decent amount of shade. A pavilion is available for group events or barbecues, along with a sand volleyball court, swimming pool, and small playground (although I never used any of them). Parking is plentiful, and I've never had to walk more than 30 seconds to get to my car, even on days when it was busy. My complaints about the grounds themselves are few: I have occasionally seen trash on the ground or in the hallways that lead to individual units themselves. There was, on one occasion, a broken glass bottle just outside the hallway to my unit, and a neighbor just swept the glass shards into the grass. But it would be nice if some of the hired hands took care of this a little more often than they do. Aside from those few issues, the grounds are quite clean. THE APARTMENT As I understand it, The Carrington offers units that range from one to three bedrooms. Mine is a one bedroom, although I cannot imagine that two or three bedroom units differ much from my own. Upon walking in the front doorway, the living room is presented directly in front of you. A bedroom door is directly to either side of the front door, and a door leading into the laundry room is on the opposite side. Depending on the layout of your furniture, you could accommodate several guests in the living room without it feeling claustrophobic. If I recall correctly, the floorplans indicate the inclusion of a solarium, which seems a rather generous title, as my living room (solarium included) has merely two regular-sized windows side by side. I'd venture to say this was a marketing move to give this area a fancy name, but I'd just consider this an extension of the living room itself, and it is nice to have, regardless of what they call it. The kitchen is on one side of the living room. There is a small breakfast bar that is long enough for two stools, and cabinetry is plentiful. Countertop space is limited, however: there are a few small 2' x 2' squares (next to the sink and on one side of the oven), and a longer, 2' x 4' section on the other side of the oven. A refrigerator, oven and stovetop are provided, but strangely a microwave is not, which means you'll need to find one that sits on the countertop -- meaning even less space to set things on. The sink has a garbage disposal, and a dishwasher is built-in among the cabinetry. A small, closed door pantry is built into the wall, which is a nice touch. The bedroom (at least, in the one bedroom floorplan) is large enough to accommodate all bed sizes, although the trouble is with a lack of wallspace. Specifically, there is really only one wall on which you can place the head of the bed, the other walls either have doorways on them, or a window on them. If you don't mind your bed's headboard blocking a window, you could probably arrange the bedroom a little differently. When walking into the bedroom, a bathroom is on the opposite wall, as is a 5' x 5' walk-in closet. The closet has some metal shelves already installed for hanging and storing clothes and other items, which is convenient. The bathroom isn't especially large, but the space is adequate -- it includes a sink, toilet and bathtub/shower. I do have a couple gripes about the bathroom, however. First: to get to the bathroom, one must walk through the bedroom. This is unfortunate if you have guests over, as your private space now needs to be made pretty for any company. What baffles me is that the bathroom could have very easily accommodated a second door -- when you walk into the bathroom, on either side of you is a large, flat wall. On the other side of that wall? A large, flat wall... in the living room. This could have been a great marketing opportunity for the developers -- they could have had two entrances to the bathroom and then said, "Invite your friends over and they don't have to see the mess that is your bedroom!" But again, I digress. The other gripe I have about the bathroom is the location of the towel holder, which is directly above the toilet. I ended up going out and purchasing an over-the-door towel rack because too often did my towels fall off or touch the gross parts of the toilet seat, and I just had enough with it. Are these dealbreakers by any means? No -- but I can't say I haven't thought about installing my own, second door that walks into the bathroom, and just hope that management loves the idea. Other little tidbits... [1] The laundry room is quite large, surprisingly; I'd say at least 7' x 7', which makes it roomy enough for a washer and dryer and then some. If you have a "stackable" washer and dryer, you could practically make enough room for a (very) small office, but note the room does not have any A/C vents. Note that a washer and dryer is not provided, but hookups for them are available. I believe you can rent the machines from management for a monthly fee, but I was able to find a cheap pair on Craigslist that get the job done. [2] Most of the apartment is carpeted, and it's a deep carpet that you can sink your toes into, so it's comfortable to walk on barefoot. Tiled or faux wood flooring is located at the front door, kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. [3] There is a ceiling fan in the living room (more specifically, the so-called solarium), and the bedroom. It is nice to have on, particularly when you're trying to save money by not blasting the A/C. [4] Pests have been few. I have had a few roaches once in a while, so I went to the store and purchased top-of-the-line roach propellant; every few weeks I spray it around corners and behind furniture, and that seems to have kept them at bay. [5] Utility costs have been reasonable. On average, I've spent $110/mo. on electricity costs, and (as of this writing) The Carrington covers cost of water, trash and sewage. I don't care much for cable TV, so I got an Internet-only plan through Bright House for about $50/mo. for 10mbps download speed. Note that Bright House is the only ISP for this area, which could be good or bad depending on your feelings for other providers (aka Comcast). [6] Only once did I have a problem that required me calling maintenance. The drain for my shower had backed up and started overflowing due to some strange sewer problem, and it was gross. I called for assistance on a Sunday, and even though the management office was closed, a gentlemen showed up on my doorstep within an hour to take a look. I've never had any other issues that required me to call them, but in general, I've been pleased. THE COMMUNITY The Carrington is a family-oriented place, and it is not unusual to see children riding their bikes through the complex or playing outside. Most the people here have been very kind (at least to me), and I've never had any issues that required confrontation. There are a wide range of people that live here, but I'd venture to say most are younger (under the age of 35). There are quite a few college-aged kids, many of whom work jobs at Walt Disney World since The Carrington is about a 15 minute drive from the parks. Pets are allowed, and it isn't unusual to see folks out with their dogs or cats. I don't know the specifics about the management's pet requirements, but I'm sure there's a fee that goes along with it. I have yet to see any problems with crime (knock on wood), and there is usually a security guard on duty overnight who often patrols up and down the parking lot. The back side of the complex is usually pretty dark though, which could be a concern to some people, particularly for the apartments whose front doors are located on the back side of the building. We do occasionally get solicitors knocking on our doors, and strangely some of them have come after dark. Usually a quick call to security dismisses them though; or simply don't answer the door. For the most part, the community is quiet, although I won't lie when I say there are some particular neighbors that live near me that tend to be loud at times (accidentally setting off their smoke alarm constantly, dog barking wildly, people talking loudly in other languages, etc.). It hasn't been a major issue though (maybe a few times a month), so I haven't felt the need to complain about it. The Carrington used to do a "Thirsty Thursday" event every week where management would invite all the residents to the club house for free booze and karaoke, which was really awesome of them. But low turn out (and a change in management) seems to have put that to an end. Either way, the community seems to be a lively and friendly environment. Outside the complex, there is easy access to groceries, fast food and other odds 'n ends. There are two Publix locations, each within 1-2 miles of The Carrington, and one Walmart less than a mile away. Fast food is plentiful, with all the essentials (Taco Bell, anyone?) along with haircut places, a video game store, banks, gas stations, a laundromat, and a few bars down the road in case you're interested in Four Corners nightlife. (Hint: don't expect much nightlife in Four Corners though!) There's likely public services like police, fire, hospitals, and schools nearby, but I couldn't tell you where they are located or anything about them. Because Four Corners is basically at the intersection of U.S. 27 and U.S. 192, there are a decent amount of tourists in this area: 192 reminds me of the Las Vegas Strip, filled with neon lights and flashing signs. If you need to get to Interstate 4, you're likely going to be driving through 192 -- just a heads up. THE VERDICT The Carrington is a great place. It's very family friendly, and quick access to grocery stores and other services make it super convenient. The apartments themselves are very open, and are large enough for the occasional get-together or small party. They are great for a single person to live in, or a couple getting their first place, or maybe even a small family on a tight budget. The costs of this place are minimal, and I've never had an issue with management nor with other residents. (Maybe it helps that I pay my bills on time?) Historically, the management has been great. They are always friendly to speak with and they have a lively online presence (through Facebook) which is great to see and a good way to know what's up in the community. I do know that the complex was recently bought out by a group called Timberland Partners, and while the long-term effects of their role remain to be seen, I can tell you what I have seen so far... In the first few weeks they were in charge, they replaced our mailboxes (which were old and flimsy), and they've begun to trim the trees and clean up the grounds a little more, which has been a nice touch. I am confident that if they maintain a personal relationship with the residents, I think they will do well in managing The Carrington. Definitely check out this place if you're wanting to save some money while still living in a nice, safe environment. ---------- FINAL SCORE 9 / 10 PROS - Well maintained grounds - Open floor plan - Inexpensive - Close to shopping / services CONS - Washer/dryer, microwave not included - Guests have to walk through bedroom to get to bathroom ---------- Final note from the author: having looked around at plenty of apartments myself, I know how annoying it can be when you can't find any helpful information out there on the internet. I hope this review helps; pay it forward and write a review about your own apartment complex -- good or bad. It'll help people like you in the future!

    Review 36 out of 111

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    The Carrington at Four Corners

    March 2024

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