This review is in regards to Laurel Park and the association Manager.
I am utterly disappointed with the process and execution of renting a clubhouse for the Laurel Park community. Due to the transition from FirstService Residential to RISE, I'm assuming there are still some quirks that need to be resolved however it was a very difficult and frustrating process that didn't need to be in the first place.
TL;DR Struggled to reserve Laurel Park clubhouse and previous residents left a mess for us to clean resulting in questionable fees. Buyer beware.
Communications from RISE were definitely vague at times and we had to reiterate messages several times because of the miscommunication and misunderstanding on their end. My partner had completed the packet needed for renting the clubhouse under HIS name and was forwarded in several emails. I had sent screenshots of my payment under his name (which was also a difficult process and I had asked how to do it but only a four worded email that did not answer my questions and again, had to reiterate how do we proceed. I suggest having a how-to in the packet that involves making an account, reserving etc. for future clients). With everything under his name, the association manager had gotten confused and replied to my email saying my reservation was taken already which resulted in even more frustrations. They had written my name under the reservation rather than my partner's whose name was in every single document/screenshot that was sent prior (which I'm also assuming was not even read or acknowledged because they had asked for it once again).
After sending a complaint and our frustrations due to the the unprofessionalism, my partner ended up overtaking the emails because she had personally reached out to him on text and managed to finalized QUICK. However, yet again asking for the same information in the packet that had already been completed and sent a week before all this mess.
It doesn't end there though.
Upon arrival, the clubhouse was absolutely FILTHY and DISGUSTING. We were even more frustrated because it was assumed that there would be janitorial services between parties or somebody that would at least check before each party. That was not the case.
The clients before us had left a mess - residual food that included pink frosting, cookies, and cake that had been embedded on the tile floor. Leftover decorations, broken beer bottles outside, and trashbags were filled to the brim outside. Leftover drinks in the fridge. The bathrooms were atrocious -
soda cans, overfilling trash bags, and toilet paper all over the floor. A mop was broken, table was broken, and there was broken shards in the kitchen floor.
We had to clean up after somebody else's mess in a matter of time because of our reservation in a few hours. That setback setup time for us. I am so UPSET and embarrassed for Laurel Park and the management.
We had collectively swept, mopped, and cleaned the place before AND left it cleaner than we had previously entered. Luckily there were several members in my party that had helped us before and after the party.
We had expressed this to the association manager and they had said, "the board is considering janitorial bids which may include emergency after rental cleanings as needed". THE BOARD NEEDS JANITORIAL. This is absolutely unacceptable and I am appalled at the conditions. I question at what service I am paying for to rent the clubhouse. For a nice neighborhood like Laurel Park, you would think they upkeep their recreations. In addition we had also paid extra for alcohol fee and the off duty officer DID NOT ever show up.
I have assisted in many rentals for parties and this byfar was the worse experience from beginning to end. I suggest having a walkthrough procedure and a checklist implemented between each resident who rents out the clubhouse so that residents are responsible for their cleanliness. With the walkthrough, a resident does a walkthrough before they get the key and after cleaning, you need another walkthrough in regards to the checklist. The checklist needs to include the BATHROOMS and the FLOOR which seems to be the most neglected areas and are often overlooked, which was definitely the case here. If there is damage, the association should make repairs, hold a hearing, and apply a maintenance assessment to the owner's account responsible.
I do not recommend RISE at all. With the fees you pay, you will question what you pay for. If I'm paying $175 I should not be cleaning up another resident's mess from a previous party who did not comply with the rules. It's an absolute scam. read more