Laurel Oaks formerly Smoketree Garden Apartments

Courteous staff, but that's not enough for comfort

From: ratingfairly
Date posted: 3/25/2010
Years at this apartment: 2009-01-01 - 2010-01-01
6 photos

Like every community, this one has its positives and negatives.

First, the positives: Unlike other reviewers, I've never encountered rudeness from the staff.

While it's true they don't always answer the phone in the front office (you often have to call two or three times), it's understandable given the fact that for such a large complex dealing with so many tenants, they are short-handed.

I've submitted one maintenance issue since I've been here, and it was dealt with the next day and fixed to completion.

I've occasionally asked the staff for help, and for the most part, they've taken care of whatever problem has come up in a timely manner.

There is a flat rate for water, sewer and garbage -- water isn't metered based on your neighbors or even your usage.

There's a gorgeous pool and spa, and a second pool/spa area if the first one is in use.

Like most communities, there is a fitness center.

The playground equipment looks moderately maintained.

Dogs are not permitted in the units, which means you don't' have to worry about owners carelessly leaving dog droppings on the lawn.

The community is gated, with one entrance and two exits, controlled by a remote control and a call box.

The location is near the major freeway system for Sacramento.

This complex does not require a satellite dish deposit, but does suggest you use a tripod at your unit.

AT&T UVerse provides competition for Comcast in this area, so getting a good rate on television service from either is easy.

The pools are often kept clean.

Lawn maintenance is done regularly.

Now, the negatives: Despite every tenant being required to sign an understanding of the complex's quiet zone rules, tenants hardly ever abide by it.

In the summer and fall, loud car stereos can often be heard, bass thumping loudly inside the units from the cars on the streets outside.

I have asked security and the complex on three separate occasions to ask noisy tenants to lower their car stereos.

There is little, if any, insulation on the inside of the unit where I'm located -- I can clearly hear my neighbors in the rear and upstairs talking, playing music, their television sets, without any regard to the consideration of their fellow neighbors.

The wood used as outside insulation for the units, as well as the wood used for the patio and balcony fencing, is rotting away and often falls apart.

The laundry facilities recently lowered the amount of time $1.25 buys for drying clothes -- from an hour to 45 minutes, which means tenants must now pay more to clean their clothes.

The traffic gate is left open during business hours -- a common practice for Sacramento apartment communities -- but is also occasionally left open after business hours, lowering the sense of security.

Often, tenants are not given the correct or working remotes or gate codes to open the gate, and on several times I've been stuck in a line of tenants that stretches to nearby San Juan Road, causing a traffic hazard and disrupting the normal flow of traffic on a busy Sacramento roadway.

Each unit is assigned only one parking spot, making parking difficult for units with multiple residents (like roommates or two car families), especially on the east wing of the complex near the leasing office where guest parking is extremely scarce.

On at least three occasions, I've had to tow a vehicle out of my parking spot.

I was discouraged to find that after moving in the summer, rent was lowered during the winter to nearly $150 less than what I was paying on a 12-month lease.

I was moved into a unit with nails protruding from the cabinets, paint chipping away on the cabinets and main door, grease underneath the hood of the oven, spray paint on the cabinets filling nail holes, a visible water stain on the ceiling and freshly-painted walls that were not primed before a layer of paint was applied, making the walls easily susceptible to scratches.

Outlet plates, while modern, were not securely fashioned to the wall.

In some units, high trees block the ability to install a satellite dish.

Pest control is nearly non-existent -- unlike other residents, I've never seen a cockroach, mouse or rat while here, but I have seen millipedes.

Millipedes tend to go away if you make a $12 investment in Bayer indoor/outdoor pest control for a few months, but this should be provided by the apartment (as stated in the lease).

Police have been dispatched to the area for fights, burglaries and at least one armed robbery in the time I've been here.

Other things worth noting: This apartment complex is used as the "dormitories" for nearby Universal Technical Institute in Natomas.

Most of the students I've encountered have been friendly, but they do enjoy working on their cars in common areas and often modify them to be noisier than permitted by law.

Most of the tenants are young -- ranging in age from early 20s to late 30s -- and are mostly lower-middle class or students.

About one-third of the tenants are minorities, some do not speak English (my upstairs neighbor does not speak English and tends to be very loud).

The skinny: For someone who is just entering the job market, looking for a place to live on their own, and doesn't mind urban noise pollution, Laurel Oaks isn't a bad community.

However, wait until the fall/winter to move here, as rent tends to go up in the summer, and ask for an apartment on the west-side of the complex where the noise tends to be lower, guest parking is more abundant and the units are a little more well-maintained.

And as a general rule, question a complex that posts only exterior, pool and business center photos -- remember, you'll be spending most of your time INSIDE the unit.

Last updated: 3/25/2010

Recommended: NO Overall Rating

Parking: Maintenance: Construction: Noise:

Grounds: Safety: Office Staff:

I'm the author!

Lived here?

I'm the manager