Noise-
We are on a bottom floor and we have lived on the bottom floor before but have never experienced this before. We can hear almost every footstep the people above us make. Of course, that's not their fault. The apartment is quite old and very creaky. I'm wondering if it's due to poor construction.
We have had issues with our neighbors playing extremely loud music with a lot of thumping. I've reported it many, many times (over twenty). Each time I call the front office they seem more and more annoyed that I'm calling about this. Loud music was a main concern of mine when we (my husband and I) moved in here. I voiced that concern with the staff previous to signing the lease. They showed me a courteous neighbor statement that everyone must sign prior to move in. It basically states that (along with other issues) if you are not able to maintain a proper noise level and refuse to do so after multiple notices you will be evicted. Well, like I said these people have received over twenty notices and to my knowledge nothing has been done.
Our apartment is facing the playground so naturally I was aware we would hear kids playing and sometimes screaming. However, we were not told that they allow skaters to bring out their skateboard rails and grind on these basically right in front of my apartment. When I called to say something I was told that the area was made specifically for skateboarders. While I think it is wonderful that they are accommodating that crowd I think it is HORRIBLE that they would not inform a future tenant that they might be subjected to some excruciating metal on metal grinding noise.

Electricity Bill-
We live in an apartment that is a little over 1000 sqft and our electricity bill, on average, is $220-250. This is with us keeping the temp at 75-78 degrees. The maintenance people have come out a couple times to do things to the AC but nothing has changed.

Lease Renewal Rates-
I have lived in many apartments over the years. I'm very familiar with renewal rate changes. I must say I am completely appalled by what AIMCO or Village in the Woods is choosing to do to their current residents.
We received our lease renewal letter (mind you we currently pay $699/month) stating that if we renewed within the next week and a half (our lease isn t up for another 3 months) that our rate would only go up by $80/month!!! If we waited to sign until after a week and a half from now then it would go up by $125/month!!! I have NEVER heard of such an increase whether it be $80 or $125. They stated in the letter this was due to economic reasons. So I decided to call and ask what exactly that meant. I was told it was all about supply and demand. Housing is currently doing poorly and apartments are doing great. They are in demand so they are upping the rates. I understand upping the rates for NEW tenants and even doing a slight increase (as in $20-$30/month) for current tenants. However, the basic feel I get from this is, hey if you don t want to pay it someone else will so get out of the way.
I m just in complete shock over this. I would say a majority of people who choose to rent an apartment and especially people that choose to rent apartments at these lower rates, as I did, did not plan in their budget for a $80-$125 increase in rent. That s an 11-18% increase.
Conclusion-
When my husband and I first moved here, we new these weren t fantastic apartments by far. However, they were exceptionally nice for the price. The staff that we dealt with when we first moved was extremely courteous and caring. Now, I m wondering if that was all just good sales technique. The neighbors here, in my opinion, aren t really that bad. We ve never had any safety issues. We were planning on living here for the next 5 years to prepare for a house. Now, I don t know what we are going to do. As we really don t want to afford an $80 increase because what if it increases like that (or worse) in another year'
All in all I m just really saddened by, what seems to be, their complete lack of customer care. They honest do just seem all about the bottom line. While I do understand this is a business and a business needs to make money. A business also needs to take care of their customer as the customer is what keeps the business alive.

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