Great View Apartments

I wish I had listened to the negative reviews before deciding to live here. The office staff is TERRIBLE and they have such a high turnover rate. At move out, they are charging us $600+ for carpet replacement when there was only mild wear and tear due to us residing there for almost 3 years! The grounds are filled with pet waste. They rarely power wash stairwells. There’s barely any view of the lake due to the newly built retirement center however, they continue to raise their rent prices. Very poor customer service from office staff. DO NOT LIVE HERE. THEY ARE CROOKS! There are much better places you could live for the cost. We are seeking legal advice for the charges from move-out.

My review will be long, but hopefully helpful for those on the fence about moving here. 1. Location, spacing, and landscaping: You are extremely close to Lake Murray. If you like to walk the dam/visit the lake often, you'll be within close walking distance. The landscaping is beautiful and the complex is peaceful. There are plenty of trees and beautiful flowers and plants. 2. Pricing: When I moved in 3 years ago, my base rent was just over $1,050 or so for a 1 bd/1bath. Looking at the current rates, it is NOT worth the money unless you can afford to spend carelessly. For $1,600-$1,800 you can live in MUCH nicer apartments. That is the price expected from a large city like Charlotte, or even downtown Columbia- but not Irmo. I was very surprised to see the new prices. They are doing renovations to their units, so that may be why...but overall, it is still not worth the money. Especially not for a complex lacking in some areas (more on that below). York Woods down the street is going for $1,400-$1,500 for more space. 3. Security: THIS IS NOT A GATED COMMUNITY. Do not believe their website. There are gates, but they are always open, day and night. There have been many promises to fix the gate throughout my 3 years staying here, and the longest that the gate has worked is about a week. There have been car break-ins...and the first instinct the staff had was to inform residents via email to "ensure cars are locked and valuables are out of plain view." That would be good advice, except the cars' (multiple break-ins) windows were smashed in. Locking doors will not prevent glass from shattering. Perhaps if the gate worked then these things wouldn't happen as often. 4. Lake view from residences: Do NOT be fooled by the name "The Grandview." As of late 2020/early 2021, only a select number of units are able to view the lake. There is a very large retirement building directly in front of the apartments which obstructs the view of the lake. Odds are that you will not have a lake view. 5. Thin walls and smells from other apartments: Like other reviews have noted, the walls are thin from all fronts. Here, you will not "clearly" hear your neighbors, but sound WILL seep through. This is why I recommend getting a unit on the TOP floor. If you have a downstairs neighbor who smokes, the smell can seep into your apartment. The balcony floors are also spaced-out wooden planks, so if your downstairs or upstairs neighbor is smoking, the smell will absolutely seep into your balcony and--if you have the door open--into your apartment. This is a personal annoyance since I do not smoke...but it is something to be aware of if you are sensitive to smoke. 6. Staff and management: When I first moved in, the staff were wonderful. They were very attentive, pleasant, and arranged for food trucks come to the complex. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. The current staff may be pleasant long enough to get you to sign a lease, but after that, expect to be met with shortness, complacency and rather off-putting behavior. Residents used to be greeted with a smile when entering the main office, now the staff act as if your presence is an inconvenience. Perhaps they have some personal issues going on, or perhaps they do not enjoy their jobs. Either way, I try to avoid going in the main office as much as possible. 7. The maintenance staff: The maintenance staff has ALWAYS been attentive and timely, at least in my experience. Even the new-hires are exceptional. They do a wonderful job. 8. Amenities: The pool is beautiful and luckily still maintains a great lake view. It goes up to 5 feet and has some grills which are often used nicely. The gym is VERY small, but it has 3 treadmills, about 3 standing ellipticals, a hip abductor machine, and a pull-down weight machine. It has free weights and yoga mats, but there aren't really any places to use them unless you are the only one in the room. Because of this, I would STRONGLY recommend joining a local gym. Overall: Nicer than average apartment, but not 100% worth the money.