Crystal Springs has changed its name to Oakwell Springs to match other apartment complexes in the neighborhood. There is new management, the pool is clean, the laundry room machines have been fixed, the grounds are cleaner, they seemed to be doing a much better job. They respond promptly when I need something repaired. But every time a new management takes over they want to raise the rent, do they realize that all the previous ones did the same thing,they raise it only by $10 but it is now three managment changes so it is $30 more expensive since I moved in'

I come from Hawaii where I had a great experience with the management. The staff at Crystal Springs seems very friendly but do not be an hour late with the rent because they will impose a hefty fine, well, after all,for them, it is just a business. From where I moved I was late twice, but because I was a good tenant they did not charge any penalties.

After being in Texas I have been able to see other apartments and in comparison the one I am renting is a bit small for the price. The second room is small for a bedroom; it might be a good office space. The apartment is good for a single person or a couple that sleeps toguether and uses the second room for storage. This place has a nice swimming pool, a volleyball sand court, but the gym is small. Since I hardly use these amenities then I am paying for facilities that I am not taking advantage of. Therefore think carefully if you will be using these amenities and how often to make it worth your money.

If I want a remote to open the gate then I have to pay $30, so a couple would have to pay $60 if they want to have a remote for each one of them. I think that the remote should be given automatically to all tenant and a returnable deposit secures its cost. People that live close to the front gate don't really need a remote because the gate can be opened with a code, but people without a remote and who live close to the rear gate have to drive all the way around the complex.

I like the location because it is convenient to many stores, library, schools, hospitals, etc. The grounds are pretty and well kept, it is the complex's selling quality. There is covered parking for one car per apartment.

This apartment complex has three flights, the stairs were changed from wood to cement. But the people that had the contract to do the stair did a very sloppy job because the steps are at a different spacing from each other; I feel the management paid the cheapest contractor for the job. For tenants living on the second and third floors this is quite dangerous. If the new management fixes the stairs I will remove this comment.

My biggest complaint is that the water bill is shared among all the tenants, therefore it doesn't matter how much you conserve in water because you won't see the savings in the water bill. Some people pay 14 dollars for the water bill but some others with the same number of people and the same size apartment pay up to $40. I understand that the family on the largest apartments pay above $100. Gas bills are charged the same, shared by all. I get the impression from the neighbors that if you live in the more expensive apartments then your utility bills are automatically larger even if the use of water is the same as in the smaller apartment.

When I first came here,under the first management, I was enticed by the fact that I didn't have to pay either water or gas bills, now they have raised the rent and added the water and gas bills. The tenants don't have access to the water and gass meters, tenants have to trust on whatever the office decides to charge. I went away on a trip for a month and a half and on my return the water bill was only two dollars cheaper. I feel we should have easy access to the water and gass meters and know how many tenants are there in order to make an approximate calculation. I have gone from not paying $0 for gass and water to paying $12, to today paying $70. I am single and I often travel for weeks at a time and the cost of the services don't reflect my abcense.

The dish washer is useless,it is old and it leaks. I would like to have it changed or removed so that I can use the space, the kitchen is very small.

Since the apartments are small the gazebo is the place to hold gatherings, it is a pretty place but it's use is limited if it is raining, or null during the cold months of the year since there are no walls to insulate it. In other apartment complexes there is a closed space with a large TV, a refrigerator, and even a stove for the convenience of the guests. It would be ideal if they put up walls and some large windows to keep out the cold, rain, or humidity during the summer time.

If you don't think you will do much swimming then you could search for a cheaper place without a swimming pool.The swimming pool and the volleyball court are nice but they are used by a few of the tenants that have become the regulars to enjoy these amenities. In four years I have never played volleyball, and I have used the swimming pool two or three times. Therefore I am paying for amenities that I am not using, but I am already here, and once settled is difficult to move. The same with gym, it is too small and when I want to use it is busy.

I am close to paying up to $800 dollars for this small apartment, I will start looking to buy my own home. I am sure I can afford a $1000 dollar morgage with a home with at least three nice size rooms.

About 5 months ago there was a rash of car and home break-ins. I knew about it because they happened to my immediate neighbors, ohterwise I wouldn't have known, management is not interested in sharing these unconfortable information. It could still be happening to the buildings around mine but I won't know because I don't communicate those tennants.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 05/17/2008
I have to agree with this person... I've been there for six years now.. now there trying to rent the same apartment for 630.00 a month plus water which is very high and gas.. my gas bill wasnt that high when i paid in thru cps??..plus the water?? let us see the meters!also most of the time the washer and dryers not only dont work and or dirty.. when they get broken into.. it takes them monthes to fix them, no matter how often you call them and report the problems
From: Anonymous	Date: 05/20/2008
Why would it be the complex's problem that your not using the amenities? That's your fault, maybe you should use them. And if you didn't need them, then you should have moved elsewhere. And gate's are not a guard dog, they're a large piece of metal...

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