As a renter for a year and a half now (and continuing,) I'm happy to report that I have had a very…read morepleasant experience residing at Grand Oak Apartments.
PROS: Management is very attentive and maintenance is always spot on. I'm lucky that I've had very few needs, but when I have, they were always met immediately. The cost of rent is a bit lower than most other complexes. I love that these units are all one story and there is nobody stomping overhead. Also, the walls between the units must be somewhat soundproof because I rarely hear any noise from adjoining apartments. Parking is more than adequate, with two spaces allowed per unit and they are marked and immediately in front of your own unit. There are more than adequate visitors' parking spaces and they, too, are marked as such to avoid confusion. For my needs, I appreciate that there is a high percentage of older citizens in this community, which makes for a nice quiet neighborhood. There are also, younger single men and women and some families with young children, but I believe the older people have just lived here for a long time because it's so comfortable. Also, there are only one and two bedroom units, which would not accommodate larger families. There are units with one, one and a half and two bathrooms available. The master bedroom is a good size and has a large walk-in closet. I love that these units come with a full size washer and dryer and you do not have to provide your own or have to go to a laundromat. The laundry room is large and has lots of room for storage. The other appliances included are all full size (and not small apartment sized) refrigerator, stove/oven, dishwasher and microwave. Mini blinds are included on every window in your apartment, even the back door. Each unit has it's own small patio and grassy area with privacy fences between yourself and your neighbors. The buildings are well maintained, I like the brick exterior, and the roofs and windows seem to be updated and new. The trash dumpsters are emptied regularly and are adequate and not overflowing. I love that your water and sewage are included in your rent and not an extra monthly bill. I also like that snow is plowed and shoveled quickly and exterior lawn, trees and flowers are maintained well and always look nice. There are several nice ponds with fountains throughout the community which are also well maintained. Please note that there is no fishing or swimming in these ponds. I do enjoy the ducks, fish and turtles which these ponds provide. There is a nice, small swimming pool at the clubhouse, which is also well maintained. The clubhouse is well appointed with tables, chairs, bathrooms and a nice kitchenette, and available for a very nominal fee if you should have need for your larger events. One of my favorite things about this complex is that it is in a good location and I always feel very safe here.
CONS: The main reason I cannot give a five star rating and the biggest negative of this apartment complex, in my opinion, is that it is in need of interior updating (at least in my unit): appliances, cabinetry in kitchens and bathrooms, carpeting in living rooms and bedrooms, vinyl in kitchen and bathrooms, although all are adequately functioning, just not the best looking. Also, and this may not be a negative for some people, I personally would like to have overhead lighting in each room and was sorry to learn the bedrooms do not. This is not a problem for me because I am a cable lover; however, I know there are some people who like their satellite TV and I learned it is not allowed here and, therefore, wanted to mention it for those who care. Also, for those people with pets, dog lovers will be sad to learn that no dogs of any size are allowed in this complex (which is ok with me because I hate that a lot of dog owners do not clean up after their pets and this is probably why this complex has this rule); however, an indoor cat or two is allowed with a pet deposit and a small additional monthly fee added on to your rent. Your cat is not allowed to roam outdoors and must be contained indoors.
Overall, I absolutely recommend Grand Oak Apartments because, as you can see, the pros definitely outweigh the cons and I have enjoyed my year and a half here and look forward to continuing my residency. Check them out!