We toured through all the major complexes in Manchester (and a few elsewhere) before deciding to live at Waterford Commons. Yes, the rents are higher in this complex (but not the highest- have you seen the rents for The Mansions at Hockanum Crossing or the Hawthorne at Gillette Ridge') but you absolutely get what you pay for at Waterford Commons.

Our apartment is extremely spacious and laid out well. The apartment itself was *immaculate* when we moved in. Even my mother-in-law, Mrs. Clean, couldn't find anything that needed to be scrubbed before we moved in. Either the insulation is excellent or we have incredibly quiet neighbors, but we never hear a sound coming from any apartment around us. Occasionally we will hear the shower running from the apartment below us, but can that really be considered a problem' I don't think so.

The grounds are maintained beautifully, and the crews are out if not daily, then several times a week to pick up debris from the parking lots and common areas. I have never seen a single scrap of dog poop anywhere on the property, though I don't live in a designated "dog building" so I don't know what happens around those areas specifically.

The maintenance crew responds to requests promptly and courteously, even when they aren't submitted in writing, like they prefer. I asked a maintenance man to check out a plug on my balcony and it was fixed the same day. Now *that's* service.

The people working in the office are superb, very friendly and go out of their way to help. They know my family by name and go above and beyond to fix things when they aren't right.

The common room is very nice, the pool and jacuzzi are maintained well. There are several areas around the complex with barbecues, and residents can have an electric grill on their patio/balcony.

Washer/dryers are provided in the apartments, along with dishwasher, microwave, sink & disposal, refrigerator, oven. The appliances are standard grade, nothing special, but not junky either. The finishes in the bathrooms and kitchens are not top-of-the-line, but not falling apart. It would be nice if they were fancier or prettier, but they are functional and solid.

The complex itself is very secure. There is a well-lit entry to the building and a buzzer/intercom to allow guests to enter. There is also a video camera trained at the door that residents can use to view the lobby, though I have not been able to get it to work with my tv/cable configuration.

Carports with storage are available for each apartment. Other parking spots are first-come first-serve. I have never had a problem finding parking right in front of my building, though late nights on weekends it's obviously harder to find a spot than usual.

Mailboxes are within the entry to the building. May not seem like a big deal, but it sure beats walking out in the snow to pick up the mail from a community mailbox in the middle of the development.

Our building has an elevator, which is especially helpful since we have a small child and usually are hauling up loads of bags. Elevator is clean and well maintained, as are the hallways. There has never been an issue with food-smells or pet-smells in the hallways, unlike many of the other complexes we visited.

The office provides drop-off drycleaning, which is very convenient. Twice a week, a drycleaning company will pick up and drop off your clothes. The office will also accept mail or packages on your behalf if you aren't at home.

There is a playground at the rear of the complex, which has a nice climbing tower/slide and swings. There are no accommodations for very small children, though.

With the exception of one building, all buildings are next to or very near the highway. This means there is a constant drone from the road. This can be a problem for some people, but coming from the city, I personally find it soothing. I only ever notice it when I'm out on the balcony or have every single window open. Otherwise, the windows provide excellent soundproofing against the noise.

The location itself is excellent, too. Easily accessible from the highway; less than a mile from the mall, major shopping, restaurants; a short drive from Manchester town itself; under 25 minute commute to Hartford. It's close enough to all the major stores without feeling the crunch from the mall traffic, too.

All of this, *and* they have on-site storage rooms to rent, and have promotions that can knock off up to 2.5 months from your rent. What's not to love'

Bottom line: if you can afford to live here, you should. Don't think that you're getting a great deal elsewhere that can "save" you $150-200/month. You get what you pay for here, and I'd happily pay more than what I am for the services and quality of life here.

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