From:
epotter
Date posted:
3/6/2008
Years at this apartment:
2007
-
2008
4 responses
* Residents have reserved parking spaces, but there are almost no guest spaces - which means that visitors to the complex frequently park in resident spaces, and we have no recourse.
* The apartments have aging, bottom-of-the-line appliances that are frequently broken. In my first 4 months here, I had to make 5 maintenance requests due to breaking appliances or cabinetry. 3 of those 5 requests were not responded to at all, including 2 that involved water leaks.
* Apartment staff in the main office are rude and aloof when you come to them with problems such as the maintenance gripe above. Apparently, any transaction not in writing basically "didn't happen."
* Pet policies are unreasonably expensive and restrictive, compared to other apartments I've rented.
* The apartment (or maybe Finger, its parent) handles rent like a slumlord - if your check arrives 3 days late, an eviction notice appears (3 days is not an exaggeration - I have the eviction notice to prove it).
* Local wildlife (squirrels, birds, lizards) regularly find their way into the apartment, even though I'm on the third floor. I haven't had any problems with ants, roaches, or rodents (unless you count the squirrels).
* The complex describes itself as "luxury" but I've lived in "luxury" apartments at the same price level and this does not qualify. Appliances, carpets, countertops, cabinetry, lighting, and external appearance, among other things, do not meet any definition of "quality" - apartments I rented within the city of Atlanta for $300/month less were better equipped than this place.
The Park at Armand Bayou is not a nice place to live, and definitely isn't worth the rent they charge (my rent went up substantially when my contract renewal came up, even though I doubled the lease term from 6 months to 1 year). And of course I'm stuck here for the full term of the lease; if I want to leave early, I have to pay a lump sum including my rent for the remainder of the lease term, an early move-out fee, plus an additional monthly fee for their "trouble" until the apartment is leased out again. Wonderful.
Recommended: NO
Overall Rating
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User Responses
From:
elgringito
Date:
03/10/2008
Isn't interesting how after you get through the gripes, it all comes down to the last paragraph? The reviewer resents the terms of the lease they signed, and not the first lease, the renewal lease. I have lived in three upscale apartments in Houston, liked all three, but the Park was my favorite and it was the most "luxurious". The 3 day late policy and the pet policy (which was $500 deposit and $25 extra per month - both resonable to this person who owns no pets but has seen the damage pets do) was the same at Camden Midtown. At 3525 Sage Road the policy is 5 days late and the pet policy is about the same.
In 3 years at the Park I had not one appliance break down, and only two maintenance requests, one to fix a door that lost a hinge when I tripped into it and one to re-caulk the bathroom tub. Both were handled on a timely basis.
I loved to watch the racoons in the tree outside my third floor apartment. I had a green lizard in my apartment 3 or 4 times. I picked the Park BECAUSE it was right next to the beautiful Armand Bayou Nature Preserve (that's BAYOU and that means wildlife) - if you want concrete jungle DO NOT live here.
From:
epotter
Date:
03/15/2008
I'm not sure what kind of spare time you have, but moving after six months wasn't really a viable option for me, hence renewing the lease. But in a way, you're right - it *does* come down to the last bit, because like it or not, I'm basically forced to stay here.
As for "luxury" - I'm not sure what your definition of "luxurious" is but mine doesn't include warped, scuffed up 30-year-old Formica counters, bottom-end appliances, rusting mirrors, or shower controls that don't let you regulate water pressure. I can see daylight around all four sides of my entrance door when it's closed; the bottom of it is coming delaminated which doesn't help.
I have a faucet in the bathroom that leaks sometimes; I made a maintenance request to have it looked at and nobody ever bothered to show up and look at it (after two requests). After two requests to have a inoperative burner on the stove replaced, I finally gave up and bought one at Lowe's. The garbage disposal is worse than broken, because when you flip the switch, it spins - so the "management" insists it's fine. No matter that it doesn't actually grind anything; at best it sends huge clumps into the plumbing that have to be removed; otherwise things just pile up and I have to fish them out by hand. Which means that basically I have no disposal.
The nature around the complex is wonderful; the raccoons are fun to watch, and I love listening to the birds in the morning - as long as they're not *in my apartment*. That's happened twice, and I've seen them crawl into dryer vents on various buildings. I shouldn't say that too loudly, or they'll charge me for having a pet! Which would mean, in addition to the deposit and monthly charge, an unexplained nonrefundable $200 charge, and a mandatory charge to perform the cleanup that they would (or should) normally do anyway after a resident moves out, like cleaning the carpet.
It's nice that you're happy here. I'm not, and these are reasons why. There are things to like about the facility, like the individual garages and copious storage space inside the unit. If they tried a little harder to address the concerns of *all* residents, and kept the units a bit more up to date, I would probably be happy here.
From:
eliza493
Date:
04/18/2008
Response to your review: 1) Guest parking is limited, but it is worse at other apt. complexes. You claim that you have no recourse when someone parks in your reserved space, but there is something you can do. Write down the license plate number, make and model of the vehicle and report it to the office in writing. I'm curious. Do you have a garage? Most apts come with a garage. 2)The appliances in our apt. are practically brand new and we have never had a problem with any of them. 3)We have never had a problem with any of the office staff. They've always been very helpful. IF you review your lease, it plainly states that ALL maintenance requests MUST be submitted in writing. This is standard at most apt. complexes. 4)We do not have a pet, so we have no idea what is true. I'm curious though. Didn't you know the pet policy prior to signing your lease? If so, why did you agree to the terms? 5)Again, it is stated in the lease that your rent must be paid on time. It also states that you will receive a notice if your payment is late. That is NOT slumlord policy, but simply a good accounting policy on the part of the PAAB. A slumlord would be defined as one who allows tenants to pay their rent late and it also implies that the PAAB is a slum, but it definitely is not! 6)We haven't had any problems with local wildlife, but were informed prior to moving in that the complex IS next door to the Armand Bayou Nature Center. 7)This is Houston, NOT Georgia, so you cannot compare an apt. in Atlanta to an apt. in Houston. Compared to other apt. complexes in the same area, the PAAB is considered luxury apts. 8) ALL apt. complexes raise your rent when you renew your lease. This is standard policy. Perhaps you should have signed a one year lease to begin with then you wouldn't be in the situation you are in now. Finally, I'll admit that the rental rate at the PAAB is high, but you get what you pay for. Valet trash service 3 times a week, full size washer/dryer, business center, fitness center, 2 swimming pools, gated entry, reasonable water bill, and most of all PEACE and QUIET! We Love it here!
From:
Anonymous
Date:
05/21/2008
Yes, it is quiet here...but parking is horrible. The racoon problem is crazy. Pet prices are NOT reasonable. I don't know anyones location but we can't even get in our garage. The maintainence is slow and office is not friendly. My lease is soon to be over and I will be OUT. I wouldn't recommend this place (too much money for what you get).
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