Don't be fooled by the friendly people in the office. They don't own the place or make the rules. The guy who does will cut corners in every way to make sure his pockets are lined. For example, your deposit is not a deposit. It's his spending money and you will not get it back when you leave. I lived in an efficiency unit. The efficiencies are another way the owner makes money because he took away a bedroom from 2-bed units to create a 1-bed efficiency. So the efficiencies are basically a bedroom with a bathroom and a micro-kitchen added. Sort of like a hotel room only without maid service. Two or three days in a hotel is okay, but don't try to live like this. I heard my neighbors upstairs, next door and behind me. I'll leave the details of what I heard to your imagination. The building materials used inside the units are low quality or substandard. I made friends there who were genuinely nice, but we all agreed that we hated our apartments. Especially when considering how much we were all paying in rent. On the positive side, the high rents mean you're most likely going to have neighbors who are professionals. I last rented an apartment in another state and the staff was friendly, the rent reasonable and when I had visitors, they often remarked on how great the apartment was. I was truly proud of where I lived. At Hickory Hills, I was embarrassed to have anyone over and when I did, I was constantly apologizing. The parking situation is bad, but only because they repainted the lines a couple years ago to make way for more parking. The result is you can't park in front of your apartment without having to squeeze out of your car. If you have a truck or SUV, forget about it. Just so I don't seem like a total Grinch, I will praise the office staff forever. I loved them. They were kind, courteous and thoughtful. I sometimes visited the office just to chat. But the first month I was there, the towel rack in the bathroom fell off. The freezer inside the refrigerator did nothing but grow frost after the freezer door fell off.

The grounds are well-maintained. The office staff is friendly. But there are many other apartment communities around. My advice: Shop around.

User Responses
From: dontlivehereroachesgalore	Date: 03/02/2007
You can actually sue the management company for not returning your security deposit. Read your lease carefully! It mas be small writing but read it. Go to this website and go to security deposit section; it's the law! http://www.peoples-law.org/housing/ltenant/Tips from the Experts.htm#Anchor-Securit-56382 I am suing a previous management company in PG County for "failure to return security deposit"
From: Anonymous	Date: 01/17/2008
If you saw the place before you moved in and KNEW how small it was, why are you complaining? I lived there for almost 4 years and LOVED it. And we got our INTIRE Security Deposit back. Maybe you should think about why you didn't get yours back. Was it because you left it dirty? You have to clean it before you leave to get back your money. It does cost them to have a cleaner come in and do that. And did you destroy your carpets? Carpet and vinyl cost to be replaced or even patched. I saw what the small one bedrooms looked like that you are talking about and if you were disapointed, it's your own fault so stop complaining. My husband and I loved it there. The staff was always great and we lived in two different units there (the 3 story 2 bedroom then one with a basement) and I still miss it after moving out in 2002.
From: SilverSnowflake85	Date: 02/11/2008
To Anonymous, please don't get your panties in a bunch. You moved out 6 years ago... a lot can change in that amount of time. Plus, you don't know a person's situation, or why they decide to choose a home in the first place. I am renting a one bedroom apartment here right now and at first, it was cute and cozy and all I needed. After living here almost a year, it feels very cramped and I now realize, a space this small just isn't for me. So please, don't bash other people because they probably have different experiences and needs than you.

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