University Village made finding safe, quality, affordable, and close housing possible right away. I am so grateful to the wonderful staff they have (Marissa,...
University Village made finding safe, quality, affordable, and close housing possible right away. I am so grateful to the wonderful staff they have (Marissa, Justin, and manager Craig have always been so professional, responsive, receptive, friendly, and helpful - the day I signed my lease, Marissa stayed late to make sure that everything was in order, which I appreciated so much as I had had an incredibly long day looking for housing). Honestly, if you need a place close to campus where you can feel safe, sign with University Village. They helped me make sure I was in an apartment that did not have pets (though they are a pet friendly location) and provide roommate matching (this does not guarantee you a perfect match, but, in my case, I got two very clean, respectful and responsible roommates, which works out great - I don't have to worry about my stuff being touched or taken or living with unorganized people). I appreciate the concern to detail that Savannah, Leasing Coordinator, provided to accommodate me in a pet-free apartment (perfect for me, because of my allergies). I also really, REALLY love that all of the units come with their own full-sized washer and dryer and fully furnished- I won't be in Tallahassee long and the provided furniture helped me make an easy transition into the City. I like also that University Village offers pest control; you just sign up on the list if you need it and they come on Thursdays. They leave a pink slip on your counter to let you know they have come by. This was helpful because, living on a first floor, I have seen 2 cockroaches during my Fall semester. Because we requested it, the complex helped us ward off any more pests by re-caulking our front door to make sure it was airtight and no bugs could get through. I have since not seen any roaches - our apartment stays clean and bug free (perfect for me, because I am most scared of cockroaches than anything else). Utilities in the City can be expensive, but I appreciate that, though it took our insistence, the front office updated, for free, our thermostat for a new digital one. This was fantastic to help us save on money because we are aware exactly of the temperature. Staff are very and quickly responsive to other, more common requests, including turning off our water heater to save us money while we were away for holidays and providing complimentary carpet deep cleaning given an early move-in during the fall. I have never been charged out of the blue for anything and the front office always receives and deposits my checks the first time they get them. They also are always responsive whenever I call; someone is always on staff with a friendly, professional, and respectful tone. Lastly, what I pay for rent, which includes water, sewer, cable, and internet, is exactly what I was told I would have to pay. The building is right in front of the FSU bus stop and parking is available for you as a resident, after you purchase the decal. They also have a pool and 24/7 complimentary gym and computer room, with free printing (bring your own paper).
The reason I did not give University Village a full 5 stars is because of some issues with Maintenance. Maintenance does a great job of responding quickly (within 1 day) to emergency issues; however, as a resident, you need to insist to front of office staff for Maintenance to contact you before coming into your apartment. If not, I have had maintenance stopping by unannounced and attempting to open my front door. This has improved alot since I have arrived (they have notified me and have also asked when is the best time for them to come by), but as a resident, you still have assert this with front office staff to ensure you are notified before they go to your unit. The other concern related to maintenance is that our dishwasher works, but, has twice gotten clogged and backed up with water (I do all my dishes by hand anyway, so this has not been a huge concern for me); the good thing is that University Village sent maintenance right away to fix the clog and clean up spills, which I appreciate.