A few weeks ago, my girlfriend and I did an apartment search. We had requirements for price, the location, and we wanted a gym so we could quit ours and save more money. Westpointe was the best option for all the criteria, plus there were some perks like getting an accent wall painted, and a electric heating, which should save on utilities. I also really liked the landscaping and patios, it's really nice to be able to look out the window and have a pleasant view.

A few days after we committed to renting there, I google searched the complex, and came across this apartment ratings sight. Holy crap! I sorta freaked out, it made the complex sound like hell.

After a while, I decided not to worry. Every complex probably has a few problems and some unhappy residents. Those unhappy are probably a lot more motivated to give a review on the internet, than those with adequate to happy experiences. I was hoping the reviews were the exception, not the rule. I also thought some of the reviews were connected, and some could be fake ones from competition.

After 10 days there, I believe I'll be right. So far, I'm happy with it. It's no paradise, but actually little better than I expected, given the rent. Maybe my opinion will change in six months, but so far so good. So, I felt compelled to write my own review, in case someone like me comes across this site and freaks out. I'll address some of these complaints/comments I've seen:

1. You get what you pay for.
I totally agree. But the rent isn't peanuts, and it should be a pretty decent experience for the money and area. For me personally, I'd rather buy than spend much more on rent than this. At this price, I don't expect everything to be top notch, maybe maintenance will be a little slow, but the savings are worth it for me.

2. It's section 8, there's dopeheads, thieves, and crack dealers
I don't believe it is section 8. I'm not totally sure, but I think it would be more obvious if it were. I figured, like at other places I've rented, there would be low income families, young people/families, and students. That's what it looks like to me around there. I haven't suspected anyone I've seen of being dopehead, or crackhead, and I haven't had anything stolen.

3. Maintenance and staff are bad
The front office, I really like. They always answer the phone, they are friendly, and usually try their best to help with our problems. I get the impression that the maintenance team is shared amongst other gannon properties, so front office and maintenace are not one in the same. When we called front office with problems, they usually had to "call" maintenance and then get back to us. I thought this could be a brush-off (because couldn't they just yell across the desk to get maintenace) but then I realized what the relationship between maintenance and front desk probably is.

The maintenance team, not so thrilled with, but once again, I didn't except much for the price, so I shouldn't complain. We had 2 issues when we moved in. The refridgerator bulb was out, and our accent wall wasn't painted. We called, and maintenance was supposed to come monday. The bulb got fixed then, but the wall still was not painted. We called again, the maintenance guy called us back to schedule the painting (the next day). It still didn't happen, we were getting angry. We called Thursday, and the front office found out there was a family death in the maintenance, which is why it didn't get painted, it would now be next week. We asked if we the front desk to just give us the paint, and we'd do it ourselves, which they agreed to. So, the maitenance could have done a better job handling the wall, but at least they get to some things quickly (the bulb).

4. The landscape is a jungle of wasps
I thought the landscaping was a strong point. It's nice to look out the window, and it not be a parking lot. It seems like every unit has something please to look at out the window. It seems pretty well keep, and I haven't seen any wasps.

5. The roof leaks
My downstairs apartment has not had any roof leaks. There's been a couple strong rainstorms already.

6. Brown recluses
I haven't seen any spiders in my building.

7. Parking is overcrowded
I haven't observed this at all, I always find a spot reasonably close. I do wish there were more lights in the lot though, it's pretty dark at night.

8. Police are always there
I have seen Maryland Heights police drive through a few times. They weren't making arrests and did not seem to be responding to calls. The fact that they're just driving through could be a plus in the safety column.

In summary, I believe some of the reviewers have legitimate gripes and have the right to be angry. But the chances are more likely you'll be satisified with your apartment. Especially if you have the right expections for the rent, and are ok with it. You may even find it a somewhat exceptional value, like me.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/04/2008
What an IDIOT! You cannot make a complete assessment of a rental property after TEN days staying there! I'll see you back here in the winter when your roof is on the verge of caving in from leaking ice melt.
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/16/2008
I thought it was a awesome review so ignore the person that is calling you a idiot. Most likely they are not happy with anything
From: lvytn	Date: 08/17/2008
I will be moving into an apt on Tavel in a few weeks, and these awful reviews I just read really got to me too. I think it really depends which building you end up in, the luck of the draw. They let me look at a vacant apt to see the floor plan, and there was a brown recluse spider running around in the bathtub heh.. foreboding.. Would you mind mentioning which street you are living on? I know some parts are known to be worse than others. The maintenance issue does seem like it may be something to be concerned about. What if your heater breaks in the winter and maintenance responds the same way they did about painting your wall? I suppose time will tell. $500 in Maryland Heights is phenomenal tho.
From: rydadude	Date: 08/26/2008
It's been about a month, and my review still stands. I'm not happy with the fitness center though, it's tough to get a cardio machine in the evenings, and a treadmill has been out of order almost the whole time. I may join the YMCA down the street. My apartment is one of the blue roofed ones, and is away from the woods. Maybe the ones near the woods are the ones you need watch out for. A friend of a friend lived in one near the woods and he had spiders. Maintenance sprayed and corrected the problem, though. Also, I'm thinking they probably aren't out to scam people on move out, as I've seen in some reviews. Of course, I don't know for sure, but I can't see them putting on live music on Wednesdays and parties with free barbeque, if they were trying to squeeze every penny they could. The live music could be to entice new tenants, as they are advertised near the entrances. The party with food was just advertised for tenants, though.
From: Anonymous	Date: 09/10/2008
you are right about a lot of what you are saying, I have known the apartments for many years now and i will clarify the maintanance has its own office and is not connected with the front office...so when tehy said they need to call maintanace , is true....it is unfortunate that you did not get your wall painted thou....They used to be my clients and I used to take care of their corporate apartments for many years...I am now a property Manager in the city of Saint Louis...But I do remember they gave much attention to detail and very much profesional attention to everything that has to do with they units...and to keep the tenants pleased....as to the person that called you an idiot...well calling people names in the shawdows of the internet is just inmature and idiotic on it's own....I want to thank ou for the honest review...i wish people was more honest on their reviews...there is always folks that expect more for what they pay for.
From: shari301	Date: 09/17/2008
i just signed a lease today i really wish i would have read the reviews first and then make an informed decision i dont move in until the first of oct. so we shall see
From: Anonymous	Date: 09/30/2008
I really appreciate the comment you made about the ratings on here. You can't please everyone, but the point that you made that some of the comments made could and probably are fake, and/or people that are just never happy. Thank you very much... It made the apartment ratings much easier to read. I hope you continue to enjoy the place, and I will be looking it up when I get there! Thanks!
From: Anonymous	Date: 11/11/2008
I have lived here for a little over 4 years now. I have been satisfied with my apartment, the staff & the maintenance. Every time I have needed to have something fixed they came right away and fixed it-no problem. I had a friend that used to work in the leasing office, and I would say that there is probably some truth to the statements that you want to stay in the units on the west side of Bennington. As for the Maryland Heights police driving through the complex- THAT'S THEIR JOB!!! My car insurance is much lower living here than in a few other places I've lived around St. Louis. If you think someone near you is dealing drugs, or beating their girlfriend or whatever, call the police-that's what they are there for! Seriously, what do you think a leasing agent is going to be able to do about crime? They can kick the people out eventually, but it would go much faster if they had a police report.

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