10/20/22
Lack of Privacy / Lack of Communication
One year at lake Nona Watermark and I have a few comments to make:
1. Maintenance does an Excellent job keeping the grounds, facilities, and apartments in great shape.
2. Lack of Privacy. Be prepared to sign a 78 page lease the takes away all of your rights to privacy. From photo/videos of you to entering your apartment with as little as 24 hrs notice.They came to review maintenance items two weeks in a row as a part of normal reviews with just 24 hrs notice. They came in and I informed the... guy that I was in a video meeting. He decided to walk behind me and start hammering the door latches which did not need any repair. He simply was looking for something to do and looking to see what was going on. Expect at least 1-2 of these less than 24 hour notices for them to enter your apartment. They can provide more notice, but they chose not to. Probably just reporting back to management what they saw.
3. Lack of Communication. Don't bother writing the Office Manager or the Office Sales Manager via email. This company which owns multiple complexes in the area must have a policy not to communicate via email. Countless times I wrote without any response. They prefer to speak in person so that there is no record of the conversation or decisions made. They basically protect the company.
4. Requests for new service or upgrades. Don't bother asking the Sales Manager to find a garage unit (optional) closer to your building unit. She promises to put you on a wait list and will call, but 14 months later and I never got the call or email or the change requested. Yet, there were many garages that became available over the course of that time. She is overwhelmed trying to handle all rentals, move outs, etc.
5. Prices - the Company decided to raise rents in 2021 and early 2022 simply because the 'pandemic' had increased demand and 'everyone else is raising prices'. Rather than trying to do the right thing for renters, they raised the prices to pad the Company income. My rent was increased by 42% when I renewed my lease. They knew I would have to accept it because I had no where else to go.
Overall, I was happy living there, but the issues presented here are quite troubling. If you can find a different place that puts the renter in the front seat rather than the Company, I would recommend it. The 3 stars review is because the complex is maintained well.
Review from Apartments.com
3 People Found This Helpful
Property Manager at Lake Nona Water Mark responded to this review
Thank you for taking the time to provide this review. Our team values your feedback and will incorporate your concerns into future training. We are delighted you were pleased with our well-kept community, grounds, and amenities but disheartened you... experienced frustrations while calling our apartments home. Our staff members aim to provide meaningful, efficient service and are sorry for any instance you believe did not reflect their best efforts.
We understand your apartment is your sanctuary, and our goal is to be as unobtrusive as possible in your living space. On rare occasion, certain inspections may need to be performed in a brief span of time. We always attempt to provide a minimum of 24 hours' notice and offer our sincere apologies if you found this timeframe inadequate. These inspections ensure every apartment home is in sound condition and outstanding repairs are completed. Our maintenance team wishes to apologize for any inconvenience you experienced during their visit.
Whenever a resident specifies a preferred form of communication, we try to respect that preference. Some conversations may need to be discussed in person to ensure the details within are fully understood. Residents are always welcome to send documentation confirming their conversations with our team. We apologize for any miscommunication regarding your desired garage location.
Rental rate increases are decided based on many factors, and we understand they are rarely viewed favorably. However, keeping our costs in line with surrounding communities allows us to maintain the pristine nature of our apartments. A 42% increase is not standard for our 12-month lease option. Short-term leases may experience a higher increase in their premium.
Our new manager would be happy to speak with you to ensure you feel we've effectively addressed your concerns. While we are sad you no longer call our apartments home, the team values your history as a resident. Please feel free to email, call, or drop by the office at your convenience for any further discussion.