Camden Gaines Ranch

Current Resident 90628

Resident • 2006

Crazy rent hikes

Camden has and will hike its rent by 20 %, after one year of living. My friends have left this place .. rent shot up from $700 to $850 for 1-1 !<br><br>For me, rent is now up by $200 from $1000 to $1200, for 2-2. The place is far away from anything (downtown, town lake), no tennis courts, no volleyball, racquetball courts ... does not make sense paying 1200 bucks for hardly any facilities .. its austin not boston ... i have got a 50% hike if I want to continue month-by-month ... they told me this 20 days before my lease expires .. notice period is 1 month .. how am I gonna decide whether its worth staying here if you are not going to tell me what my rent is going to be !! <br>seems like they want their residents out .. so I am outta here ...

Current Resident 597666

Resident • 2006

I agree!

I agree!

Current Resident 419695

Resident • 2001 - 2006

Management sucks

Reading the reviews, I see that not one person had anything positive to say about the new management. A manangement this bad can really ruin your apt. experience. Trust me. ( For details, see the response I posted today to a note posted on 5-03-2006: "Camden Management is Terrible. Stay Away." )

alex1988

Resident • 2005 - 2006

I can't wait till the end of the month

Been here 1 year and have nothing positive to say so I'll say nothing at all. Like momma said.

fossyjaw

Resident • 1993 - 2006

Meat pies available on Tuesdays....

from Mrs. Miggens, apt 120, directly from Wigan, UK

adobo76

Resident • 2006

First night and not happy

Make sure you read my update at the end.<br><br><br>I came to Austin for a job with Dell. Because I was moving cities I had to make a special trip to Austin just to do apartment hunting. <br><br>When I came to see the property I was shown a model unit and told that the one which I was to be renting was not available for show. I told them that was fine I would like to see it anyways. I was still told that I couldn't see it but they managed to show me a clone unit. <br><br>At first glance it seems like an awesome place. Right on the green belt with trees coming right up to the back balcony. Younger hipper crowd also.<br><br>Everything seemed to look really good until I decided that I liked it enough to rent here. First I was told by the agent that I could repair my car on site. After reading the lease it was expressly forbidden to work on automobiles on site. Then after I signed the lease they tried to tell me that I wouldn't get a copy until I moved in. I just signed a legal binding document and they are not going to give me a copy!!!! What kind of crap? I insisted and got a copy anyways. This was especially important to me since I lined out some items I didn't like in the lease.<br>At this point I was starting to get the feeling that the management had a problem. I then looked on this message board and saw that many people feel the same way. At this point I started to worry but assured myself that everything would be fine.<br><br>Just wait it gets worse.....<br><br>Final moving day<br>I leave Denver at 9pm central time. I don't get Austin until 10pm. Stacy I think was her name in the management office. She told me that she would leave the key under the door matt. I agreed<br>I arrive to find that the keys are there with a sticky note saying 1121, my name, and my phone number. My first thought is that 1121 looked like an apartment number but was just probably the entry code to get in the gate. Well after I found that the gate was a magnetic pass I really started to worry.<br><br>The keys didn't fit my lock. By the way my apartment listed on the lease is not 1121. I think that maybe they gave me the wrong keys but if I go up to 1121 I'll at least have a place to crash for the night. well I open the door to find someone else's stuff!!! These morons gave me the keys to someone else's apartment!! A complete stranger!!! Freaked out I shut the door and locked it right away. What if this is my apartment in a few years and they give away the keys like this? This is gross incompetence and I don't feel safe with them having my keys now.<br><br>Next I walk around the back of the unit I'm supposed to be in just hoping for another shear case of incompetence that they might have left it unlocked and what do you know. It's open. So here I am sitting in the empty apartment pirating someone else's wireless writing this review.<br><br>Also<br><br>The place was not clean<br>The bathroom toilet still has someone else's pubes all over it, the sink and bathtub are also still dirty. <br><br>Broken<br>The ball in the toilet is too big. Everytime it is flushed the toilet runs.<br><br>The sink stopper doesn't work well.<br><br>The blinds do not seem to close all the way. I can stand on the back patio and see waist level all the way into the kitchen.<br><br>On top of it all I'm still waiting until tomorrow to see if the A/C starts to cool the place down. I'm told by a friend that central air( if that is what is in here) takes a while to work.<br><br>I'm just waiting for tomorrow at 10 so I can go in and let them have it.<br><br>Do not rent here!!! Management totally incompetent!!!!!<br><br>Oh and on top of it all they force you to have cable TV. No way to opt out. It's like an extra $40 on the monthy rent.<br><br><br>Ok so today I went into the office. They were infuriated about the key situation and made new rules as a result. They sent cleaning and maintenance people immediatly. I'm happy with the response. Now to see how it is living here for a while.

Current Resident 70139

Resident • 2005 - 2006

NO NO NO

Lousy managment. Noisey neighbors and poor maintainence. Lack of security. Check the paint job in the apartment they'll show you and you'll get a good idea of the quality of work they do. The carpet they say they'll clean is what they'll charge you to replace when you leave. There aren't any garages available and the list is long because if you leave your car parked outside it'll get broken into every few months. And when you try to talk about any of this to the office staff they say "they'll look into it". When you can finally get the manager to return a call it's not their fault and there is nothing they can do. Good luck!

Current Resident 706664

Resident • 2006

got out just in time!

bad place to visit. you dont want to live there

Current Resident 501072

Resident • 2006

stinks

I hate it and can't wait till August when I can move!

Current Resident 473451

Resident • 2006

Nice place - horrible management

Overall, the apartments are nice and it's an amazing area. But, as with all Camden owned apartments, the people that work in the main office are morons. When I've called the office, on pretty much every occasion, they've either put me on hold and forget about me or are completely rude and don't care about your issue. I've also had the maintence people go into my apartment and deadbolt (as in, I can't get into my apartment!) my front door and leave through the back door! Are you kidding me?! When I reported this to the manager herself they apologized and said "Oh, we've been telling them to stop doing that." I was astounded. I love the apartments but the people that work here are outrageous and I can't wait to leave.

EvaPich

Resident • 2006

Bad service when FEDEX delivered

Dear Gaines Ranch Apartment Staff!<br>I had three FEDEX deliveries send to the adress above on 6/1/2006. and I'm chasing down the delivery of those packages since then, Daily contact to FEDEX and your offcie did not accomplsih those packages to be delivered prperly. FEDEX told me, that your staff instructed the FEDEX driver , that I has already moved out on 6/1/2006, which of course is not true. They also let the cleaning grew into the apartment the morning on 6/2/2006 and they went through the remaining my things. THIS IS ABSOLUTLY UNACCEPATABLE! I will not hesitate to file further complaints about this exeptionally bad customer service.<br>Regards<br>Eva

AndyS

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Still CRA#%Y

"I gotta get outta this place...if its the last thng I ever do". Only moved here because they had several vacancies (should of been my first clue) and I needed a place right now! Now I need someplace else!

Current Resident 867680

Resident • 2005 - 2006

some mgmt problems, but nice

I have enjoyed the last year in Gaines Ranch. The apartment is gorgeous. All of my maintenance concerns have been taken care of immediately. The grounds and pool are nice. I haven't had any problems regarding security or anything. It's very quiet. I've heard my upstairs neighbor's bass a few times, but it hasn't been anything unbearable. I adore my closet. Seriously. It's huge. <br><br>My only complaint is w/ the new management. The color they painted the buildings is unattractive (but if you like it, then I guess it doesn't matter), and I don't like the new swipe card system (it's a nuisance after the clickers, but not horrible or anything.) On a professional level, I've never had anyone be rude to me or anything like that. When I've gone in to pay rent or to do any kind of paperwork, they have been professional, courteous and helpful.<br><br>I'm moving out this weekend, but only b/c as a student it's a bit pricey for me and b/c I want to be closer to school. I would recommend Gaines Ranch. I have really enjoyed living here.

iamu

Resident • 2005 - 2006

DO NOT RENT AT GAINES RANCH

I agree 100%. I have been here for 1 year now, and will be paying double rent for a few months just so I can get out of here. After their 'improvement' paintings, not only does everything look awful, but there are also paint splatter all over my patio and front door. . . along with stains of several varieties at my entryway. Further, management has been rude and uncooperative since Camden took over. Until now, we have had very convenient and safe 'clickers' to open the access gates. . . we did not have to open our windows to open the gate. . now they have 'upgraded' to a system that requires us to open our window (regardless of weather) and swipe a card across a box. . this is not only inconvenient, but also annoying if weather is bad, and clearly unsafe as it would be extremely easy for someone stalking a nice part of town to carjack somebody while their arm is sticking out of their open window while they are stopped. DO NOT RENT HERE!!

Current Resident 520170

Resident • 2004 - 2006

Camden Management Is Terrable Stay Away

Its a shame that the new management is so terriable I can't recommend this property. I have lived at gaines ranch for 2 years now and I was 100% satisfied until Camden took over as the management company. They do not disapline residents who leave trash out on the curb. There is trash infront of my apt everyday and they only pick it up MWF. Animals get into the trash and scatter it everywhere. Also, someone keeps putting trash in the bed of my pickup and when I told management about it they said "Call the Police". I even went as far as going threw the trash and finding the residents name and apartment number and they still did nothing. Management is also very rude when you deal with them. Once The apartment manager "THE MANAGER" went as far as laughing in my face. I have several other examples but it would take me forever to explain them. <br><br>The pool is always nasty.<br><br>They painted the building a terriable color. They used to blend in and be very natural and now they are ackward.<br><br>STAY AWAY FROM CAMDEN MANAGEMENT

Current Resident 240426

Resident • 2006

WORST MANAGMENT EVER

I lived there for about 9 months before my frustrations with the new staff did me in. Moving in at the begining of last summer was great. The staff- amazing. Until we get a notice stating anew managment company took over. Within a week all the smiling faces had been replaced with b*(# hy girls who could care less if you had a problem. I called once and in the middle of my conversation the girl starting talking to someone else about what she wanted for lunch.. 30 seconds later after she finished ordering she then said "Oh sorry, what did you say" I finally just gave my roomate 1200 to pay off the rest and I left. WAY OVER PRICED LIVE ELSEWHERE>> and to the ladies who took over the office.. REMEMBER YOUR LEASING AGENTS>> ONLY GLORIFIED RETAIL POSITIONS...

Current Resident 501169

Resident • 2004 - 2006

Camden has been a disaster

Felt I could have written "Change in management.....awful". I have loved my apartment since moving here about 1 1/2 yr ago and was pleased with the prior management. I have had awful experiences with the new management, and have come to the conclusion that they lie intentionally. It seems they want to run people off. Every resident to whom I've talked about the mngt are quite displeased, as well. From what I've been told, upper management is quite supportive of the current team. Especially considering the rent that is charged here, I feel I deserve to be treated with honesty and respect.

Current Resident 294492

Resident • 2005 - 2006

sorry, meant no

sorry, meant no

Current Resident 749233

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Don't fall for the special

I am a graduate student at UT and took this apartment 6 months ago at a resonable rate. Now my lease is up and they are wanting to raise my rent by $400! When I asked about it they said the new amount was "fair market value". Funny how the value went up $400 that quickly. Don't fall into this trap!

Current Resident 719938

Resident • 2005 - 2006

listen to the masses

Rent elsewhere.

Kris24p3

Resident • 2001 - 2005

I've lived in Gaines Ranch for 4 years, and have lived in 3 different areas of the complex and in 2 different floor plans.(I moved based on the amount of space I needed at the time) I've been reading all of the negative reviews for this place and I really can't relate to any of it. In fact, I'm beginning to wonder if alot of these reviews are just a scam. College Parties? Thin Walls? Dog smell when it Rains??? To anybody who is using this site as a serious way to judge an apartment complex..Please use caution when reading alot of these reviews. I don't know how thick the walls are, but I've never heard excess noise inside or outside of my apartment. It's actually strange how quiet this place can be, and it's something my friend always comment about when they visit. As far college parties at the pool or else where, all I can say is that if your a very social person, Gaines Ranch might seem a little boring. Most of the people here are working professionals and I rarely see them at the pool. I've almost never had a problem with my apartment, but when I have, it has always been addressed promptly. The only question mark to truly consider when choosing Gaines Ranch is the new management.<br>I haven't really had to deal with them, but I can tell you that they will not be ripping out trees!? As far as Gaines being over priced...try finding another apartment in Austin built to condo specs with the architecture and location of this place. Finally, about the comments of lack of security. I have never once seen or heard of anything approaching the descriptions made on this site. And Gaines is a small complex. Crime can happen anywhere. But I challange anyone to prove that Gaines has had more thefts and acts of vandalism than any other complex in town. No apartment complex is perfect, but the negative reviews posted on this site are beginning to seem a little ridiculous from where I'm sitting... on my balcony looking over the greenbelt.

Current Resident 175454

Resident • 2005

Over Priced - Running down, VERY Poor Management

The Apartments have NO SECURITY and take NO responsibility for the thefts, loud noise, cars racing through the complex. The lack of security is only exceeded by the poor state of repairs. The smell off dog ---- is pervasive each time it rains.

unhappyrenter1904

Resident • 2004 - 2005

change in management....awful

I have lived here for a year and a half. I loved this place. The staff was helpful; they fixed any problems promptly, and they were always nice. This property was sold to Camden at the beginning of October, and it has gone to hell since. One lady in the office flat out lied to me when quoting prices for our apartment. They do not fix anything anymore, even when they say they will. The professional office staff who I adored were replaced with young people who couldn't seem to care less. Camden stripped the native plants and put in landscaping in the front, and now they are taking down trees in the complex. They are making this into just another cookie-cutter complex, and for the price we pay, it shouldn't be. I hate the new Gaines Ranch!!

Current Resident 771307

Resident • 2004 - 2005

what a scam

We moved out on the first of September and my wife spent half a day cleaning the place. We have now been told we won't be getting any of our deposit back and that we owe for carpet replacement. Has anybody else had this problem? We never really had any problems while we lived there but this sounds like it'll end up in court at this rate.

Current Resident 355597

Resident • 1999 - 2005

I moved out recently....I liked our apartment, but the walls were verty thin. I knew our naighbors name on one side was George, because we heard his significant other calling it out in the heat of passion every saturday night.Our neighbor on the other side had a huge dog that barked all day and pooped on her patio, and would smell up my apartment. If I did try to sit out on my balcony and enjoy the truly great view, all I could hear was the barking of all the dogs that got left outside constantly.<br>I enjoyed the pool, but not the "college parties" that took place every weekend with so much smoking and beer that I didn't feel comfortable bringing my children there.<br>I feel the staff are overgrown children that don't how to properly manage.I do feel they were overpriced....I was paying 1400/month for a 2 bedroom. I now pay 1500/month for a 5 bedroom house with a huge yard and a pool of my own! We lived at Gaines Ranch for over 5 years...wish we could have moved out sooner.I also left the apartment in immaculate condition, and didn't even get a fraction of my security back. Thanks for letting me VENT!