I lived at Broadstone for three years, since they first opened up. They keep the grounds nice and pretty, but it's what is on the inside that counts. For three years I had a major leak over the tub, three years of off and on documentation pertaining to the leak. The leak spawned mildew, rust, and destroyed the ceiling and paint over time damage to the property. It wasn t until the property manager knew we had grounds to break the lease w/o owing a single penny that she finally sent someone out besides the bumbling maintenance man to really fix the leak.

I agree with other posts on the subject of client relations, in which none of the staff has. The property manager, and the skinny lady under her, both treat you like you're an enemy after you sign a lease.

IMPORTANT: they add on amendments that go beyond the standard TAA contract. They jack up the price of their units to way over $1000/mo and then tell you that you only have to pay $840/mo to cajole you into signing a 9 to 12 month lease. Pay the extra money and go month to month, not agreeing to ANY amendments, OR go find an honest place to live. If the planets don't align and you have to break your lease a couple months early (whether it's medical, job move, or you finally buy that house) you'll have to pay back your entire "special" which amounts to thousands of dollars (but not enough to contest in court for exuberant charges and they know that).

Standard TAA contracts say that if you break your lease you pay a re-letting fee, and the rent until they re-lease the unit - this is TEXAS LAW. This is fine because it is the law, and I was prepared for this. It is the extra amendments that I find wrong and greedy, since I fulfilled our contract for three years, up to the point I broke my lease. My advice: don't put the leverage in their greedy hands.
- Don't sign any amendments, especially the ones that show up on your door a few days AFTER you sign the lease.
- Be sure and ask for SIGNED copies of EVERYTHING. Don't leave until they give that to you, and don't sign until the Property Manager's signature is on the documentation first. They'll try and slide you blank copies of the contract, protecting themselves with a small line at the end of the contract that says, "come down to the office and ask for signed copies later" (don't accept this - get them before you step out of the office).
-Document everything. It's hard to do this because you expect people to conduct themselves in an honest and professional manner. It's worth it - every little problem send a letter to the office and get it signed - take pictures, it's worth it in the end (preventative law).
I've lived in many apartment complexes, and I have never dealt with the insincerity and greed that I have dealt with at Broadstone. I will never do business with Alliance Communities again and STRONGLY advice others to avoid this company as well.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/25/2007
Thanks for the response, Broadstone employee. I'm not saying that I haven't made mistakes. I'm still young and I've definitely learned from this one; hence this post. I want others to learn from my mistakes. Standard practice in any contractual agreement is that BOTH parties have signed copies of all documents. I DID ask for copies every time AFTER signing a lease. I just assumed when the Broadstone Rep returned from the back room that they were giving me signed copies. It was my mistake for trusting this instinct and blindly not thinking anything of it (they've always been signed copies in the past with other complexes). They NEVER told me up front of this stipulation with the special - it is not mentioned in my 2005 or 2006 lease amendment. This stipulation came two days later on a blue pen written sheet - which is not UP FRONT. Again, it was my mistake for signing this, no-one plans to break a lease. But my mistake does not negate the fact that Alliance Communities charges EXUBERANT fees way beyond standard TAA contractual guidelines, and Texas law, for breaking a lease. People break leases. Life happens, and it's wrong and greedy to be penalized beyond the standard state penalty. To sum up, see some of the other legit complaints, from over crowded parking to amateur maintenance. I'm glad you???re happy there, I'll be curious to know if you???re still happy by the time you leave. PS- what floor plan are you living in that's priced THAT low?
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/29/2007
RESPONSE: *sigh* WHy is it that when you don't agree here, everyone immediately cried "You work there! You work there!" I'm a resident, lived here since late last year and I'm on the third floor. I'm not so lazy that I mind walking up a few stairs in return for a reduced rent (if that's the case... they never mentioned the 3rd floor being cheaper but it makes sense). You broke your lease. Period. You signed the amendment. You were penalized and now, although you stayed at the apts for THREE YEARS, you are crying foul because you broke your lease and they are doing what ANY property mgmt company will do. I've broken a lease before... I understand your frustration but bashing the apt. complex for it ain't cool. I'm still pretty happy here... there are parking issues if you get home lste, yes. You will walk a few more yards that you usually do. Big frickin deal. Other than that, I've had no issues. /END RESPONSE They told me before I even signed the lease and the amendment that if I broke my lease or was late on paying the rent that I would have to pay the full amount of the $100 a month off special. They told me that rent was normally $775 on my unit (including pet rent) but with the special the cost would be $675 per month. That's exactly what I pay. I rec'd a copy of my lease because I asked for it. Standard practice with ANYTHING you sign... never expect to get it later. Other than the problem you had getting your leak fixed, I can see no reason why you should be so upset. You broke your lease... most other property management companies are pretty relentless when it comes to breaking the lease. You WILL pay for it. And like I said, they told me UP FRONT what I would be facing if I broke my lease or if I was late paying the rent. As for the asst. mgr (skinny lady), I believe her name is Karen and she's always been very respectful to me. She even remembered my name when I came in to pick up a package once. The younger office workers aren't quite as friendly and I rarely have the occasion to speak with the property manager but the asst. mgr. is quite professional and even friendly. If you lived here for three years I can only assume there was SOMETHING you liked about the place. If not, why stay here for so long? It sounds to me like you are upset because you broke your lease and have to pay up that "amendment" portion (the special you get for signing) that they tell you UP FRONT will be owed should you break the lease early.
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/02/2007
Totally agree with the 7/29 answer! I lived there for 2 yrs & had to relocate for professional reasons. I asked questions & got straight answers! Ended up having my employer picking up the tab for having to renew my lease month to month instead of breaking it(Yes! "life happens"!) The staff was always helpful & friendly to me! I had problems with my tub & leak in my restroom as well but ALWAYS had someone taking care of it right away!?! Here is the reason behind it: "friendly people get friendly feedback!". I'm a healthcare professional & deal with angry (Workers' Comp) patients every day... "Throwing rules & laws" at them doesn't help! But a "smile" goes a long way! Same applies in every day life!

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