Sands Orlando Apartments — Attraction in Orlando

Still giving 5 star despite some obvious things others have noticed.

Roaches: There are indeed a few roaches but they don't compare to those that were in the last apartments I lived and even though Sands have their Pest Control schedule it also depends on each tenant to also help maintain the apartments clean and organized and make it hard for roaches and other insects. Roaches love to live in the walls? No problem, a Killing Gel can easily solve the issue for you and your neighbor while also filling a possible small gap between the wall and the floor. 5 stars because a few roaches are not something impossible to handle, the layout of the apartment also allows for easily handling whatever gaps may appear between walls and the floor.

Administration: Honestly I have only spoken with 3 people and it seems to me that they have their hands full with so many tenants, apartments and maintaining them but even with their obviously stressfull job they have always treated us with respect and promptly, if they don't reply the email or answer the phone, don't be lazy, they have the office open 6 days a week, stop by a few minutes to reach out. Have not felt any disrespect from none of them, I've been in similar job positions like theirs and I totally get them, they'r doing much better than in other places. 5 Starts just because I understand the pressure they must be at while still keeping up with the job and not being disrespectful to us.

Maintenance: Seriously I only had met with one and I believe was the maintenance supervisor himself, the critical issues were resolved the same day and an extra one that happened in the night was resolved next day only because I didn't knew they had a 24 hours on-call maintenance system (ask for it in the office). Very responsible guy which I totally appreciate. Nothing less than 5 stars.

Trash: Now this annoyed me a little bit and it was not because of Sands themselves but it appears there are lazy tenants around leaving the trash outside the compactor even though there's space in the compactor, again this is easily fixed if tenants put a little effort in helping doing things the right way and keeping the area clean. However, it does appear that the amount of people generating trash and the space available in the compactor could be imbalanced and tenants could use a bit more space to throw their trash but it's hard to tell when I go and see and empty compactor with trash outside just out of laziness, can't blame Sands here yet.

Noise: I'm in a second floor and I can tell just by walking on the floor that it would probably be a hell for the first floor to have too many people or children living above them. I recommend the first floor for kids, first off they will have better access to the playgrounds and running around and second you won't have to worry about making noise that annoys the first floor neighbor. We picked the second floor because we don't have any children and we can behave and let the tenant below us have a better time but the Washer Machine CAN and WILL make the floor tremble enough to make noise however you as tenant can help, it's up to the tenant to get some foam floor mats and place them below the washer.

Contract Policy: Like everywhere in the world there will be people trying to play smart and the break the contract policy, I noticed an issue and reported it but I also understand that some things can be complicated to work and fix for the administration, to me anyone can do anything they want in their lives as long as it doesn't affect me directly. Thankfully I managed to find an alternative to my issue to keep the peace but I still had to report the wrong doings only because it's fair that if I have to follow the contract to the letter then at least I don't get affected by someone else who don't want to follow the rules. Nothing personal, just defending the peaceful space I'm also paying for. 5 stars for addressing the issue in normal administrative terms and 5 stars for letting me solve the issue my way.

In summary I'm quite happy with the apartment so...

"This place is awful. Don't give them your hard earned money. They don't deserve it. They extort their tennants and have no sympathy for the fall out they create. They create little arrangements with local tow companies to come and tow the vehicles of the tennants who cannot afford to pay $25-$40 a month on top of annual price hikes in rent to park their vehicles. Their are 384 units in this complex. Right off the bat this makes parking inaccessible to at least 50 people who unfortunately can't afford the $40 month shake down. Their isn't enough parking in this complex for even each tennant to have a spot (which is why most complexes include an assigned spot). Do the math. 17 spots, 4 pavilions, that's $1700 a month. $20,400 a year they are trying to squeeze out of hard working families who simply just don't have it. Instead they work with companies such as TRL Towing (equally heartless, but far far more aggressive) To be here at 8:30 sharp daily to begin towing cars immediately at 9am. They side rig and yank these vehicles around like giant two ton rag dolls and dart away. The whole process literally takes 30 seconds and is a nightmare on your alignment. So not only are they yanking theses cars out left and right but they do it in such a way of clear disregard for the communities property demanding at a minimum $160-$200 a pop. Oh and make sure you check your Epass balances because they like to take toll roads. Otherwise you end up with a hold on your license and registration. I speak from experience. It's pretty much at their warped digression. I would know it's happened to me twice. Thank god I don't have children. This is definitely not the environment I would want to raise a child in. Between the floating trash river, police raids, car break ins, and the rude condescending heartless property management I find it difficult to find even one tennant, past and current, happy with their experiences with Village Palm Apartments, formerly Oak wood Commons. Even people who have toured the community as a new prospective tennant. One woman who explained she was "horrified" at the condition the property was in. Broken cabinets. Broken tiles. Broken blinds. And Roaches both living and dead (pick your species we've got them) in every drawer and cabinet. She said she couldn't run away fast enough. I implore you to do the same. Unless you enjoy being on edge not knowing if your car will be there every morning because of their new and ever changing community rules. Oh, they also like to send you very important policy changes via email. You know, the lesser of the checked forms of contact. Because the hassle of having to post a notice just cannot be fathomed in our febble little brains. At least that is what I imagine slum lords and aggressive and preditory property management like Miss Ma'am in the office must lay in their beds and think of at night. Bc if have any sort of faith left in humanity, she doesn't get sleep at night. I mean who could, right? I have been a renter in Orlando for 10 years. And before that 5 in other states. I have never. Never. Seen...

DO NOT MOVE HERE!!!!

This apartment complex seems so nice at first but it doesn't last once you sign that lease. 1.) ROACHES were crawling up my walls in apartment before I ever even got the chance to move in furniture and they only got worse. I had to pay hundreds of my own dollars to fix this. I would ask the complex to please call pest control and they would mark it off that it was done in the app, but never was. I work from home so I would know. Took them 3 months to send someone out. RAT shit is in the hallways and i have seen them many times at night on my patio.

2.) They will say the gym is 24/7 when you sign up but it is not. Its only open when the office is open. Along with the bathrooms that are connected to the pool area so anytime after 5pm or Sundays... you better get your own gym membership and go to a friends pool.

3.) Speaking of the pool, you can not have anything by the pool except for a clear water bottle. I had my nieces over (years 3 and 5) and I had Gilka come out and yell at us that we couldn't even have snacks or juice for them... oh and they WILL fine you for it.

4.) THEY DO MONTHLY MANDATORY CHECKS OF YOUR HOME like you are in some kind of housing authority. Weather you are home or not.

5.) DOG SHIT IS ALL OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD and if you are near unit A1 then you will find trash all over the front of the complex they never clean up. Smells like doo- doo every time you open your window.

6.) AlSO, do not make the mistake I made when trying to leave, I went to the office at 63 days asking for paperwork from Gilka cause I did not want to renew and was told it was to early and someone would reach out.... NO ONE DID and now they are trying to make me pay almost two grand and the manager of the complex Jennifer... she's no help at all.

7.) this complex is money hungry, they fine you for EVERYTHING and don't fix anything. I had my washer and dryer broken and they never came to fix it for a month. I had to spend even more money and time of my own to go to a laundry mat, They also marked it off as completed in the app and guess what, I was home and they never came. Once he finally came he said " well you are moving soon so we will fix it when you leave." LOL

END RESULT DO NOT MOVE HERE IF YOU VALUE YOUR SANITY. The office people never get your paperwork right, randomly charge you for whatever they see fit with no actual reasoning.

That was my warning I wish someone gave me, don't do this to yourself. Pay $100 more a month and go to a better complex. Worst place i have ever lived my my 32 years on this earth... I still have nightmares bugs are gonna crawl on me...