When you first drive into the Anchor Village complex it can "seem" like an oasis amoungst the hustle and bustle of the Mukilteo Speedway. That's where the fantasy ends and the reality begins. Of ALL the items I will be listing here on reasons NOT to rent at Anchor Village, the Management Staff is #1.
--The MANGEMENT STAFF is unbelievably rude once you have signed on the dotted line. They're also a bit "shifty". Our original lease was up in Jan 2007 and we wanted to renew for just 5 or 6 months, knowing that my husband and I, would be relocating out of Washington this summer. Not only were we told 12months or GET OUT, but even on the 12 month lease our rent jumped @ $150.00! So, we started to look for other places to rent, with no luck because of such a short notice. So on a hunch, my husband called Anchor Village to inquire about lease terms and rates. Low and behold they did offer various lease terms and at a significant savings, well below the people who already live here! We're talking $100-$150 difference. Why are we still here' Simple, we contacted the regional offices for Essex Communities and spoke with the very polite and proactive Regional Manager who contacted Anchor Village herself, and not only were we given the 5 month lease that we wanted, the rate went down $100.
--The Management team will NOT give you a 24 hour notice for various repairs or routine maintenance. When you try explaining that is illegeal, they will tell you it is an emergency and they don't need to give you forwarning.
--When you do need something to be fixed it is a 50% chance you will need to harass them into making sure it gets done. A word of advice if you do rent here; if more then 2 days goes by and you haven't seen maintainence yet, your work order has been misplaeced, shuffled to the back of the pile or lost. So, go back to the office and bug them again.
--Even though this is a business, the management staff would prefer to stand around and talk to each other then be bothered by you when you walk into their office. So, you will need to "speak up" to get their attention.
--Now off of the most horrible management staff I have ever had the displeasure of renting and apartment from and onto other Anchor Village "quirks".
--There is a washer and dryer in your unit, but it is 1/2 size so the dryer with it's 120 Volts and 1400 Watts can take up to 3hours (yes, 3 hours) to dry your jeans.
--There is construction going on EVERYWHERE in this community. Repaving, relandscaping, repouring fondations tearing up patios to refence them, etc. It's everywhere and it's LOUD! And it will start and 8am (so hopefully you don't work at night) and it will take many more months then it should. Just drive by, there are @ 3-5 loud projects going on throughout the complex at any given time and a couple more just sitting there gathering dust.
--Single paned windows means high energy bills, curtains help keep the heat in.
--MOLD is in the walls, you will need to clean it every month or so(depending on the season) or you will be inhailing it.
--Parking is okay in certain areas of the complex, pray you are in one of those areas.
--Almost everyone that lives here has a pet including us. Some of the people who own dogs do not pick up after them, so watch where you step.
The only reason that I could see anyone choosing Anchor Village over one of the other apartment communities in the Mukilteo area is the price. It's cheap compared to others in the area, but remember--you get what you pay for. aLKeoXpj3s4OSgrp1trb

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/15/2007
I'm also a resident here, This was a very acurate review. I enjoy living here until I have to deal with the office staff. When we renewed our lease they told us we could only sign for 9 months after offering us a 9 or 11 month lease saying that they only had a certain number available at that price. (thus reserving the right to increase the rent again sooner) If we don't find a home to buy we will still stay here, but ony because it is in the middle of a forested area and the price is right. --Thanks for the tip about calling the corporate management office.
From: kimmigm	Date: 06/17/2007
I've been a resident here for 6 months (on a 12 mo lease), and I couldn't agree more with everything you said. The management staff really are arrogant and rude, and you're right - they will "woo" you until you sign on the dotted line, then you're on your own. Everything I reported that needs to be fixed or replaced in my unit is STILL broken. I moved into Anchor Village for one reason - so I could take my 10-year-old boxer, Sam, with me when my husband and I split up. I took the time to make it very clear to the management staff what my situation was, that my dog was used to a quiet home in Edmonds and would most likely take some time to adjust to the other dogs and all the strange noises. They all reassured me that they understood, that this was a "pet friendly communinity" and of course my dog would need time to adjust. Imagine my surprise when I came home from work two days in a row to see a note taped to my front door that my dog was barking/whining and disturbing my neighbors. So, I took the next day off from work, but kept to my schedule with the same morning routine as usual. After I left, Sam made whiny noises intermittently for about TWO MINUTES - NO BARKING, then crawled up on the couch and went to sleep (I could see her throught the frosted window next to the front door). Yes, she did bark a couple of times, but only when there was a noise that surprised her. I surfed the web to find out what was considered acceptable "pet noise" in a pet-friendly shared community. I found out the noise my dog made is considered "normal pet noise". Animals make noise as their way of communicating. Don't call it a pet friendly community if it isn't. Further, I know who made the complaint - my upstairs neighbors (who are serious candidates for admission to the Betty Ford Clinic in my opinion). If they weren't so painfully hung over every morning of their lives, a bark or whine heard now and then wouldn't feel like a grenade exploding in their head, now would it? What's even more diabolical is this: These kids above me get away with having parties until the wee hours of the morning (yes, even on weeknights), even though I've complained to the management numerous times AND called the police several times. But, I am the one who had to give my faithful dog of 10 years back to my ex-husband or get evicted? What's wrong with this picture? I'm calling Essex Corporate office first thing Monday!
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/20/2007
i agree with this review. its the most accurate ive seen. they candy coat the contract and the apparments when you move in. and then your introduced to the real place you decided to live. with what has happened to our cars recently the parking situation has been down graded from moderate pain in the ass to complete parking hell. our obnoxiious neighboors have 3 vehicles. two large vans and a car. and they only have two drivers...how does that add up? they back into their spot. which makes the exhaust from the giant van go right into my kitchen window. ive got mold all over the place. the fan in my bathroom doesnt work. the doors need repainted. the washer and dryer are terrible. and it takes up to 4 times as long to dry things as a normal washer and dryer. my toilet never stops running. there is little natural light. ive found that the children (dont get me wrong i like kids) need to be taken to the park. not free to run around the parking lot. ive seen a few almost get run over. my niehboors also freak when they hear any noise in their appartment from ours. we have had everything from the police to the managment staff telling us to turn down the radio at 1 in the afternoon. and that is when i can barely hear it in the kitchen. which is right next to the living room. the only issue is thin walls. get use to some noise people. the staff is rude. ive heard them yell at guests for the parking situation. and the speedbumps are outrageous. along with the various construction projects taking place around the complex. i wouldnt rent here again
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/09/2007
100% true!!
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/24/2007
I only visited twice and they changed there story and had the rent raised before I filled out the application.they showed me two units I did like them the one they offered me was in the front on the right where you first come in and there is a lot of kids and it look like drug traffic in this one bottom floor,I guess I look like a cop I'm told so they all notice me when I'm around anywhere and there is a certain look people will give when there up to no good.plus when I talked to whem the second time they were to busy eating pizza and didn't offer me any.(I di'nt expect them to really.)
From: Anonymous	Date: 01/25/2008
100% true to it all.
From: Anonymous	Date: 10/19/2008
everything is true what everybody is saying

Your thoughts? Post a response to this review. Display my response: with my username anonymously Responses appear below reviews and one response per user is permitted.

   Free estimates on moving trucks      Find apartment share/roommates