50/50 describes my impressions
From:
-Anonymous-
Date posted:
2/5/2005
Years at this apartment:
2002
-
2005
My feelings are mixed about Northview Harbor (NH). The best things about NH are the grounds--which are meticulously maintained. Flowers are planted each spring, grass is always kept up, and walks and drives are shoveled right away each day it snows. The pool is clean and the tennis courts are a nice added perk. My favorite thing is the Powerhouse Gym membership for only $25 annually. The gym is about 1.5 miles away and is conveniently located.
I've lived here for 4 years...and in that time, I have generally seen improvements over deterioration--which is a plus.
The "down sides" are:
1. If you're not a smoker, the smoke from other tenants wafts strongly into your unit (the door seals are not tight.)
2. The HEAT BILLS are atrocious! These units are HORRIBLY INSULATED. I live in a 2nd floor unit, and have the heat set at about 68 degrees in the winter. At best, the living room heats up to only 65, and our bedroom stays a fairly consistent 55-60 degrees throughout the winter. That's with the hallway door open and the heat set between 68-70 degrees. It's miserable! It feels as though there is literally no insulation! Our heat bills, for a 2-bedroom unit (2nd floor) range from $140 to $200 a month in the winter. That's outrageous. The air-conditioning bills are just as bad in the summertime.
3. The units are older--and show wear, tear, and just need rejuvination (e.g., the outside brick and siding could use a pressure wash, paint, and all-around TLC...but then again, these buildings are around 25 years old.)
4. Office staff is highly transient--however, they have always been friendly and helpful. Still, billing errors are not uncommon.
5. Add-ons to your monthly bill makes for an inconsistent monthly rent. Your water and sewer bills are added to your rent each month. These fluctuate and are pro-rated by the usage of the entire complex...so, even if you and a roommate conserve water and recycle much of your trash elsewhere...you still pay the same as any other 2-person, 2-bedroom tenant who might use a ton of water and dispose a great deal of trash.
6. 1 carport per unit, even if you rent a 2-bdr unit.
7. Washer-and-drier available, but for $40 a month rent. They're making money hand-over-fist with this. (I have my own washer and drier...but theirs were already in the unit I rented.)
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