Review for Deerwood At The Park Apartments

In the 10 months that I have resided here at Deerwood at the Park (in a 2 bedroom), my rent has gone from $625 to $745. And I bet you can guess when that happened. Right... when new management arrived. I really don't understand how they thought people would want to stay in this place and pay that much more for an interior that's falling apart, poorly insulated walls that cost you even more money on your electricity bill, and appliances that are incredibly old (like my refrigerator.) Oh, but the outside of the complex was recently painted (tacky colors I might add.) Instead of raising rent to ridiculous prices and using their money to paint the exterior, why couldn't they have repaired/updated the insides of this place' You know... WHERE THE RESIDENTS ACTUALLY LIVE, EAT, AND SLEEP! The outside looked just fine before the new paint! There was absolutely nothing wrong with the paint before. Residents don't live outside their apartments, they live inside!

I would also like to know why they decided to move the mailboxes. Seriously. They were once in front of the office, which was very convenient and felt safe because of the location. Mailboxes are now in a location which can fairly be compared to a cauldesac (one way in and out). It's a very tiny little parking area which is always full of vehicles, and a pain to get your car in and out of since there is hardly ever a spot to park your vehicle. I feel sorry for those people who actually live in apartments right there where they have no other choice but to park. I'd be afraid someone would eventually hit my car trying to maneuver in and out of there since there's barely any room. Some people would ask why I don't just simply walk to the mailboxes then, since I'm complaining about driving up in there... Well I don't know about everyone else that lives here, but I have two small children. I am not going to tote my 3 year old and infant baby daughter to the exact opposite side of the complex in this heat! I'd rather pick up the mail real quick on my way in from work, having my babies with me. This is easier for both myself, and my kids. And in case anyone was wondering where my partner is (who would be my help doing these sort of tasks), he's in Afghanistan (U.S. Army) and has been there for 7 months. So, I really have no choice but to take care of business/duties by myself for now. =)

I do not feel safe here either. In the last 5 months, I can't tell you how many times I've seen the cops pull up. If you decide to live here, expect to be frustrated because there IS RARELY A PARKING SPACE available near your apartment. It's not only at night that you can't find a space. I work a 9 to 5 job and usually come straight home, STILL having to park insanely far from my apartment building. There are two "VIP" parking spaces which are not always occupied, but very close to our apartment. (There are also more of these throughout the complex parking lots.) I don't understand how a resident who's lived here for 5 years deserves their own space and is more important than one who's only lived here one or two. (Or heck, even less like myself!) There have been MANY times I could have simply parked in one of those spaces since they were the only ones available when those special "VIP" residents are not home. It was just 3 weeks ago that I witnessed two males arguing loudly over parking spaces out there. I'm thinking that there aren't enough spaces in the right areas for the occupancy here. This would be something they could improve. Forget the friggin' paint! Expand the parking lot a bit or do away with those "VIP" spaces to make it fair for everyone!

I have been doing my laundry in the laundry facilities here since there are no washer/dryer connections in the apartment itself. The machines are old and some of them do not work right, but it's better than nothing I suppose. The pet policy is unfair in my opinion. I can't even buy my daughter a kitten because there are no pets allowed. It's okay for others to keep theirs though, because they had them before the crummy new management changed the policy.

The maintenance crew seem friendly, however some of the things I have needed fixed required 2 or more trips to complete and were fixed the cheapest/easiest way possible. This has only allowed the problems to return shortly after they were "fixed", only making maintenance come out yet again to fix the same problems with poor workmanship. It's tough to actually get management to schedule a specific time for them to come by. I'm sorry, but I will not have someone banging around my place to repair something when my 2 month old is asleep in the next room! Of course they will walk on in if you don't answer your door, or if they think you're not there. My sliding glass door still leaks air in from outside, and it's been "repaired" three times now. This costs me on my utility bill which is already expensive enough to heat/cool a house! I understand that we're having tough times here in the country with rising gas and food prices, but I don't see how my family actually used $226.00 worth of electricity in APRIL! Something's not right, but management shrugged it off as my responsibility, and not theirs to figure out why it's so high.

I pay $745.00 per month (plus insane utility bills), for an apartment that looks ridiculous on the outside and is literally falling apart on the inside. I pay this much for a community that is NOT gated or surveillanced at night by anyone or anything, with all of the problems I've talked about throughout this entire review. I wouldn't be so upset if I were only paying the $625 that it used to cost monthly, before the new owners. I cannot wait until my lease is up because I am OUT OF HERE when it is! These people will do anything to make an extra buck, in total disregard of anyone's life or well being but their own.