The Merchant 102 Sottile Street, Charleston, SC 29403

"I have been living here since July last year. I moved because of a new job in downtown Charleston. I was in a hurry and had to pick a place quickly. Since I moved, the management has changed. Some things have been good, like the location, a gym, a pool (which was supposed to be open all year according to the previous management), and the common areas. However, in recent months, various issues have made me rethink how good this place is. First, the management charges you for parking ($75), and there is no guarantee that you will get a spot. Because of my work, I sometimes return around 8-9 pm, and I need help finding a place to park or take the last spot. Second, the apartment complex is behind the train rails. If you don't know the train schedule, you will be stuck for 30 minutes before passing those rails and getting to your apartment. Third, right now, the management is changing the company they work with for the trash pick-up, but until today, the previous company missed several days, and I had to keep the trash in my apartment. Fourth, cockroaches. As tenants, we must pay for pest control, yet cockroaches are frequent visitors inside your apartment. I always keep my apartment clean, yet I have the same problem. Five, these buildings were built with cheap materials. The apartments look nice, but be aware. You will have several issues like water leaks or baseboards that are falling apart. Six, the gym is good, but I don't trust they will clean it. They have a station with cleaning wipes that is rarely restocked. So, you can never clean, and machines are visibly dirty. Finally, insecurity. In the first five months of living here, I saw two times police patrols and officers either arresting people in front of my building or chasing someone. I am giving two starts because I want to highlight that Ben, the head of the maintenance department, has been the only understanding person here, and he is always ready to help and fix things. He is quick at fixing things and ensuring everything is done correctly and fast. However, it is NOT WORTH IT to pay a rent as HIGH as it is here, and have to call Ben all the time to fix things. As someone commented in a previous post, those who work in the front office pushed my frustration to its limits and are the least helpful here. They are there to give you lawyerly answers, charge you for stuff, and send you emails threatening you with extra fees if you don't do this or that."

"I recently toured at The Merchant and I really enjoyed my experience! The leasing office staff were extremely kind and knowledgeable. The property was very clean and well-kept and everyone I met was so friendly. I am strongly considering making The Merchant my future home!"

"We have lived at the Merchant for almost a year now and we absolutely love it. We have been especially thankful for the maintenance crew, Ben and Mark, as they are always quick to communicate and fix any issues that arise! Highly recommend The Merchant and the maintenance crew here."

"Chelsea is an absolute delight in the office. She helped me and my new roommate through the whole application process and will answer the phone when the office is open and answer all my questions. I recommend this apartment complexes because it’s one of the best in the Charleston area. We are excited to move in."

"My roommate and I moved into the Merchant back in August. Since move in, we have had such a horrible experience. Not only did they lose our application/deposit fee but there was also a lot of miscommunication/no communication from the staff. We have expressed concerns and have gone to the leasing office numerous times. The staff is not only rude but also doesn’t care to resolve any issues. We had a broken dishwasher for a month and did not receive any compensation or any help from the staff and still haven’t. Parking is also a huge issue. It’s $75 dollar per person, and parking is not guaranteed. My car has gotten ran into multiple times and the merchant offers no help other than to call the police. This area also isn’t very safe and many of neighbors have gotten their cars broken into or vandalized. We are now having to seek legal help because the merchant isn’t considerate of their tenants and do not strive to keep and maintain a very welcoming and happy environment. Would really reconsider before moving into here."