If you want to know what lipstick looks like on a pig, look no further if you plan on renting an apartment here. I lived here a little over two years ago and decided to write a review after coming across some paperwork from them I had saved. (Yes, I lived there for a little over 2 years but knew enough about apartment leasing agents and the rules and knew how to deal with them. My comments here are a combination of what I experienced myself or observed happening to others while I lived there. Aside from that, the whole experience was a headache).
For starters: If you're in the military, don't expect any special treatment. Whatever amount of BAH you make won't make a difference in the amount of rent you spend. For both civilian and military, know what your monthly rent will be before signing anything - including special fees. (For pets, as I recall, they charged an additional $50.00 per month if you had a dog and $35.00 a month for a cat - and you could only have 2 pets). Most deposits you get won't be refunded in the end unless you're lucky. They're kind of sketchy and evasive about how much rent will be up front and other details regardless of whatever kind of floor plan you select).
Before signing any kind of agreement, ask the leasing agent about utilities - then ask another leasing agent the same question later. They'll probably beat around the bush or give you different answers. If this happens, get used to it because this is the treatment you'll get for the remainder of the time you occupy an apartment about pretty much everything. I found there is no consistency in how the rules are explained. One lady will explain things one way while another will explain it differently. Some of their interpretations of policy, rules and pretty much anything else about how the complex is operated can be pretty bizarre. When you read the lease, you'll find the language used in it focuses most on YOUR responsibilities as a tenant but hardly spells out what their obligations are. When I first read the lease agreement and saw it was written in an "in your face" manner, I was kind of taken aback but figured things wouldn't be as bad as I discovered them to be later on.
Back to utilities: You'll probably learn that your bills are averaged - which means no matter how much time you spend in your apartment, you'll find yourself paying for the water and electricity your neighbors use. (Electrical bills are astronomical during the summer months because of the A/C units constantly run). Poor construction and insulation is the likely cause. Heat rises, so if you live on the 3d or 4th floor, you're S.O.L. (unless it's winter time). Did I mention the A/C units don't cool very well? (I found that one room in the apartment would be ice cold while the others hardly got any air at all).
If you decide to run the risk and move in, READ THE LEASE AGREEMENT AND ANY ADDENDUM's they attach to it. (From my experience, this is where they hide additional fees and try to trip you up later down the road. More on that later...). At first, you may expect to pay a certain amount for rent, but after a year (or maybe 6 months) the rent will increase. In some cases the increase is marginal. In my case they increased it by about $65.00 one year and another $55.00 the following year. Other neighbors reported increases up to $175.00.
Make sure you read the provisions about the move-in process and what to expect when you finally move. When you receive the pre-move in inspection sheet (before you move in), be sure you meticulously inspect the apartment and document EVERY SINGLE issue you find regardless if it's inside or outside. Make sure you keep a copy of the inspection checklist for your own records. You're going to need it later.
Your pre-inspection document should identify EVERY ISSUE: i.e. gashes or marring on floors, burn marks on countertops, dirty/dusty or marred baseboards, paint chips or small holes in the wall - no matter how small or incidental you think it is. They'll probably tell you the carpet is new and there is new paint. Even though the paint may be new, the carpet is probably low grade cheap stuff and will get dirty and fall apart easily. You'll never be able to get it clean. Don't worry, you'll probably pay for that later. Oh, I almost forgot: If your apartment smells musty or of cigarettes when you do your first walkthrough, don't accept it.
The gimmick they use is they will first show you a pristine apartment that closely resembles whatever floor plan you choose, but it probably won't be the apartment you'll be assigned to. If I recall correctly, you'll have to sign the lease before you'll do you the initial walkthrough before you move in. In that regard, you're stuck because you've already agreed to a contract and will have to roll the dice and accept whatever apartment they assign to you in whatever condition it's in.
(More to follow...) read more