Expect these things at the Pines:

-Thin ceilings: Expect to hear your upstairs neighbor when they walk, shower, watch TV, etc. I cannot speak to the thickness of the walls, as we didn't share walls with anyone.

-Windows/doors: Doors shut tightly, no draft there. However, the windows in our unit were old and drafty. As we had a number of windows in our unit, our heater ran near continuously in the winter. Energy bills were grizzly in the summer, too.

-Finish/amenities: The leasing office will promote their newly remodeled units, with stainless appliances and new w/ds. These worked fine. However, a number of other important items continued to fail. The burner tip on our heater was so corroded, it blocked the flow of gas into the burner. The new carpet merely covered over what could only be broken areas in the underlying floors. Finally, the cabinetry is an absolute mess. Expect drawers to not close properly, runners to fall, and brackets attached to the runners to break. In our unit, only one drawer failed to break in the 18 months we lived here. Maintenance was quick to arrive to fix the heater, but took over a week to arrive on separate occasions to fix (and then re-fix) the cabinets. Response takes so long and the "repairs" are so shoddy that we have decided to simply wait until we have an inbox of fixes and file multiple work orders. Basically, yes, the new appliances are nice, but they don't make up for failed heaters and cheap (not inexpensive) cabinets.

-Space: The 2/2 units offer a good amount of space, with balcony storage and two walk-in closets. Also, the master is king-sized. Bathrooms are also acceptable in size.

-Parking: There is either reserved, covered parking or unrestricted, uncovered parking. Very few signs are posted in the reserved parking areas. If you lease a space, expect it to be parked in illegally on a regular basis. I have even taken to keeping a notepad in my car specifically for writing and leaving "Reserved parking - Please be aware that if you park your car here again it will be towed at your expense," notes. The fee for one space for one month could easily pay for one sign in each carport.

-Pets: The Pines is pet-friendly. Though this is not a complaint with the administration of the property, some tenants do not take advantage of the multiple "doggy bag" dispensers around the property. Additionally, some pet owners use their balconies as a pet latrine...

-Management/Office: Friendly and shady. Expect to be told one thing and have another happen. After being out of contract, we were informed by phone that we could inhabit on a month-to-month basis and not be penalized for moving out in less than 60 days, as we were not party to a lease and provided a narrow range of dates during which we would vacate. After getting a solid move-out date and informing the office, we were then forced into paying a "move-out" penalty that was not on the original lease, nor was on the move-out paperwork. It was written in. Shady. Of course, the office is all smiles at move-in, and is friendly when you drop by with rent or to pick up a package. However, we also have noticed that our building is rapidly becoming half-empty and that our rent is increasing. Over 18 months, our rent has gone up by $200 (20%, including parking). The Pines has effectively priced itself out of its market.

In summary, the new appliances and finishes are nice, but a number of issues make the Pines at Marston Lake (managed by Tonti Properties) not worth the price. Even if we were not relocating out of Denver, we would have left the Pines at the end of our lease term.

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