I moved from CA in 2013 for work and wanted to live in DT or Broad Ripple. I settled on Riley Towers and was happy at first
Pros:
*Location: walking distance to Mass Ave, Murat is across the street
*Excellent/courteous concierges: Always available if you have issues, from someone parking in your spot, to issues in your apt. They called when I was out of town to let me know my car windows were open in the rain. He offered to roll up my windows for me!
*They are *finally* updating the halls/apts (granite counters, stainless steel appliances, new cabinets, hardwood floors); but, it is also jacking up prices
*The walls are thick concrete. No matter how loud my neighbors were, I never heard a peep once inside my apt
*Nice views: I was on the 8th floor facing west, so I had beautiful sunsets
*Nice gym/pool/hottub
Cons:
*Many requests were simply lost/neglected. I asked for screens in July for my windows so I could open them without having my pets fall out 8 stories. It took ~5 months, and by then (Nov) it was too cold to use them. I requested a covered parking space, but my request was lost. When I called ~8 wks later to ask again, they stammered "Oh, we have several spaces free now." I fell through the cracks. Their system of post-it note messages needs a modern upgrade
*I had issues with the toilet, and each fix was half-assed (twist or zipties for the mechanism?!) After months of issues, the toilet flooded, seeped through the wall, flooding half of my bedroom. They helped soak it up, but I had watermarks on my stuff & had to get rugs cleaned ($$). They brought an industrial fan, but when they returned, they didn't bother putting the carpeting back down. They tried blaming it all on me, even though they'd tried to "fix" it 4 times before
*They use a white sealant on the tub, which chips & cracks, making cleaning impossible. They failed to solve an underlying mold problem that went crazy. I requested they fix the tub, and after two months of emails/calls, they finally got around to it. Once again, they were unresponsive to upkeep
*Single-paned windows: During winter, I had a neverending cycle of ice buildup & thaw, with water pooling on the ledges. The ledges/walls are damaged from water/mold/warping. When I asked for advice, I was told just "wipe it up". Thanks for the advice. Not
*Tiny water heaters: Can only take ~5 min showers; if you have guests, forget about hot water
*Minimal kitchen storage
*The apts have central air/heat, but they are on the same line. The entire complex has EITHER heat OR AC, not both. The AC never kept up during summer, even with the thermostat set at the coldest temp
*Dishwasher: it's under the sink, and the top shelf was unusable. I expect better
*The carpet is really cheap. It stains/shreds easily. This may be better in renovated apts, but if your apt is unrenovated, the carpet will get gross fast
*Turnover: The new residents would make my floor reek of pot (use the balcony!) and drag/rip their leaking trashbags down the hall, leaving sticky, stinky rotten trash juice all over. I feel like I'm living in a frat house without a frat mom to clean
*I looked at a 2BR apt to get more space. They tried to nickel-and-dime me. They wanted me to reapply ($50), pay another administrative fee ($100), non-refundable pet deposit ($200), lease transfer fee ($200), while I was already a tenant! After an extra $400/month rent and more for utilities, it was ~$1800/month for a 2BR?! For that price, I could get a f*&king nice house
*Ridiculous move out charges (see picture). Leases don't include any move-out details. While they prorate everything to the exact day you move in, they charge a full month for parking/pets even if you give plenty of notice that you are moving out partway through a month (I gave 75 day notice). They only reimbursed me once I said I was posting a review
*Even if you give notice, they will not make a good-faith effort to re-rent the apt when it is available (as is required by law), but will ride out the clock, making sure you keep paying
Suggestions:
*Ask to see the actual apt rather than a model to ensure you don't get a smaller bathroom, kitchen with much less storage space, or already gross carpeting (all happened to me)
*Look for vents that blow on the windows to minimize ice buildup in winter
*Be aware of nickel-and-diming issues
*Ask about extra storage. You probably won't be told about it, but it's available. The pipes leak, so keep your stuff off the floor so your stuff isn't damaged
*GET RENTERS INSURANCE
*Fill out move-in form with every flaw, no matter how minor. Take before & after pictures. Protect yourself
*When you move out, stand up for yourself. This is a business decision. You aren't their friend, you don't have to be nice if they are trying to screw you over. Push back if they're treating you unfairly
Ultimately, I bought a place 1 yr sooner than I'd initially wanted. While I miss being right in the heart of downtown, I'm happy I moved out when I did read more