Review History for anonymous

Retreat at Seven Trails


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anonymous

Resident 2004 - 2009

10/5/2009

Staff: Since I first rented, there has been a change in management which has been a detriment to the community in my opinion. Not flexible, seem pretty stuck up if you ask me, and seem to encourage turnover with residents with their poor maintenance and rent increases. Price: Initially it's a good value. However, I have been renting for 5 years (wanted my next move to be a house) and yes, each year there has been a substantial increase in the rent, which is now almost "market rate"... new leasees would be paying about $150 less than me, who has been paying on time for 5 years. Utilities: I am on the bottom floor and this pretty exposed brick is severely uninsulated. My GAS heat bill was $250 one month! This is for an apartment that was almost 1100 square feet on the ground floor, but still... the windows look new and energy efficient but the apartment is NOT insulated well. Maintenance - The stopper in my drain was no longer functioning...you couldn't pull it up or down, it would stick in the drain. After three calls, maintenence fixed it by breaking it, saying they needed to order a part, and gave me a rubber stopper to put over the hole in my sink when I need it stopped. It has been two months since then, and still no new part. I guess I have to call AGAIN. I pray no jewelry goes down the hole in the meantime. I also have a broken sliding glass door lock latch and was given a wood plank to keep the door "secure" until they got around to ordering the part. Being on the bottom floor I don't know how secure this is, really. Perhaps they want to take this out of my security deposit when I move out this month. Oh and then there was the time the neighbor above me had a 200 gallon fish tank that leaked in to my living room through the ceiling. I had to stay up all night switching buckets so my apartment wasn't flooded. I could not reach emergency maintenence until the office was open in the morning. No concessions as far as rent reimbursement were made for this inconvenience. There is a dark spot around my toilet, which constantly runs, and they claim it's discoloration from wear and tear, but I am thinking it's a leak and possibly mold. The oven makes me think I am a terrible cook. Sometimes it burns half of a frozen pizza and undercooks the other half... sometimes it seems to cook fine and then all the sudden burns the crap out of whatever is in there in a matter of two minutes. I have had the heating element replaced, but it is still very temperamental. On the positive, there have been no roaches, etc., had to battle ants once, although a few spiders here and there. My killer cat probably takes care of most of them though. Lots of mosquitos though, since I am in close proximity to the creek. Grounds: Racoon issues with the dumpster. My unit is near a strip of woods which I love the most about the location, but there is constantly trash strewn about from our little friends. There is also a nice creek that smells pretty nasty when it rains and I question if the creek is just a storm sewer runoff. The breezeway often floods during moderate rain and results in walking through puddles and tracking mud in my apartment. Their landscaping includes dumping mulch in everyone's "garden" and I guess they do an ok job of mowing. I watered the grass to help it come back on spring and it seems to be less muddy now...although my hose was taken. The rock border I made was disturbed by lawncare and is no longer in tact. Neighbors: I have to say I like most of my neighbors. Some are a bit strange, but hey, it's apartment life. There has been the occasional playing of mariachi music loudly on a weekday morning, but I guess I had to get up for work anyway, so this was simply motivation. Lately, someone's car alarm has been going off at 11pm every night. That is a bit disturbing. I can hear laughing and um... other noises...from the neighbors above me through the ceiling and the pet stop is outside of my window and I can always hear my neighbor saying "GOOD BOY!!" after he does his doody at 9-11pm. The pet stops do seem to keep animal waste to a minimum. Laundry: It would be nice to have more facilities...like at least one in every building. I have quite a trek to either of the laundry rooms and of course you have to load the card at the leasing office...at least it's outside. Fitness center: Smaller, but has enough for me. Two ellipticals, only one stationary bike, three treadmills and a weight machine. I had to get my card reactivated three times to access the facility though...no clue. I don't play tennis, basketball, or raquetball, but if I did, I think I would have enjoyed them. Pool: I really liked the main pool. The smaller pools were filled with kids and one of them really didn't have access to the sun, as it was surrounded by buildings. Parking: I was happy that they had stickers required for parking. During Ballwin Days, many people would try to park there and the stickers and signs kept people out. Our neighbors and I have a sort of understanding whose spot is whose, although they aren't assigned. They are respectful in that way and I have never had to park far away from my unit. Mail is kind of annoying though. Instead of being near the unit, it is at a mail station next to the main road and beginning of parking lot. The positive: I love the layout of these apartments. The full kitchen and additional dining room is so nice, tons of drawers and cabinet space, and the vanity in my bathroom is awesome. I really liked the woods outside when enjoying a book on my patio. I would like it more if the racoon trash was not involved... they really buffer the noise coming from Manchester Rd. and Seven Trails Drive/Reis Rd. I also love that I can walk to Vlasis park for any fireworks, Ballwin Days, BBQ Festivals, etc. If you like to fish, you can do that right outside your apartment. I like the ponds and it's so cute to have ducks come up to your apartment...although the geese used to be a problem (and their excrement). I think the City of Ballwin is doing something about that since they don't seem to come over from the park anymore. It's also nice to have the police station at the top of the hill for a more secure feeling. The government center is there too so I just walk up the hill when I need to vote! If I had kids, I would feel good about the school district. Overall it's in a very convenient location. If it wasn't for price/gas bill/maintenance, I might have renewed again.

    Review 90 out of 137

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