*I have lived in a studio apartment at Springs at Apple Valley for nearly three months now. This is my mid-lease review.* The Springs...
*I have lived in a studio apartment at Springs at Apple Valley for nearly three months now. This is my mid-lease review.*
The Springs at Apple Valley is a unique and enjoyable apartment/townhome complex. When you enter the gates of the complex, you feel like you are in a nice, quiet residential area far removed from the busyness and noise of the city, when in reality you are less than a block away from pretty much any store or shop that you could need, and only 15 minutes away from the Mall of America, MSP airport, Twin Cities Premium Outlets, among others.
The units themselves are overall very nice. Most of the 13 buildings were built within the last few years, so they still feel new. My unit has all hardwood floor (not genuine wood, but a durable alternative), and is in great shape. The studios are organized very well, and are one of the few studios that has a separate bedroom area, along with a washer and a dryer in the unit. In terms of noise, I have virtually never heard my neighbors, nor have I ever heard complaints from those around me. This leads me to believe that the insulation and sound-proofing is pretty good, except for two things; the studios are situated above garages so occasionally hear the sound of the garage opening (which is quieter than the sound of a phone vibrating), and occasionally hear the neighbors dog barking (but only when the apartment is completely quiet).
The main reason I made this review 4-stars is for a few reasons. There are somethings in the apartment where it seemed they cut some corners, such as cabinet doors opening in awkward directions, or some of the trim looking like it was hastily done. Also, the unit seems to use an absurd amount of electricity (about $60/month for a studio vs $40/month in my old three bedroom), which I think might be tied to how the heating is run, but its not a huge problem. Also, they call the apartment complex gated, but the front gate stays open so long after it gets opened. If they simply turned the timer down, then I wouldnt have any complaints about this.
I think that the rent is fair considering all the alternatives in the area, and all the amenities from not only the apartment complex (such as door-to-door garbage collection, a pool, workout facility, multiple dog parks, and a car washing station) to all the stores and things to do in the area. The office staff is also friendly and maintenance requests have been quick so far. Its been an enjoyable experience so far, and I look forward to rest of my lease.