I've updated my review after being contacted by the manager and receiving a few facts for the very first time. She was upset that I left a bad review despite the fact that I was given what I was owed, and said it sounded like I was going to leave a bad review regardless. It's true. I was. Park 212 is an average apartment complex. Not an awful home but nothing special. They lost stars due to the fact that I was ignored for a month, their rent increases are very steep, and the fact that had I not been persistent they would've pocketed money that was rightfully mine. If I had never received that money owed, I would've left a 1 star review.
I lived at Park 212 for about a year and a half.
It's a pretty decent complex. But the struggle to receive anything resembling customer service after moving out has left a bad taste in my mouth. I received my deposit refund in the mail, only to realize that $100 of which was unaccounted for, and the description of what was cleaned or replaced for $145 was confusing. I spent a month trying to reach someone. Apartment manager claimed that she hadn't heard from me until the day we resolved things. This is untrue. I started with emailing the office, and they ignored me where they had always been responsive in the past. Eventually I called and they gave me the corporate number to call, which they could've easily done in response to any of my 3 previous emails. I called that number on 4 separate occasions with no answer, and no response to a voicemail. I tried emailing the corporate customer service email fully expecting to be ignored, but actually received a prompt response. After first insisting I was mistaken, it was discovered that there'd been a mistake and they found where I was owed $100. Not only that, but the cleaning service had estimated $145 but only charged $90, and I was owed another $50 that the manager never mentioned. Both of these amounts were attributed to "bookkeeping errors" that were only found by the person at corporate, not by the manager.
Other than that though..........
The application process was pretty standard. We had to pay an additional deposit because I had no rent history. We didn't get to see the unit right up until our initial walk through. Unfortunately the unit was dirty when we moved in. Their "brand new carpet!" had what looked like ceiling popcorn on it. It obviously hadn't been vacuumed. The "brand new stove!" had been scraped up during installation, and metallic paint shavings sat on the counter top. Smelly puddles of cleaner were pooled inside the fridge. The cupboards were dirty and a NASTY layer of food was discovered under the tray in the freezer. The staff seemed surprised when we told them and sent someone to clean the next day. There was an unexpected amount of wear and tear/scratches on the toilet, medicine cabinet, bedroom door, balcony overhang, and fridge.
The single bedroom unit was small but comfortable so long as you don't have too many belongings. Every appliance in the unit is as cheap as they come and everything else is outdated. Simply using the microwave could trip a breaker. If you aren't sure to leave your window cracked at all times of the year you will have a trench of moldy water on your window sill due to cheap windows. Third floor gets hot. It's hell in the summer but saves money in the winter. The walls are thin and you will probably hear your neighbors going at it at some point or another. But other than some general noise we never had to file an actual noise complaint, and nobody filed one on us.
The building is controlled access. You have to let your guests in at the front door. For the most part the complex felt very safe. Though the communal areas aren't cleaned very often and the carpeted stairway can get nasty. Their little pool is nice to have in summer. Overall the grounds are pretty and well-kept with lots of trees. The location is great for public transportation. The park and ride is at the end of the block, and the Swift and other bus lines are also within walking distance. Easy to get to ECC. There is always plenty of free parking.
Over all the office staff was nice when we spoke in person. They're happy to help with normal stuff like maintenance requests. The maintenance workers are a mixed bag. Some are cool but some are a bit disrespectful and unhelpful, and none of them can caulk a bathtub very well.
Rent went up 14% percent after the first year, and I'm confident that trend will continue for a while. I know the greater Puget Sound area is in high demand. But I'm pretty sure their complex was never at capacity and they continued to raise rent just because they could get away with it.
In summary it was a good home, but the end of the experience was frustrating. I would not recommend Park 212 due to the dingy unit, steep rent increases, terrible customer service after moving out, and the fact that getting them to admit they owe you money is comparable to pulling teeth. read more