I've lived in three units within Waterford Place, and started residency there when my building was still new and unfinished in 2003-2004. Overall, the experience there was a cut above the other apartment communities I had known, but this is easy for a complex to do when everything is brand spanking new (with cleverly arranges kitchens, plush carpeting, checker tiled floors and color matched appliances / cabinetry).

Over the years, the living quality has slipped, however, but more due to management neglect than age. During my time there the management had changed hands, and things seemed to go downhill a little more shortly after. There appears to be much less funding for manicuring the grounds, and the maintenance was a little shaky during the transition of ownership to the new management company. The people currently in charge didn't really impress me, compared to the original team. I was late on my rent check and they were all too enthusiastic about attaching a $50.00 late charge to what I owed (NH laws need to change to stop landlords from being able to do this).

Overall, Waterford Place is still a nice place to rent from, and I certainly suggest checking it out. My advice is to rent from the third floor, in a corner pocket. I say this not only for the view, but the noise factor, which is perhaps Waterford Place's biggest problem (prefabricated walls in many of these apartment communities don't mask sound too well at all).

The good: plenty of light, beautiful appliances, nice decks, spacious floor plans and way cool dormas, if you're on the top floor (make sure you have blinds installed on them, however...I can't for the life of me figure out why these were not included during construction!). Waterford place is just minutes from downtown Manchester by car, which is very convenient. It's very close to Rt 93 and just an hour away from the mountains. The maintenance staff is responsive and competent. The management staff is friendly and enthusiastic.

The bad: Noise, noise, noise. Noise from the neighbor, noise from the cars outside, noise from the landscapers at nine in the morning. Noise from big trucks, planes from the nearby airport and screaming children. The landscaping isn't as good as it used to be.

It's tough to say weather I'd personally recommend Waterford Place, ultimately. It has some very nice features, outdoing many apartment complexes in the region. I feel there is a lack of human touch to Sentinal's ways, however. As a resident, you quickly pick up on a corporate atmosphere at the helm, not that the staff themselves are naturally this way, but the company most certainly is. It's clear to me Sentinel is all about profit and liability coverage in the short-term; they seem to care less about things like resident retention, loyalty and relations, much unlike Winn Management, who first owned and operated the complex. I sometimes get the feeling that even the office staff themselves are hostages of a very rigid set of company policies.

* Side note: One of the other reviews here titles itself, "Beautiful place, but read your lease!" I couldn't help but recall after reading that how Sentinel never supplied a copy of the lease to me (after having me sign and initial gobs of paperwork, of course). The lease comes to you on a request basis only, apparently, but I do highly recommend getting a copy for some late night reading with a mug of hot chocolate.

*Added 04-01-09: I was pleased with the way the management staff handled my move-out. They did everything in their power to keep me there after I sent my formal letter of non-renewal. Considering Sentinel's rigid policies, Maura and Erica did their best to see me stay.

User Responses
From: exrenter20042008	Date: 03/15/2009
I agree with you on the management company! I moved into waterford place in 2004, when WINN Management was there and I was very happy with them. Like you, I noticed the changes with the landscaping and such when they sold it off to sentinel. Also, the new staff not as helpful or friendly. I moved out last summer because rent too high. So,after 4 years as a resident there and never being late with rental payments, I wasnt offered anything to stay...what does that say about a so called HIGH END APT COMMUNITY WHEN THEY DONT EVEN WANT TO RETAIN THE LONG TERM RESIDENTS DURING THIS TOUGH ECONOMY? I know WINN would have!!!!!
From: Anonymous	Date: 05/08/2009
This sounds like a marketing line from the staff themselves
From: mpalmerdesign	Date: 09/22/2009
@Anonymous: It does? Huh. I don't know about you, but if I were cooking up a pseudo-review, I'd be all sugar and spice about it. You may want to re-read and note I have my share of grievances above.

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