One of the biggest complaints I?ve heard is about the security. I?ve personaly never had any secutiry problems here. Thefts are a general problem in the area off and on during the prime move-in months, when tenants pay less attention to security. This doesn?t have as much to do with the complex itself as it does the area. Cars without alarms and expensive stuff may get broken into during this period, so you have to be careful. The thieves that do this do not live in the complex, but come from out of the area to do this to many complexes in the general vicinity. The Pittsfield Township Police have responded decently to this rash of thefts and drive through the complex every night.

The management' They?re very nice to you if you?re nice to them. Approaching them rudely or acting as if you?re the only one in the complex will not help you. I?ve heard people complain that they don?t get prompt attention, but my roommate and I have never had that problem. We get quick service from the management and they?re always happy to let us know what?s going on regarding repairs. They replace appliances if there is no way they can be properly repaired (I and my roommate got a new dishwasher in a timely fashion), or let us know what we need to do to maintain a certain appliance to keep it from becoming a repair issue (for instance, we learned that the style of refrigerator we have has channels where water condensation collects, which much be kept free of ice, or water will back up. That?s an easy thing for most tenants to maintain. They came in and checked out the frids before letting us know this, instead of assuming there was nothing wrong with the appliance).

In the case of the management, I think constantly making demands doesn?t always get you anywhere, but I think that depends on how smooth your relationship is with the management. The hardest part is probably getting carpeting replaced if you?re already living in the apartment. If you?ve got a problem, simply call and explain politely, and you?ll get better results.

The complex has been getting upgraded on the outside for the past couple of years. New, seethrough doors at the entrances, that may or may not be elctronically controlled soon. More poop stations have been added, and for the most part, other than the dog runs, between the owners and the grounds crew, the grounds are pretty clean. Most inside remodelling is done between tenants. You should be persistant if something cosmetic needs to be fixed. Some alterations are allowed, but you must be able to change them back the way they were unless this was a cosmetic feature that was already present before you arrived. (They tend to ask, if you are moving into an apartment that's been altered and they haven't painted over it, if you want the apartment the way it is (different paint job on the walls for instance)).

The apartments are very spacious, and for the square footage, is one of the most economical "buys" in town. If you have dogs, Spicetree is also one of the few remaining complexes that allows you to bring them in, provided they aren?t on the list of breeds they don?t allow. Get a copy of the list before going through the trouble of applying for the apartment, and ask if they have pet interviews, a very popular idea that hasn't really hit Michigan yet. At the time of this review, they do not, but the idea has been entertained at one point, so it may be worth your while to inquire. They no longer accept Rottweilers or German Shepherd Dogs (those there at the time of the change in rules were not forced to move and have been grandfathered in). Aggressive dogs are not very tell tolerated, so they?re getting their act together on that one. Overall the list itself is not very realistic (they don?t allow greyhounds for instance) and looks as if it has been put together by someone that doesn?t know much about dogs. Still, they are attempting to make the complex nice to live for people and their pets.

This summer, a new play area was built at the request of the children in the complex, who are your average kids, mostly not prone to desructive behavior (I?ve personally spoken to a number of them). The pools are well-maintained, and during the season, the complex employs resients of the complex (over 17) to act as monitors. As far as I know, there have been no pool accidents.

A good or bad experience in the complex will largely depend upon who your neighbors will be, I think. I?ve had very good neighbors, and have interacted with all of them at one level or another. To a certain extent, people look out for one another, letting each other know about suspicious activity and if their cars were tampered with. I?ve made several friends since living here, inlcuding many dog owners. Most with dogs will let you know which dogs to stay away from and why, or will let you know if they?re dog isn?t a people or a dog person. Most with ornery canines tend to walk their dogs at night or away from other dogs out of courtesy. In gengeral, the complex is quiet, even on nights that parties are going on in various areas, most of the noise dies down at a reasonable hour, as this complex is a mix of singles, students and people with families.

Patio is an extra twenty bucks, and pets are an extra ten a piece per month.

Apartments on the third floor have 1.5 baths.

The complexs has its problems, as most do, but it?s definitely a decent place. There are plenty of long term tenants living here, so although there is turnover every years, there?s still a solid base of residents.



FYI. Speaking of turnover, that really the only time I?ve problems with bug, when tenants leave and ants want to sample for our place since their former meal tickets have moved out. Calling the management early in the week gets you put on the list for folks to come and check the place out on Fridays, for as often as you need them to do so.

The complex is willing to let you sublet your apartment or take it over; in the latter case, they have the person taking over the apartment sign a lease, to remove you of repsonsibility over the apartment.
The management does have to watch how quickly they raise rent, though, because they could overprise the apartments.

One thing to be careful of: a small block of apartments are entirely run by electricity, no gas. These are more costly to live in! uWDgQKY3Vkv8FKIsB8Ax

Your thoughts? Post a response to this review. Display my response: with my username anonymously Responses appear below reviews and one response per user is permitted.

   Free estimates on moving trucks      Find apartment share/roommates