There is only one review online for Rio Grande Square from the parent of a resident. I thought that…read moreI would post a resident's point of view, and be real about this apartment complex.
Overall, it is a nice place to live. The people keep to themselves, and the apartments' high ceilings make the small space feel much larger. The big windows also let lots of natural light in, as you can see in the photos.
First off, let's talk about price. I paid $850/month, though this rate apparently has gone up for next year. This $850 does NOT include internet, gas, electricity, or water. I had to pay for my own wifi, which I also had to pay to get installed myself, and is $40/month. Gas is typically $22/month. Electricity and water usually comes out to about $45 and $20/month, respectively. Communal laundry machines are $1.50/wash load and $1/dryer load, quarters only. It may not seem like much, but having 10 quarters on you to do a load of laundry is a pain in the butt. Do not let the low price fool you - there are many things that you pay for in addition to rent. I will say this, though: parking is included, which is really nice. The spots here are easy to get in and out of - just be sure to have your pass on your car at all times, because they WILL tow.
When you first move in, you must call the electric company to activate your electricity AT LEAST 3 days before moving in. Otherwise, you'll be stuck moving into an apartment that is 110 degrees like I did. There is a fee to turn on the electricity. Also, you must call and activate your gas for a fee as well (I think it was $45). This was not mentioned in the welcome packet that the Westside Group sends out. Your gas not only heats your oven and stove, but also your water heater. Needless to say, I didn't have hot water for a few days after moving in (my fault for not doing it sooner).
Next, let's talk about noise. If you're unlucky like me, you'll get an apartment that backs up to the fraternity ZBT. They like to play basketball and blast music at all hours of the night. It's not bad music, and it really isn't THAT bothersome. I just wish my windows had been sealed correctly, because that might have allowed less noise to enter my room. During the fall semester, they do a large construction project over the course of 2.5 months. This means construction outside your window, sometimes at 2 a.m. All I'm recommending is some good earplugs if you have an issue with this. You can always complain to their executive board also. As far as noise goes within the complex, I have never been able to hear anyone here.
The kitchen: The kitchenette is just the right size for someone like me that cooks occasionally. There is a gas stove/oven, and a full size refrigerator. There is not a dishwasher, microwave, or pantry (I brought my own microwave). You must allocate one of your cabinets to be your food storage. I do, however, love the large sink. It is very easy to do dishes by hand, and doesn't make me miss a dishwasher at all.
The living room: this is technically a living/dining area. I set mine up just as a living room, and I ate meals on my little cube. I think this opened up the space a lot more, instead of trying to fit both a couch and a table. I love the layout of this space, but the only thing I have an issue with is not having a wall outlet on the side of the TV. As you can see in the photos, I ran an extension cord behind my refrigerator so that I could plug in my TV.
Side note: some outlets are the typical 3-prong format, but the majority of mine were the old 2-prong style. It kind of sucks when trying to charge a laptop.
The closets and desks: I LOVE THE CLOSETS. There is so much space in them, and the mirrors on them are nice and clean. The closets are one of the reasons I chose to live here. I also love the two desk spaces, you could do a lot of different things with them.
The bedroom: I loved my little room. It was the perfect size for a queen bed, and there are outlets where I needed them.
The bathroom: Wonderful! The cabinets give a lot of storage, though they don't always close properly. The tile is new, and the bathtub feels new too.
Maintenance: There is one thing that I could never complain about here, and it's the maintenance. If I submitted a request online, they were ALWAYS there the next day. They promptly replaced my entire AC unit when I suspected that there was mold in it. They replaced my water heater because they spotted a leak in the building. Five stars for their maintenance team.
TL;DR: This apartment is the perfect place to live by yourself for less than the large complexes in West Campus.