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Bowling Brook Apartments


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anonymous

Resident ā€¢ 2012 - 2014

9/9/2014

[Update] They will screw you out of your security deposit, or at least the interest portion of it. Security deposit: $350. Interest Earned: $21. "Cleaning Fee": $30 for a "dirty oven/microwave" I call total BS on the dirty oven/microwave. I called inquiring about the "dirty oven/microwave". Mind you, I left about a month and a half before my lease was up, with them having permission to show the property within that time. So, I haven't seen it since I left. Now, when I looked at the apartment, there were no staff members with me. Supposedly, the inspection happened at the end of my lease, so go knows what people looking at the place did to it. Now, as for the fee. The office said that "There was residue in the oven and some in the microwave." They were supposed to send pictures, but have not. The woman at the office said, "Well, that means that the cleaning woman had to clean the oven and microwave." To which I said, "Don't you clean (turnover) the apartment before someone moves in?" "Yes, we turnover the place." "So she was going to clean it anyway?" "Yes, but, since there was residue, we're going to charge you." "Um, so you're charging me for something she was going to do anyway? Something that's totally within normal wear and tear?" "Ok." "Um, isn't it interesting that you billed me the only thing closest to the actual interest accrued?" "Um, ok. I can send you the photos and let management know you're going to contest the charges." So, the fact that I bought new range-trays and deep-cleaned everything means nothing. Ironic, I spent money to get everything in the same condition as when I moved in. This place just wants to screw you out of your deposit, or at least as much as they can legally claim to take. Because of this shadiness, I can now say DO NOT MOVE HERE! ------------ I lived at Bowling Brook for two years. I had just moved to the area and it had opening when I had to move. So, I stuck around for a couple years. The best thing going for this place is the parking. There is ample parking. The apartments all open garden-style, so you walk right outside from the front door. That said, there is also a decent sized deck with two sliding doors leading out. First, and probably the biggest thing to know: your rent will go up every year. Mine increased to the point it was cheaper to move to a "luxury apartment" than to stay. The rent increase was roughly 5% each go round. They make sure to include a letter saying that the increase is necessary to provide "general upkeep of the grounds"...pretty much the standard line. The next thing to know: there are two types of apartments at Bowling Brook: "Classic" and "Remodeled". The "Classic" apartments are old-style and un-renovated. The renovated apartments cost more, but have new appliances and slightly different floor designs. So, that's the "overview", now the truth on this place. The residents are a bit "hood". As a "transplant" to Maryland from the "country" it was amazing to see that I was paying as much as I was to be around ------ people. The walls are just a step above paper mache. I could hear the chick above me sing at all hours of the day/night. She, weighing probably 100 lbs soaking wet would shake the dining-area light when she walked. Absurd. The "classic" apartments feel a bit "older". If you tend to use a dishwasher, be sure to start it before you leave for work; it sounds like a jet engine when it runs, and the kitchen sits adjacent to the living room, so no luck watching TV with that thing on. During winter I think it is also important to note that since the living room and foyer both have double sliding glass doors and only cheap vertical blinds to insulate, the rooms get rather drafty. You can hold your hands on the vertical blinds during a cold spell and feel the cold air bleeding through. This is important to know if you've come from a very air-tight house to an apartment. The room sizes were decent. They fit my needs pretty well. The online rent payment helped -- but -- make sure to keep copies of all your payment records. The ceilings are low, so don't expect any ceiling fans. They also do not have any built-in overhead lighting in any of the rooms. You will need to purchase floor lamps. One of the biggest peeves of mine is how discourteous some of the other residents were. Loud subwoofers in cars, thumping through the neighborhood at all hours of the night. There were countless nights I listened to my drunken upstairs neighbor have friends over or have what was near-acrobatic sex by the sound of it. To top it off, having lived there two years, not once did my neighbor say "hi". All-in-all, it's a good place to springboard and get settled, but, not a place I'd consider for a long-term stay (more than a year or two).

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    Bowling Brook Apartments

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