Year one started pretty well, Wendy and Tom were endearing and helpful. Most of our problems were cared for quickly and efficiently. Having a dog was great.
Year two seemed an entirely different scenario, particularly toward the end. In May 2011 we started noticing a mouse problem and reported it quickly. They sent in some "exterminator" who basically put out a few traps and told us that the problem should be fixed. The mice only multiplied and started spreading to more rooms in the apartment. I called management again and informed them that the problem had not only not been fixed, it had gotten worse. They sent the same guy in (apparently he was an old friend of the company and had been doing business with them forever; one of those, we know there are more qualified individuals out there, but he's a family friend kind of deals) to put out more traps... and this didn't make sense to me. WE WERE NEARLY OVERRUN with mice. I told management the severity of the matter and it almost seemed like they didn't believe us. We couldn't keep food in the pantry, had to throw out our dog's bed and some of our own sheets; we couldn't even SLEEP in peace. One can never understand how bad an infestation can get until you've lived it. Suffice it to say no one should have to live like that... especially for the level of rent we were paying. Anyway, Exterminator 101 is to find where the infestation is coming from and cover the entry!!! It was only once I absolutely insisted that the holes in the apartment be covered over and over and over that they finally were. Even that process took two visits. Frankly, it was a health issue and the worst of it was completely avoidable. All things said and done it was late June before the problem was solved, and SHOCKER, once the holes were covered the mice disappeared overnight (that's two months living with mice and almost one month of total, unavoidable filth; there's only so much you can do to clean when you're overrun with rodents).
I was quite surprised that we had this experience, because management was both patient and caring up to that point. I would go as far to say they were MORE than patient and caring. Then, for some reason, it was like someone flipped a switch. Either way, I don't think that our experience is usual, but I can't forget those last few months.
I give two stars only because I can't forget how nice they were the first year... but, it was a battle not to give only 1. read more