Thumbnail of user db143

D B.

Contributor Level

Total Points
80

1 Review by D

  • Apartments.com

12/6/16

We`ve been residents of nearly 2.5 years at 944 Kiely Blvd. Unit A, moving mainly because of health issues (allergy and cough) with old popcorn ceiling (asbestos), because it's not worth the money for what you get. I would not rent here again, would never recommend it to a friend. Hopefully this will help someone.
This studio is located at Woodsborough condo complex (1971) and is opereated by Miller and Hinkle Property Management. We moved into old 440 sq. Ft. Studio 1 bath no utilities included except water and garbage, with no renovation and with ancient fridge, stove, dishwasher and no ventilation in a bathroom. We had to clean all apartment because it was dirty (walls and ceiling with old spiderwebs, dust on floor moldings and cabinets, dust into closets, and wash-bowl near bathroom had parts of hair coat).
They're raising the rent each year for $100 to over $1650 and currently asking for $1850 to remain "competitive", but there is no justification for the price increase: no better amenities, no better security, no renovation or better anything. There are much less expensive rents in the area that include more space and amenities for this price.

Pros:
- Very close to Central Park, community center, library & pool. It's good for everyday walking and events like the Art & Wine Festival are nice to have so convenient
- Own carport
- Small patio
- Three pools
- Laminate floors easy cleaning
- Residents are mostly families. It's right next to a high school and a magnet elementary school across the street

4th of July can be a pro or a con depending on how you look at it. The city closes off the street every year for a fireworks show in the park. It's fun but it's loud and late and inevitably there is garbage and broken glass left everywhere.

Cons:
- No privacy. Walls are hear-through. You will hear upstairs neighbors
- Some of tenants just next to our building smoke marijuana in the evening and you can heavily smell it
- Latch does not fit properly on a lock of the patio and the outside door can be opened by somebody or by wind very easily
- When upstairs neighbors are jumping and heavily walking there is some dust is falling down.
- And the silent time (8PM - 8PM) is a joke. No-one takes it seriously.
- Be ready for at least twice per year for a serious problem with drain/sewer system - it is clogging somehow even despite of nets we put on sink drain holes (plumbers said it is because of the old sewer system in the complex), and all $#*! from sewer system is overflowing (we experienced it with kitchen sink, washing-bowl, shower and toilet bowl). We had to clean floor and all stuff around because of sewer water with cesspool sludge around (Some videos about that: https://youtu.be/9FlVcSEdSfU, https://youtu.be/m3TfKQrKDrU, https://youtu.be/FeAmsgnt4BI, https://youtu.be/BvA4DO-MtLM). Also sometimes you cannot wheek and have to use plunger to do that. And if something is wrong with neighbors drain system - it comes to you.
- Swimming pools are not heated and security guys usually close them earlier. Also kids are jumping and diving there despite of pool rules and their parents don't care. As I mentioned people in this complex don't care about rules.
- The carport has a storage but it reserved for the owner. You cannot use it.
- Landscapers come through constantly with leaf blowers, blowing dust everywhere. Our patio gets a thick layer of dust on the table and soft chairs every time they come through. Same for our entryway. Multiple complaints and showing pics to HOA of the massive dust clouds when it's happening elicit just a bit change. Also landscapers can put some poison chemicals for insects and you will not know about that but will feel it. My wife had a serious allergy reaction once after one of that "insects treatments".
- No microwave
- Maintenance should be made only through Miller and Hinkle to fix things that are broken. For example when the old fridge stopped icing we asked to help. First they said this is our problem and we can buy a new fridge if we want. Then we asked the second time when our food started stinking. They came to estimate and called for technician, who said that it should be replaced because of its age and cannot be fixed. And at last the maintenance guy brought another used fridge to replace it. It took time and we lost about $500 of total food cost we lost because of this fridge issue. Nobody reimbursed it of course.
- Community is not gated and one time you can find your car broken into. Security guys usually sleep at night.
- Kitchen and entrance blinds are broken. You will be asked to leave them as is.
- Air conditioner/heater unit is old and has never been professionally cleaned. We started coughing and sneezing by turning it on. When we asked what to do with that - we were advice to clean it by ourselves or call for the cleaning service ($250). We opened the unit`s cover and it was full of pressed fug inside. We brushed and cleaned it by ourselves.
- Kitchen section floor came from 1970s and is damaged all over.
- Ventilation is very bad in this apartment and during the Summer you will get lack of fresh air - people around put vents into the window frames.
- Washer/dryer is not available for in-unit - you should use laundry rooms where some strangers wash tonns of their own stuff and dogs belognings (even despite of the master key to enter into the laundry).
- Laminate floor smells of some chemicals.
- Cabinets in kitchen are old and tiny. No place to cook.
- Passive and selective HOA management. There's no follow up on complaints and no perceptible action taken. For example. My wife likes flowers and made a small garden on patio. And during these 2.5 years we always had an overgrowing plant which just touched a fence and a house. And this year HOA sent us an order to remove the plant because of the complex policy. We did it (and it hurts my wife because she had been growing the plant during last 2.5 years and only now they said it was inappropriate). But we found that almost 20 units still continuing breaking their rules and still have overgrowing plants on their patios http://j.mp/2hdMyWi. Same for window curtains color which should be white or cream colored only (we were ordered to remove our curtain but there are tons of units with black or mixed ones).
- A lot of homeless people hanging around, up and down Kiely. They sleep in the park, get drunk, urinate, talk to themselves, yell at people passing and throw glass bottles everywhere. There's broken glass all up and down Kiely, be careful if walking.
- Dogs poops everywhere. And sometimes not only dogs.

So we have started being allergic to a lot of things there (slippery eyes with constant discharges, cough, and my wife had been started having permanent asthma exacerbation). We could not understand why and my friend told us to send the dust from pop corn ceiling for asbestos test. Which was positive (4%) (The guy form environmental lab advised to do the air quality test in this condo to make sure there is no more serious issues like black mold or chemicals from laminate etc., but we were not ready for it - $560 for the whole environmental test). We told about that to Miller and Hinkle (no reimbursement for the test of course). And they even brought a guy to estimate the repair cost of the ceiling (they said they fix it once we move out). Not sure if they fixed the ceiling because the apartment is on the market now. If you serious to move in - ask for a receipt for this repair to make sure you are safe).

During our move-out inspection Aaron from Miller and Hinkle checked the condo thoroughly. We cleaned our apartment so we expected to get the large majority of deposit funds back. The checklist that he has got did not reflect all dents and damages (when we moved-in we mentioned some things but he did not include them in the list, for example a box under the stove which was odd and dirty form its birthday. Same for a box under the sink). But this time he started checking everything from the list. Even any dents on the floor. And he said that we broke the dishwasher. But we have never even tried it! - Exactly! Because of inactivity it was broken, he said. Well, guys, there is no such item of Dishwasher usage or its inactivity in our Agreement, sorry!
I bet we might get more surprises from Miller and Hinkle when receive our final move-out deposit check with nothing.
My advice to you, guys - make a video of everything, of each dent or scratch, check all appliances and devices and every corner, every wall, every closet. Then put all things into the checklist! If they say they had it painted or fixed before you moved-in - ask for receipts which should reflect their spendings on that (according to the law they need to keep all receipts 5 years). Whatever these guys tell you that it`s OK or it`s a minor or normal tears - don't even count on it. You will be charged in full later!
And by the way we have got our move-in video just for this case.

I will post an update after move-out final making-up to relate that experience. We suffered at this place physically and mentally as well and will pay a deposit for that. Hoping Miller and Hinkle don't make our experience any worse than it already is.

D hasn’t received any votes.

D hasn’t received any thanks yous.

D doesn’t have any fans yet.

D isn’t following anybody yet.

Empty.

Similar Reviewers on Sitejabber

Thumbnail of user scotts3854
9/26/23

If your a landlord or company thinking about using apartments.com don't. They scammed me out of...

Thumbnail of user mattt542
9/22/23

AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COSTS! TOTAL WASTE OF TIME. 2 HOURS TO DEACTIVATE A LISTING IS RIDICULOUS!