We lived at Draper Village Apartments for over 18 months, and our experience was far from satisfactory.
A significant problem was the poor maintenance of the facilities and grounds. The common areas were not properly taken care of, and it seemed like the management was neglecting their responsibilities in maintaining the premises. For example, the grass across the property was always damaged or was in a swamp like state. Additionally, the promised monthly community functions were nonexistent during our time there, despite being advertised as part of the living experience.
In addition, we must express our disappointment with the labeling of Draper Village Apartments as "luxury" apartments. Throughout our stay, it became increasingly evident that the property did not live up to the expectations associated with such a designation. Luxury apartments typically imply a higher standard of living, superior amenities, exceptional customer service, and attention to detail.
The high turnover rate of staff was concerning, as there were many different managers during our stay. The current manager's absence from the office was a recurring issue, making it challenging to address any problems in person or over the phone. Moreover, we experienced a frustrating situation when our move-in paperwork was "lost" or misplaced, which caused unnecessary stress upon move out.
Furthermore, there were instances of unfair treatment regarding car towing. Despite having valid plates, our car was towed, while other vehicles that were causing damage to the asphalt by leaking oil and fluids were not addressed. The front office also claimed that they do not know when vehicles are towed off their property. This inconsistency in enforcing rules and policies while not knowing what is happening on the property felt unjust.
We reported various safety concerns, noise disturbances, hostility among tenants, animal neglect, and instances of property destruction, but disappointingly, no action was taken in response to our multiple reports. This lack of accountability and follow-through from management was disheartening and made me feel like our concerns were not valued or taken seriously while not feeling safe in our own residence.
One of the most frustrating experiences was being charged outrageous cleaning fees for normal "wear and tear" damage upon moving out. We have had over 13 years of rental history and not one of our previous apartment complexes has charged us this astronomical amount. These detailed fees were not mentioned in the leasing agreement, and when We tried to discuss them with the office manager, they were evasive and unresponsive. Instead of engaging in a constructive conversation, the manager simply sent pictures of the alleged damages, making it impossible to resolve the issue or understand the charges.
The issues we encountered, such as the lack of communication, poor maintenance, unresponsive management, and failure to address tenant concerns, are far from the level of professionalism and care that we have come to expect from well-managed properties in the industry.
We decided to reach out to the regional manager, Mr. Bradley. We must commend Mr. Bradley for his approach and willingness to listen attentively to the concerns we had raised about the high move out cleaning fees. He displayed kindness and understanding during our conversation, which was a refreshing change from the previous experiences we had with the on-site staff. Mr. Bradley actively tried to find a resolution to our grievances, and we genuinely appreciated his efforts in addressing the issues we had encountered. We did get to some sort of resolution, however it wasn't the amount we were hoping for.
It is essential for tenants to feel valued, heard, and well taken care of, and regrettably, our time at Draper Village did not reflect these principles in any way. We hope that our feedback serves as valuable insight for others considering this property and that it motivates the management to improve their practices for the benefit of future residents.
Megan Mergl
July 25, 2023
