I searched for Crystal Square trying to figure out if I can pay my bill online yet -nope. I got to reading some rants about management and elevators, and taking into consideration the time I spent closely reading reviews when I was looking for a place to live, I decided to add my experiences:

I like my apartment because of the location, high water pressure which is fast to get hot, and level of privacy. I have not been into one other building that has as good soundproofing as this one. I can't hear my two neighbors and they haven't complained even when I thought I was being too loud late at night. I know they can hear my subwoofer so I keep that low. I am very surprised at how little you can hear under the door. There is a strange noise that I think is the guy above me peeing but it's not that loud!

-I hate that I have to pay my rent online or with a check. It's inexcusable and inexplicable. Good thing I'm not paying as much as I would be anywhere else. The studio layout is deceptively large with tons of closet space. I wouldn't hesitate to live with a significant other in a place like this.

-I was very upset at the slow pace it took to get the elevators fixed. Even more frustrating were the construction guys using the two regular elevators between floors during rush hour. I wasn't surprised about the building turnover, as the amount of "inspections" was very suspicious. Also, I knew that the manager and a security guard were moving out since I tend to make nice with people I may need. I believe that is technically Bainbridge's fault for buying a property that had water issues.

-BUT my rent didn't increase when I renewed by as much as C.E.S. had told me to estimate. It was lower than the first flyer said it would be.

-I agree that corporate "community" communication hasn't been exceptional. I thought I saw a flyer announcing free wifi then another specifying that it was only for the lobby and roof. I found out that we could have pets by seeing an owner in the hallway. But I'm happy I can now get a puppy!

-But as far as turnover, I saw old employees helping out in the leasing office for several weeks after the 1st of the year. That isn't to say I like the new representatives better.

-I think the people in the front office are ineffective communicators. I almost could not get the girl to tell me clearly how much to pay next month since the utilities charge bungle last month. She wasn't rude, but she did not make me feel like she was happy to help. When I called a month earlier about the utilities charges, the guy I spoke with said Bainbridge "didn't know" how much I really owed and that I could pay whatever I wanted. Seriously. Well, I guess they did keep score.

-I'm actually happier with the lax security. Even when the C.E.S. employees seemed to recognize my boyfriend, they wouldn't let him in without speaking to me first.
-I'm also happy that they're not being nazis with the parking out front or below. This makes it much easier for me to have visitors. I think the new foreign-born employees are better at English than the old ones.

-I'm not so sure about the redecorating. I don't think that it was prioritized well; buying new roof furniture and expanding the gym seems more important to me than changing the color of the concrete outside. However, I was happy that the furniture was "up for grabs"; I shipped off an entire outdoor set with my folks the last time they came to visit!

-The laundry room is a very short walk down the hall from all corridors. I think there's a laundry room on each floor.

-Bugs: I saw only three spiders over the winter and have seen a few silverfish in the bathroom.

-I have been happy with maintenance: I needed my disposal to be looked at and asked at the front desk on my way out one morning. They called the maintenance guy who lives in the building and rescheduled him to see my apt right away since I was available to escort him in and learn how to fix it in the future. I'm sure if I asked he would come kill the winter spiders!

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