Where does one even begin with the number of issues I have in regards to this business.
The property manager at the Checkmate Apartments is so extremely unprofessional, rude and downright a HORROR to work with or live around. I live in the same building as her. Her only neighboring apartment has been physically or verbally fighting almost DAILY for 2.5 years. Their children have openly admitted to my daughter that a lot of things go on in the apartment that they aren't "allowed" to talk about. I refuse to let my daughter go anyway near that apartment. And the landlord has not only handled the situation but has also told me to call HER if they're too loud and not the police or the office of children's services. Well I ended up calling them both twice instead of calling her, especially since she has not once in 3 years, answered my phone call. You have to leave a voicemail with her, she will "review it within 48 hours" (her words) and reply. If you're lucky to get a reply at all.
This brings me to the lack of communication with not only the one person that they will tell you to call every time you call the main office, but anyone at the office at all. I feel horrible for the receptionists because I'm sure they get a lot of backlash for the fact we have to call multiple times just to be forwarded to someone's voicemail. I left a voicemail with the person in charge of the property manager, called back a week and a half later, and not even regarding what I had been calling for. He was calling to see if I received my eviction notice and if I had any questions. I told him that I had received it and that it honestly was a relief that now I had something to pressure me into moving out faster. I wanted to go over my complaints and concerns with him, I got through one example before he said, "and we will address that in house, but back on track" and pretty much ended it there. Now, I'm starting to see why the property manager thinks she can get away with everything that we have been through.
The unprofessionalism goes from something as severe as being publicly yelled at talked down to for knocking on the property managers door (after I had called the main office AND left a voicemail). The conversation began with her swinging the door open aggressively and loudly saying "Back up!" repeatedly about 3 times. She then went to tell me that I'm not supposed to knock on her door. I genuinely apologized and said I wasn't aware. She goes on to tell me that she has sent many memos regarding knocking on her door and that it's not the main office anymore. I told her I didn't know that to which she responded aggressively "Like I said, I sent it multiple times". Remind you that everytime she says something, WHILE I'm answering, she is cutting me off by saying "Back up!" "Keep going!" until I'm completely off the steps. The better way to address this should have been "Since covid, you need to stand at the end of the steps if you come to my door" which can easily be said politely considering that I was in an amazing mood and smiling when I originally knocked on her door. Once I'm at the end of the steps, she says "If you need something, you need to call the main office." I tell her that's exactly what I did, she replies "well then leave a voicemail". I told her I had done that too. She asks when, I tell her about an hour and a half ago. She tells me that it takes up to 48 hours for a response. After she has finished yelling all of this at me, she finally asks "Now what did you need?". At this point I feel so degraded, embarrassed and verbally abused that my mood had completely 180'd. I just tell her never mind, It's fine. And walk away with my dog.
When you think it can't get worse than that, her daughter had once told my children on the playground that we were being evicted for our cat being out and getting into a catfight on the property. While the children are at school, I get a "warning" notice on my door to rectify, which I did and never received a notice again. The fact is my kids were so embarrassed on the playground by her child saying, "My mom is going to evict you!" completely ruined their day, especially considering they actually thought we were going to get evicted.
Then there is just the common problems like hypocrisy. Every tenant will receive a $50 fine if their pet is outside with them but not on a leash. Even well-behaved pets, which her dog IS NOT. Even after this new rule took place, I have not once seen her aggressive dog on a leash. She keeps her puppy on a leash while the grown dog is running after tenants barking at them and scaring the kids. She chases after them yelling their name, which I haven't seen work for the dog. That's just when she's outside with the dog, at times she will let this exact dog out that chases people, just outside to roam around and soak up the sun.
The only way I would recommend these apartments are if your only other option is homelessness. read more