Broadmoor Villa Apartments

Customer Service is lacking From: james4321 Date posted: 8/7/2007 Years at this apartment: 2006 - 2007 1 response   I've been living in at Broadmoor for just under a year now. This period has included a change of management and massive exterior renovations to the apartment complex. In general, the grounds and building have improved steadily as customer service and focus on the renters has dropped. Previous management had a clear business focus of "a quality place to live at an affordable price", with special attention to the customer. While the new management group has a more standard model of, "maximizing income by cutting corners". Although the new management has improved the exterior of the building, it has been at a heavy expense to the current residents. As the exterior renovations approach 1 year in progress, I've had to tolerate frequent unscheduled power and water outages, noise, construction equipment, all associated with essentially living in a "work zone". Unfortunately, none of the renovations actually help me. The laundry facilities did not change (although the lock did, so I did not have access to the facility for several weeks while I waited to be given a new copy). There is a weight room now, but I can't get in most of the time b/c it is only open during business hours. There was plenty of parking, but because of the construction, equipment, materials, and trash block many of the good spots. In the end, what I see around me, occuring is an "apartment flip". Just like a standard house "flip", an owner purchases property with cosmetic issues, makes cheap repairs, then expects more money for the change to the appearance. My rent hasn't changed yet, but that is because my contract had to be honored by the new owner. However, for the "flip" to be worthwhile rent must go up. Millions of dollars have been spent on the flip - the only way it can be worthwhile would be for rent to increase. I'm almost positive that once rental agreements end, rent will increase - pushing out most of the people who live their customers that are "wooed" by the new changes. CURRENT RESIDENTS LOOK OUT! Ironically, the main thing I care about is my apartment and the ease of paying my rent, utilities, etc. Unfortunately, the things I care about the most about have only decreased over the year. Maintenance requests went from being fixed within less than 24 hours, to being completely ignored. One request I made in writing b/c my water wouldn't shut off. It wasn't fixed for two weeks! My water bill went through the roof. Also, I can figure out how much I owe on rent and utilities. Because there is no way to verify the amount you owe (other than calling). Utilities only reported within days of when they are due. If you happen to be out of town, your only method of payment is to over-estimate what you will owe and pay before you leave. Rent is also only accepted in check form. No other method is possible. You can imagine how annoying that can be in the electronic age we live in. Late fees are excessive. Twenty-five dollars a day, five dollars a day afterwards, which I understand, will be increasing. If you do happen to have an outstanding balance and don't realize it, management will not tell you either. Rather, they let it continue to rack up to maximize the amount of money they can squeeze out of you. I misunderstood the amount of money I owed, was $30 short one month and didn't know it for an entire month, until I was hit with almost $200 in late fees. When I asked why the office didn't let me know about the late fees accrueing, they simply said, "they don't babysit their tenants". Management refused to waive even a portion of the late fees, despite the obvious "error" and history of on time payments. What was most frustrating, wasn't the inflexibility of management, but the lack of regard for my concerns. It simply wasn't their fault, so they didn't care. This was very troubling b/c when I am inconvienced by managements' errors (e.g., failure to fill a maintenance request) - it is simply written off as "we all make mistakes". Hmmm, I guess that only applies for them and us tenants better make sure we are mistake free - because there is no flexibility or concern with customer service at Broadmoor Villa. The problem is for all the effort that is placed on the exterior of the building, the heart of the place has been lost (perhaps it is because management is too busy with the renovations to care, perhaps it is because this is their new business model, or perhaps it's as simple as seeing the current residents as "temporary anyway" because they intend to increase rent and know most people will leave' I don't know, but the least I can do is warn other potential residents.

Recommended: NO Overall Rating

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