We looked at more than 10 different apartments around the Akron area before we settled on this one. We've lived here 8 months already and do not regret our decision at all. Me and my wife are 30, we have a 3-year old boy. We live in a 2nd floor 2BR/2TB 1200 sq.ft. unit with a "solarium" (extra room with window), and a den. We pay $879 a month.

LOCATION - the area is in Merriman Valley, Northwest of Akron, surrounded by trees, parks and posh neighborhoods. Not much traffic, lots of trails for biking and hiking. Nearby is another apartment complex that is as horrendous as Hampton Knoll is wonderful (we looked). The complex itself is surrounded on 3 sides by trees and low hills. Lots of pretty, well-groomed shrubbery.

PARKING - open parking is abundant and conveniently located - garages are not, we are in fact on a wait-list for one. Extra 40 bucks a month, I think.

LEASING OFFICE - excellent amenities, well-furnished social hall with plasma HDTV, complimentary fresh-baked cookies, CLEAN fitness center with new weight system, 2 ellipticals and 2 treadmills. Big, clean swimming pool. Business center with free internet access, copy/fax. There is always some kind of gathering or event in the office to keep up the camaraderie and neighborly feeling.

STAFF - very helpful, friendly and accommodating staff who go out of their way to address issues. You are greeted by name. They are even open half-day on Sundays. Handyman is very efficient and dependable. Example: Neighbor across hall from us smokes maybe 3 packs a day in his unit. Smell of smoke entered and stank up our place. One visit to leasing office, and the NEXT DAY, handyman comes and reinforces stripping around our door. Now they have ordered air purifiers for the hallway. Problem solved.

DESIGN - very new, modern and tasteful building design (built in 2005, I believe). Luxury apartments indeed. Everything is new - fixtures, paint, carpet. They are also continuing expansion with more units, in well-planned clusters. Electric key access system (very cool!) 3-floor buildings with 3-4 units per floor. Secure hallways and common foyer with 1 main entrance. Intercom system. No ants, no roaches, no mice, no rats. Minor issue: Apparently a small colony of ladybugs moved into our ventilation system. Every so often, when we turned our heater on, a couple of half-dead ones would fall on the floor under the vents. Haven't seen any for the last 3 months, so maybe they got wiped out. I can think of much worse bugs than ladybugs that can live in your house!

BUILD QUALITY - well-designed, well-engineered units. All in-suite appliances are brand new. Insulation is excellent (of course, since buildings are only 2 years old), no cold drafts. No squeaks, no creaks, no rotting wood, no moldy floors or tiles, no water damaged ceilings. Floors may be too thin, as we have an upstairs neighbor who insists on doing jumping jacks at 2AM once or twice a week - may keep light sleepers up!

NEIGHBORS - everybody seems to be either well-educated or professionals. Average age of tenants I've encountered mid-30's early 40's. Many doctors, lawyers in area. Fair share of BMW, Lexus, Mercedes in open parking areas. We also have at least one police officer who lives here. Everyone is discreet, invisible, but friendly when encountered. No scary people, crack addicts or drug dealers here. Minor issue: No playground for kids.

RENT - in upper range - however, in my opinion, you get your money's worth.

NOTE: In this general vicinity, there emanates from a nearby sewage plant an odor of musty, rotting wood and/or human filth. This happens maybe 2-3x/week early morning or late night. Bothersome for the 15-20 seconds you are walking to your car - never gets indoors.

BOTTOM LINE: When you look for an apartment, try to evaluate the key areas I mentioned (and others that may be important to you - like pet policy, etc.). Check out as many places as you can before deciding on one. Look online and also local apartment guides (free in grocery stores). Remember, you are choosing a place to LIVE IN. Weigh your options carefully. And if you do decide to live here, you won't regret it! qmzu4EHcaGAPVCPw2Fai

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 03/16/2007
I just visited this apartment complex and am AMAZED!!! This place is STUNNING! I too have looked at about 10 different places recently and Hampton Knoll truly encompasses luxury living. And thank you very much to the person who wrote this lovely detailed review and provided photos :)
From: medstudent2001	Date: 04/03/2007
My oh my. it sure sounds like to me that this is a member oe management crew ect. or some emplyee writing this review. Think about it. Why would anybody write such a long review and take time to make sure that everything is written so carefully and worded so nicely? And the pictures? Looks like whoever this is does not have any belongings in their so called :awesome" apartment, because these are definately pictures taken of a vacant apartment that this so called "renter" is trying to fill. Who take pictures of their apartment before they move in? What would be the point in that. I lived at this hell hole and thank God we got out. Our apartment flooded, mold was everywhere, it took more than two weeks for anyone to care enough to finally get someone into fix and get the mold out. But of course the three days we ended up having to stay in a hotel bc the smell was so bad, and of course unhealthy, did we get any discount on that months rent, or reimbursed for our stay at a hotel? No. By the way, their is a drug dealer that still lives there. back left side of pool while facing it on second floor to be exact. How do I know this? The cops have been there, I saw them outside during last summer as they were questioning him due to the fact that he was throwing around his girlfriend..and a gun was shot off too. Cars drive by all hours of the night screeching the tires and engines, and the Manager is the rudest person I have ever encountered being in a customer service position. You think you would have your braces taken off by the time you are 40. ANyway, the lay out is nice. But unless you are a rich college kid wanting to party and spend Daddys money on the overpriced rent? Dont move here.
From: frenchydal	Date: 04/07/2007
To Medstudent2001: I AM a renter here. We took pictures of our new place before we moved in. We live on the 2nd floor in building 9. Notice how it is only YOU who has reviewed this place negatively out of all the others. Your grammar also makes me doubt that you are indeed in the medical field. Being a physician myself, I would think that whichever "Med School" you went to (still going to or dropped out of?) would have taught you at least a basic command of syntax. I am afraid for you when you do dictations and medical charting. Also the personal attack on the manager's dental situation really gives your "review" credibility. If she was rude to you then you must have been rude to her. Good riddance to you then, and thank you for moving out. Like I said in my review, the place speaks for itself. Come over and judge, if you truly agree with medstudent2001's opinion after you do, then by all means find a better place to live and be well! I am also posting some pictures of my "fictitious" wife and son in our "fake" apartment. That is my "son" on our "bed".
From: YoungExecutive	Date: 07/21/2007
I agree with frenchydal. I just moved in couple of months ago and I love it here. I have lived in many apartments in the Akron area and this is by far one of the nicest I have come across. I am in medical sales and I find the atmosphere here to be about the same type of demographic (executives, docs, etc.) Obviously medstudent2001 had a bad experience and was probably evicted for not being able to afford rent and not really fitting in, med student? please..your grammer is too horrendous to ever be taken seriously as someone that is even halfway intelligent. Overall, go with the general review of Hampton Knoll, it is safe, clean, beautiful and perfect for everyone that wants a nice place to live.
From: Anonymous	Date: 10/05/2007
You have posted a very informative review. I think that it is wonderful that you have found a place that you enjoy calling home. My wife and I, on the other hand, were in love with the place when we moved in also, but everything went downhill from there. The manager was not very curteous and always seemed bothered by a simple request for maintenance to come by asap, because our entire living room and solarium was drenched and flooded by the rain a few months back. Every time it rained outside...it rained inside. We had mold growing throughout our entire unit, my childrens plush toys and some clothing in the closets were ruined, but of course never replaced. Amongst many other unfortunate events that took place and rude management, the place is beautiful. I do agree with you there. Maybe it would be a better living experience if we lived on the second or third floor. Hope that things are sill working out for you and your family. God Bless.

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