Unfortunately, it is time for another withering review of a deserving vendor: **Steve Brown…read moreApartments**, specifically their **Laurel Commons** property. My daughter and her roommates made what we now know was a serious mistake when they signed a lease there last summer. Within days of moving in, they noticed black spores around the air vents. At my urging, they checked the HVAC filter. It, too, was caked with what appeared to be mold. Management's response? **Clean and repaint the vents.** They insisted the problem was simply dirty vents. Guess what promptly reappeared? You guessed it: mold. The kids were so concerned about circulating spores throughout the apartment that they went without air conditioning during an **August heat wave**. And still, it took nearly a month of pushing management before they finally sent out an HVAC inspection/remediation company. And guess what they found? **Ductwork filled with black mold.** That's right. While management was busy painting over the visible evidence and dismissing the problem as "dirty vents," these kids were living in an apartment whose HVAC system was circulating air through mold-contaminated ductwork. I understand this is college. I understand that off-campus student housing is not exactly the Four Seasons. But **mold-filled HVAC ducts are not a charming bit of college-apartment sketchiness. They are unacceptable.** I could go on about the plumbing problems. The appliances in various states of disrepair. The absurd parking situation, for which residents were charged exorbitant rates despite there barely being enough room to accommodate the cars. Or the fact that my daughter had to walk through a dark alley to reach the parking garage. But frankly, the mold earns **Laurel Commons, managed by Steve Brown Apartments,** the lowest rating I can give. **AVOID this dunghole at all costs.** If you're a parent considering putting your son or daughter in Laurel Commons, look elsewhere. Your loved ones would be better off sleeping in their cars.

I was a resident of Steve Brown Properties, including Brownridge Terrace and West End Circle, for…read moreseven years. Unfortunately, my experience was incredibly stressful and often felt like an ongoing battle rather than a place to call home. Throughout my tenancy, I experienced persistent maintenance problems and poor communication. My experience closely mirrored another resident's review stating that "nobody was ever on the same page about anything." I regularly had to communicate with multiple employees who failed to relay information to one another, making even routine maintenance requests unnecessarily difficult. The buildings themselves also suffered from long-standing maintenance issues. The hallway air conditioning remained inoperable for years despite annual requests for repair. Each time I was told other projects had a higher priority, yet the issue was never resolved. Likewise, the entrance, lobby, and hallway lights remained burned out for months despite being reported multiple times. During a unit transfer, I was mistakenly double-charged rent and had to fight to receive a refund. After moving into the new unit, I spent approximately six weeks dealing with a broken dishwasher, microwave, and washer/dryer because the apartment had not been properly inspected before move-in. I also discovered black mold inside the HVAC closet. In a previous apartment, I reported an air conditioner that failed to cool properly for nearly two years, only to be told repeatedly that it was "working as intended" until it eventually failed completely. I repeatedly submitted work orders for broken blinds, but the requests were closed or downgraded without the repairs being completed. Management did not tell me they were waiting on replacement parts until about six months later, despite my repeated phone calls and emails. I was also billed an after-hours maintenance fee after reporting a fire sprinkler head hanging from the ceiling, even though maintenance determined the condition required immediate attention. Toward the end of my tenancy, a persistent low-frequency booming vibration developed throughout the building, severely affecting my ability to sleep. Although management attempted to locate the source, the investigation was limited to my apartment and the basement, while the rooftop mechanical equipment--a common source of low-frequency building vibrations--was not initially inspected. The issue remained unresolved, and during one of my follow-up reports, I was yelled at by a member of the maintenance staff. Although West End Circle and other Steve Brown properties have attractive buildings and good locations, I found that many maintenance issues remained unresolved for extended periods, and communication was consistently poor. Because these conditions were significantly affecting my health, I submitted medical documentation supporting my disability and requested a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act. During a phone call, I was told management had approved a mutual lease termination, and I signed a lease elsewhere in reliance on that representation. The agreement was later withdrawn, and I was required to proceed through the standard re-rental process. I learned the hard way not to count on their word alone. Get every important agreement in writing before making major financial decisions. After seven years as a resident, the cumulative effect of the unresolved maintenance issues, poor communication, and handling of my accommodation request took a significant toll on my health and family. Looking back, I regret staying as long as I did. I should have recognized sooner that my concerns were not being taken seriously or treated with the respect they deserved. I hope this review helps prospective tenants make an informed decision. Every person's experience will differ, but this reflects mine after seven years living at Steve Brown Properties.

I cannot praise Progressive Property Management (PPM) enough! We initially signed a rental…read moreagreement with PPM for a single year but have since renewed twice because we have been so happy with the company. Beth and Peggy are personable and professional and a true joy to work with; it's clear that they care about their tennants and strive hard to meet their needs. Since moving into the property (an older home), several minor issues have arisen (e.g., a toilet leak, a problem with the fridge, a tap leak), and each time, PPM has quickly and efficiently resolved the problem, even when the issue came up late at night. This is in stark contrast to other property management companies that we have rented from in the past, where we were often forced to live with the issue for weeks or even months. We could not be happier with PPM!

Honest and quick to fix all major issues, have always treated me right! I would definitely…read morerecommend!

I have been working in a building that is run by McBride for the last 12 years. Hands down the best…read morepeople. if our office ever has an issue they are there to fix it right away. this is definitely a company that takes pride in what they do. They are extremely friendly and knowledgable.

Not surprised that they don't have many good reviews, parking in their ramps is a total scam. I…read moreparked at the 122 West Doty ramp at 6pm and when I came back at 8pm the ramp was completely locked up. There was no signage anywhere saying that the ramp was going to close. I was then charged almost $40 for overnight parking. When I reached out to them to find a solution. All they did was gaslight me that the ramp never closes and refused to give me any form of refund for the overnight portion that I paid. I found them to be very disrespectful and demeaning in the way that they handled the issue. Not worth parking in these ramps when there are plenty of others in Madison that are much more fairly priced.

Parking scam artists and unwilling unprofessional managers to handle any resolution process. We…read moreparked at 10 Doty St for less than 48 hours; Friday 2:40pm until Sunday at 11am and the charge was fifty seven dollars. Sign reads ten dollars flat fee Friday and Saturday. They use small print misleading pricing to scam you for at least three times the price they want you to believe you will pay. They say it is aimed at the "bar crowd". Valet at the Hilton is cheaper than this radical Madison company. Avoid anything that is related to this money scamming company.

This update has had enough time and air like a fine wine needing to breath to provide this…read moreunbiased, truthful review. 1) Sara was not the best management nor even close. They got rid of her for good reason and it took too long. 2) Corporate officers are fair and decent now that I have had the pleasure of working with, talking to and interacting with others at the personal level/in court/as an ombudsman for other and mediating. Kasie is the asset to this company and I trust the owners know it. 3) There are two owners - Elizabeth comes off like Miss Millie of The Color Purple. Take it for what it is. 4) Never had a pest problem. Only spiders outside the window. They never once cleaned the exterior windows for the 7 years I can give firsthand testimony. 5) They know, upfront, what they will charge you for and it's basically everything when it comes to asking for mtce help switching light bulbs you can't reach. He's $30/hr. Seems crazy wild but the carpet cleaner they use will complete your unit for $125 and he has his own key. He is reliable and trust worthy. Plus, his hands are softer than mine. 6) The guy they use for painting can be hired to complete some painting and his price isn't too far fetched. 7) Take pictures and keep receipts for whatever at move out. Yeah, some charges will be slid in but they will correct things as soon as you email. 8) The office front staff turnover has been a thing since they opened in 2005. Nicole was the best and moved on to another property. 9) The clientele of the building has changed. Upon opening it really was high end tenants that would even rent two places and tear down a shared wall and use both places. 10) Now there's a coffee/cocoa machine that every building and car shop seems to have. 11) There's better lighting in the garage. 12) There's also a rolling cart to help manage getting things from the garage to your floor. 13) No one may not be present in the office but guess what THEY WILL ANSWER EMAILS PROMPTLY. 14) Renewal paperwork will be left at your door which is also useful. 15) Packages don't walk away 16) The homeless will try to hang out in the entry door/hall during the winter. This rating is based on a comparative analysis of other rental buildings in Madison and those that also include affordable housing. Parking is charged here but not at their 53711 Renaissance place at the Madison/Fitchburg border on the westside.

Randomly and suddenly, the smiley, easy going, understanding property manager who has managed the…read moreproperty for several years is no longer in the office. There seems to be 3 to 4 different people in the office during the week, which shows how many people they need to run the property just as well as one person (Sara) did on her own. We did not receive a memo that Sara was no longer the manager of the building and that is unprofessional and concerning. Sara was by the far the best manager I've ever had and she is missed dearly by all. I've spoken to neighbors that even moved back into the property because of her great management skills, and also talked to others that are leaving because she is no longer the manager. It's an abrupt, unexplained exit and we would like more information on the situation. The building is not the same without her and she is dearly missed! She is what made the building the happy, fun, safe place to be and it's just not the same home is once was. We miss you Sara! You are a kind, caring, smart woman and I hope to get in touch with you somehow! -K

To start, I haven't heard great things about this property management company but I thought I would…read moregive them a chance. I saw an apartment that I was interested in, and tried calling the number, which disconnects after a few rings. I tried calling the number on the website and it rings forever. I tried the "contact us" option on the website, and the webpage will not load due to a server not responding. I find the COMPLETE lack of service unacceptable. Very disappointed. **EDIT** A member of MPM let me know that they were experiencing technical difficulties with their phone/ servers and that I could call and schedule a showing at my convenience. Thank you for the quick response MPM!

I'm a current owner. MPM has managed a house I own at 810 Northport Drive since '07. I was notified…read morerecently that a tree must be removed and that the cost to do so will be $12,000. This tree was allowed to grow for many years at a location very close to the house. I've been on the East Coast and haven't returned to Madison since buying it ... so had no idea about this tree. Now, suddenly, it's an emergency I'm expected to pay $12,000 to attend-to. MPM has made no effort to find a cheaper alternative, and has acknowledged no degree of responsibility, or offered to bear any part of the expense. I'm with DoD and can't get away to return to Madison. If I could, I'd get a chainsaw and remove the tree myself. The complete unwillingness to work with me regarding this unusual surprise is disappointing, to say the least. Good businesses are built on good character. Here, an ounce of foresight exercised long ago could have seen that tree transplanted as a sapling, or simply mowed-over. Once it was growing, I could easily have been notified. Now, I'm expected to bear a $12,000 bill for something I've been kept unaware of, for years. And no one has explained any aspect of this problem to me, how it evolved, why it costs so much to deal-with and why MPM won't be bearing even a portion of what should be a much lower cost. I'm looking for a new property manager. Why MPM let this problem evolve to this point and how they could dare confront me with the whole of this excessive bill is beyond me.