apt on Essex

"We found roaches when we first moved in and I have terrible allergies, there were dust all over the ceiling and walls and blinds, imagine how sick I felt the first couple of weeks were in. There’s a person on drugs who sleeps in the entrance and the entire area will smell like smoke. Again, I’m extremely sensitive to smoke and I wfh so I had to put towels on the door and make sure to not step outside. These people could easily pass into the upstairs area where the apartments are if a person just lets them in. I’ve called the cops multiple times about this security issue and have had my partner speak to Chad about this problem. Ultimately, Chad does not care about his tenants well being or health. Please take the time to look at the replies at the negative reviews with 1 star too. You will see how management will reply in a defensive manner and make you feel as if every terrible thing that you’ve experienced at this apartment is your fault. Yes, if you guys see this and say you’re sorry or you want me to address any of my concerns. Sorry will never be enough and I just very much did address my concerns. You guys need to fix the entire management of this place immediately."

"I've really had no issues living here! In terms of the building, I swear sometimes I'm the only one living here since the walls are so thick and never hear any neighbor noise. Appliances have all worked well while I've lived here. A lot of the negative reviews mention management issues -- I haven't interacted much with Chad and can't speak of him, but Ben has been extremely helpful in coordinating moving to a different unit and has been relatively quick-responding and accommodating in my experience compared to previous property managers I've had. Only downside I'd say would be the lack of amenities (gym, covered parking, etc.), but the price of these studios are hard to come by near campus"

"This is my first time writing a review ever….. let me start with some positives. I have lived here for a couple months now and absolutely love the unit. High ceilings with big windows. The building itself is great. The one star and bad review come from Property management. First let’s start with my showing. The 2 people who are in charge (Chad “shady” and Ben) seem to not be on the same page with pricing and unit details, I was told the unit would be cheaper than what I am being charged monthly! The $25 dollar fee is fine but they charge $35 for “internet “ but still have to go through your own internet provider. These things I am able to manage. The biggest downside of this apartment is how bad of communication there is. You can call chad and text chad 1 million’s times and the problem will never be fixed. I have tried to contact starmax property and never get any response. A lot of reviews and neighbors have also complained about “Chad” being a scam artist when it comes to moving out and getting deposit back. I honestly would suggest this apartment but the uncertainty the manager leaves it’s residents with is not worth it. The funny thing is I read all the reviews and still decided to move in lollll. Will update the post when lease if finished to see if chad and Ben scam me. About 80% of the reviews given within the past year have been 1 star. P.s. look at their comments in return to negative reviews. Unprofessional,argumentative and extremely unapologetic."

"My original review was quite long, so here is a revised version. I lived here with my fiance in a one-year lease. Overall, we were not happy. The property manager is impossible to get a hold of even when there are pressing issues, like if someone else is parked in the spot we pay for. The railings in the stairways are pulling out of the walls which is in no way safe. The units themselves are alright, but they were clearly built in a rush. Not a lot of space, but you're really just paying for location. On move out, we were charged $200 for cleaning and maintenance, even though we thoroughly deep cleaned everything (except for a stain we couldn't remove in the oven). The only other damages we caused were two patches of ripped paint (command strip mishap). This truly boils down to a horrible property management company. I would avoid at all costs unless they employ a new company in the future. Update: We got a hold of the management company and they broke down our charges. We left a command strip on the wall in the bathroom. The maintenance person who removed it ripped it off the wall taking some drywall with it instead of using the pull tab, so basically we were charged for their negligence. In our last email correspondence, the management asked for me to remove my Google review since my situation was "resolved." Simply answering my questions doesn't resolve anything! I highly suggest looking elsewhere for an apartment."

"I have lived here for a year now and I have had no issues! Chad is so nice and accommodating with any issues that you may have. The parking was always plowed in the winter so my car never got stuck! I have had no noise issues as my neighbors are quiet and respectful. The building is new with hard wood floors in the kitchen and stainless steel appliances. They also painted nice accent walls which gives the place character! Definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to live in a very walkable area. Will be living here until I decide to buy a house!"