Our biggest issue with this place is definitely the management. The entire time we lived there, they never worked to resolve our concerns. They constantly threw our complaints back in our face, and accused us of being the cause of our own problems. When we signed our lease they never mentioned that they would be installing washers and dryers in our unit, while we are living there. No exaggeration: it took from March until mid-August for them to complete the work, and for that entire period we were informed that they could enter our apartment at any time, with no notification. When we called the office and talked to -------- (the property manager) to try to work something out, she actually called us 'difficult' on the phone.

Parking:
Our lease states that any car left in an open spot for over 72 hours will be towed. Two cars were left in two spots for over 2 months. I called the office to notify them, two weeks later the cars were still there. As a result of the major work being done, many of the parking spots were filled with dirt for the majority of the time we lived there. All the construction caused large amounts of dust to be stirred up and settle on your car (as well as come in through your windows). On top of that: they sprayed something (paint or stucco) and over sprayed on my car's finish. The office told me there was nothing they could do, because I waited so long to tell them. I repeatedly told them I hadn't noticed the damage for a couple of weeks. They then tried to tell me not to bother to call my insurance. Later on, I called and talked to a regional manager, and she said this was a standard procedure and they would pay for the damage. Then she insisted this wouldn't have been a problem if I had talked to the office manager, instead of the person who answers the phone. That makes me think every time I call, I have to be 'difficult' and ask to speak to someone's boss, and if I don't, whatever happens is my fault. However, one resident solved the parking problem; he drove his motorcycle up on the lawns and parked between the buildings on the paths where people walk. If you like motorcycles driving around in pedestrian areas, ArchStone is for you. The uncovered spots are 'open parking' and fill up quickly after 5pm.

Maintenance:
A few weeks after we moved in, our roof started leaking. I called and informed them of the problem. About a week later, nothing had been done yet. I called the 800 number and complained. Then I get a call that someone will be there that day. After the work was done, ------- told me I should not have called the 800 number and told them I had a big dog, because I am not allowed to have a dog. I have never owned a dog, or told ArchStone that I did. ArchStone claims to have a 24 hour maintenance guarantee. What happens when they do not meet this' Empty apologies and suggestions about what I could have done better. Even the regional manager told me that 'we hire contractors to fix the roof; we have no idea when they will show up'. That policy doesn't seem to fit with their 24 hour policy. I was given the same line regarding the work being done to install the washers and dryers. They even told me that 'we just give the workers master keys in the morning; we don't know which apartments they will be in'. On 7/8 there were workers up on our balcony, with no notification ever given. Nothing beats opening your blinds in the morning and being face to face with a stranger you had no idea would be there. On 9/1 we called because our water wasn't working when we got home. As of January, we still haven't received a response, even though the water was eventually fixed. Our counters were in a complete state of disrepair when we first moved in. They were heavily scratched and stained. When we requested them to be fixed, they repainted them, which was a pretty crappy fix overall. Our stove was ancient and we had to clean the cabinets and blinds with industrial cleaners to get them to a reasonable level. The rooms also have the lovely asbestos popcorn ceilings.

Construction:
No one was willing to work with us or even provide us with basic information. All we ever asked from the management was notification when they will be working the units. I could not believe that the manager of the complex actually called us 'difficult' on the phone for calling and asking for a courtesy call. Finally, after days of calls and complaints they agreed to call us the day they are going to be in our unit. Between March and mid-August we never received a single call. Then the regional manager went as far as to say it was my own fault, for not calling and trying to work with the complex manager, even though I just clearly explained that is exactly what we did. After the units were installed, they left trash in our storage area from the install and didn't clean up any of the dust or dirt tracked all over our balcony. A light bulb also disappeared while the workers were out there. The broom I stored on the balcony was completely soiled. The workers used my broom to clean something, but not my unit. On 7/19 I was woken up before 8am by workers outside. Management had previously promised us that no one would be working on the grounds, except during normal office hours. From 8/2 until 8/14 two parking spaces were filled with mulch bark. Many more than 2 spots were filled with dirt for months. The majority of the work was completed on 8/8, but the landscaping was not re-done until 8/22. Some units still weren't re-landscaped when we moved out in Nov, even though the work on those units was done in August.

Noise:
Sounds like a fiesta during the day, and next to mariachi Mexican restaurant. There is a vender with an ice cream cart that wanders into the complex (which is gated, but everyone props the doors open and the gates never work). The ice cream guy honks a horn and all the kids come running and screaming out for him, right in front of the office. Seems really secure that an ice cream vendor can just walk on it. There were a few loud parties that I called the office about; they told me to call the cops, not the office. One apartment had at least 6 kids living in it (apartment ---). I don't understand how that is legal, especially since residents pay $25 additional each month to have a pet.

Office Staff:
They twice put a birthday balloon on our door, when it was neither resident's birthday.
On 6/23 workers had been in our apartment and made a mess in the bathroom, including getting our towels dirty from their personal use. We called the office to complain, we were told someone would call back, no one ever did.
On 9/7 I tracked a package online and saw it was signed for by --------- on 9/5. I called the office on 9/7 and they confirmed they had the package. When I got home that night, they put a notice on my door that they were going to return the package to sender because we hadn't picked it up. I had received no prior notice and went out of my way to tell them I was going to pick it up. They walked all the way to my apartment to leave a notice, but wouldn't bring the actual package. They are more concerned with petty issues, like a package, then the cars I called about on 8/29 (still nothing done when I received my package notice on 9/7). On 9/13 I called because there was a bag of trash in front of our door that had leaked on my front porch. I asked if someone could please hose down or mop up the mess, since I had not left it there, it was outside our unit and being a renter, I don't have a hose or anything. I called again on 9/14 because still, nothing had been done. I eventually cleaned it up myself. On 9/22 I got a notice on my door advising pet owners not to leave waste outside or they would be charged. The staff showed no concern about residents' concerns when brought to their attention, only their own petty agendas. On 10/4 I tracked another package that had been signed for at the office on 9/28, with no notice given to us. When we faxed our 30 day notice in on 10/5, -------- said she would leave instructions for the manager on duty the next day regarding our notice. On 10/6 they said they hadn't received it and there were no instructions left.
10/19 we had a pre-move out inspection scheduled, which no one ever showed up for. I called the office and ---- told me "someone should have called you". I asked what time that day they would be there, and was told "we don't know". I called the office on 10/23 for our final balance; ---- did not have that and could not explain the charges appearing on our account. When I asked for a manager, I was told she was not in, no one knew when she would be in, but someone would call us back. No one ever called us back. 11/1 walked down to office to make final payment, and we were told we owed over $3,000, which was completely different than an amount we were given a few days earlier. ------- insisted that the "computer can't give a pro-rated amount because: 'no one moves out when they say they are going to'". She then proceeded to complain about 'all these residents we have who are just up and leaving with no notice'. Big surprise, with the level of customer service we got. She also had a nice ----- eye, and was working at the front office, not very professional. When we made our final payment, we got no receipt to show that it was made, even though we asked for one. On 11/5 we went to drop off our keys/remotes and get our final paperwork. As ---- was handing us our final paperwork, his phone rang, and he had a 15 minute conversation, with our papers in his hand. Literally all he needed to do was hand them to us. On 11/17 we received our deposit refund check, with both of our names spelled wrong. The icing on the cake.

Apt --- has some creepy guy who spends his entire day glaring over the top of his patio fence trying to stare down anyone who walks by. They should really rename this place ArchStone Santa Ana. If you look at a map of Orange County, you will see that it is on the very border of Fountain Valley and Santa Ana. The area is frightening and not safe. The other side of the street is literally Santa Ana. Let's not try to fool ourselves. None of the residents are good neighbors; no one says 'hi' or smiles at you. Everyone waits at the gates for you to let them in, then they push through with their car first. The apartments face the parking lot, so you can listen to car alarms, loud exhaust and stereos all night. It is very obvious that the management has lost all control here. Some residents get away with anything they want to do. I see the huge family in apartment --- outside drinking beer in common areas with their multiple kids running wild. You aren't allowed to ride bikes or scooters on property, but their kids seem to get away with it. I get the feeling that management is afraid to put their foot down because they are scared of the more ghetto residents. We found the cramped floor plan very difficult to work with, and the apartment as a whole was very stuffy, even with every single window open. Anytime our neighbors cooked downstairs, we got the smell in full effect. You will get no draft because the windows are all on one side. We had to run our AC 24/7 in the summer, just to be moderately comfortable.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 05/10/2007
I to experienced alot of the same problems. The washer and dryer experience was horrible. I have two cats which I had to keep locked up in the bathroom for all those months. They also have no problem doing construction on the weekends. I don't know how many times I was woken up at 7:00 a.m. on Saturdays for construction. I have had to fight with the office staff for things. This is not a good place.
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/14/2007
I couldn't say it better my self. If you want to live in a place that treats you horribly, disrespects your property and generally make your life a hassel, then this is the place for you. Good luck if you move in here, you will need it.
From: Anonymous	Date: 03/02/2008
THIS PLACE SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!! THE NEIGHBOR SELLS DRUGS AND HAS PEOPLE UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS ALL NIGHT LONG. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE GETTING A FULL 8 HOURS SLEEP, AND ENJOY BEING AWAKENED AT 3AM BY THE PSYCHO LADY DOWNSTIRS FIGHTING WITH HER HUSBAND, THEN MOVE IN HERE!!!!!!! HEY, THERE'S FREE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES TO MAKE UP FOR IT!!!

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