Katy Ranch Apartments — Local services in Katy

After living here for nearly 2 years, and reading most of the other reviews, I wanted to provide my take on the Echo @ Katy Ranch. I've stayed at two different apartment complexes before moving here. I had a lot of issues and the other two places, same reasons most people tend to have.

I can begin by saying that virtually none of the usual issues have arisen here. I have never heard any noise from within my apartment that came from another apartment, outside the rare banging noise when someone drops something or accidentally bumps into a wall. It's very rare to actually never hear any noise from other people's apartments. While at times you may hear noisy neighbors from outside, the staff does warn them if you take the time to complain. You have to say something or they will never know there's a problem.

Trash pickup fees are mandatory, sure, but it's really the only effective way to do it. It's quite rare for the trash pickup team to miss a day, it's only happened two times for me in 2 years. They do stick to the rules often times and will not pick up your trash if you don't follow them.

You can find many apartments around this price point, but I have yet to find any complex that has a mid-rise (4-floor apartment building with elevators), apartment buildings without garages, and some with attached garages, and a host of detached garages for rent, all on the same property. Not only that, but my deciding factor was the fact that they have 1-bedrooms with 2-car garages attached to the apartment (with direct access), although granted the garages are tandem (2 cars can be parked one ahead of the other, not side by side. You'll need a 2-bedroom or larger for that, I believe).

While other reviews will condemn this complex for things they have no control over, like bad neighbors or noises from across the street, I won't do that. I will only rate them on what they can do and control.

Office staff: since I have moved in, virtually all of the office staff has changed. This is very normal for apartments. The nice thing is that every single staff member is very professional, kind, respectful, and attentive. If you take the time to tell them about your problems and help them help you, they will. They've done that enough times for me already.

Maintenance staff: since moving in, the staff has switched once. Previous staff were very prompt and took care of non-essential issues within 1 or 2 days. New staff is just as good, and are as polite and kind and good at what they do as the last. I have yet to have any issues with promptness.

Apartment: I fell in love with my apartment design and 2-car garage right away, and moved in for those reasons. Since then, I have only had the usual, minor issues most of us tend to deal with. Light bulbs going out, the garbage disposal failing (probably my own fault for not treating it properly), but otherwise no appliance or A/C failures.

Pests: If you have pest problems, you or your neighbors are to blame. People bring them with bad habits. I have seen my share of people dumping their trash bags on the ground, sometimes open. That's an invitation to all sorts of pests. In my apartment, I have not seen a single thing outside the occasional silverfish, which I have seen in every apartment I've ever lived in. They have pest control people do preventative work in every apartment, but you have the right to waive it. I'm thinking a lot of folks do this and end up bringing in pests.

Neighbors: unfortunately there will always be bad neighbors. I have seen many of the issues claimed in other reviews. People letting their pets run around without supervision or leashes of any kind, pooping wherever they please. Kids play everywhere, lay their bikes in the middle of the street, and rarely pay attention to oncoming traffic (drive very carefully). In the few times neighbors have really bothered me, I complained. Believe it or not, the problem was gone shortly after. The staff does send out warnings and then will start to take action.

Bottom line, I recommend...

What a TERRIBLE place!!! There should be option for no star ratting for this place!!! I haven't live'd in apartment for very long, but customer service isn't something that exist in this place.. So, After our first visit with my wife, interested in renting 3bdr apartment for 3-4 months ( we just needed short term rent) we filled the application with some guy Mike, that I never saw him again or hear back from him. 10 days later we visit again to see what's going on, to understand that Mike isn't longer there and that's why our application online, nobody look at. Whatever... The lady that assisted us that day, guess what, never saw her again.. anyhow... There wasn't any issues getting the apartment, move in in the apartment, just to find out that there are LOTS of issues with the apartment. Paint wasn't dry, and pilling, doors were painted the same morning we got the keys, so they weren't dry too, and the paint on it was pilling. Both of the bathroom were stinky!!! Oven not working, water from sink in dirty black color... fridge not cleaned..carpet in living room stained... I can go for a while with the list.. anyhow... went to the office to report all this, new person over there, and still training on what needs to be done in this situation... Don't blame her, but she had no IDEA what needs to be done. 1 hour later of her going back and forward with the so call Manager, he finally shows up with some paper that I need to filled about the issues, and his face was priceless.. It looked like his forced to be there. Customer service and satisfaction isn't something that are close to his personality.. After filling this paper, was told that they will send someone to fix all this things... Over a month after, still nobody showed. Even after few times visiting the office, still nothing, and I was told, "chill man, will fix it"?!?!? CHILL MAN???!?!? WTH... Then, one of the gate openers NEVER WORKED. Visit the office again, they replaced the battery, nothing changed, and again new employee, requested to talk with the "manager" waited 20 minutes for him to come out of the office, with the same poopy face as always, " I'll get you new opener on Monday, now it's time for me to go home.." WHAT?!?!?! Guess what, nothing changed, and the new employee, you are guessing, never saw it again... Now, here's the cherry on the cake ( we are still in the apartment for another month), woke up one morning two weeks ago, to find that my kids bathroom was filling with sour... OMG put some towels on the floor so, it doesn't go to the carpet, run to the office to get some help, new employee one more time, to be asked if I do have one or two bathrooms in the unit. On the answer that I have two, was answered that " OU then it's noting urgent, just used the other bathroom till we fix it". That was it.. I lost it then, run to the closest store, got plunger and had to do it on my own. And you are guessing, two weeks later, still nobody showed to even ask if I need some help!!! This place is JOKE!!! I never, ever ever write bad reviews, because I do understand that this reviews can't hurt someone's business, but this place is simply far of being to normal business.. I can go on for much longer with the issues that this place has, just don't want to loose my time with this, since I don't think will change anything. I guess there is a reason why this is the only place in the area that lets you rent apartment for short time, and why every second day there is new employee.. I need to mark that the only person that was helpful in this S**T hole is a blond lady that works in the office, I guess some kind of accountant or whatever, and she was the one that help us fill the MOVE OUT NOTICE FORM ... If you are interested in this place, do yourself a favor and go somewhere...

Been living here going on four years. The maintenace staff is 3 great guys really nice Hispanic, Alberto will go over and beyond to help tenants that's non Hispanic with work orders by putting on his translation app. The office staff manager Suzie is very sensitive when trying to explain certain charges on my account. I've NEVER ever been late paying rent at this property. The new owners Tam-Katy Ranch/corporate is no help when it comes to their tenants they favor Hispanic population. This is my first time writing a review after trying to resolve the fees added to my portal account not to mention since living at the property I've always had my own rental insurance and Tam property team is constantly charging me a $10.00 monthly fee. Tam property has a 3rd party that handles the insurance agreement for the tenants you just have to fill out form and add insurance information. I still was being charged and when going to the property to get information about the fees poor guy JESUS don't have a clue about nothing the staff needs training. I locked myself out of my apartment on Monday February, 26, by accident. The maintenance Alberto went through the garage with a key to manually open it and successfully I got into the apartment. After entering the apartment I went to unlock the front door while Alberto tried operating the garage by the switch bottom and it just went off the tracks. Now the manager Suzie told me to pay for it out my pocket and to get a company to service the garage. I explained to her that this is NOT right and for her to give me the company number who service this property. Today, Friday March 1st a hispanic man and women both about 80 years old in a black pick up truck came to service the garage. The man called me and I told him I was 5 minutes away to give me 10 minutes to get to the apartment while talking to the man he stating the charge will be $300.00 dollars mind you he never entered the apartment. I arrived to the apartment and let the guy in to see what was going on with the garage. I asked the guy several questions only to learn he never serviced my apartment and that he only came to the property about 10 months ago when called by a friend who works at the property. I asked the guy for a waiver and an invoice he stated he only took cash or zelle, also no company name no uniform just him and the lady.I know my rights when it comes to a company servicing the property a waiver needs to be signed Suzie got me messed up. I went to the office to pay my rent this pass Thursday for March payment and Suzie the manager told me that I need to pay my rent on the portal and that they don't accept cashier checks. I was leaving and noticed a Hispanic guy paying his rent with a money order that was accepted by Asst manager JESUS. So now what you have to say about that Corporate the company allows the managers to lie to tenants or just a certain race of tenants. Andrea the leasing manager and JESUS stop lying to y'all tenants its not cool and its very unprofessional for me to ask all the staff questions or concerns and all of y'all start speaking spanish very rude that's why this company have a high turnover not to mention all the violations my next door hispanic neighbor doing hair in her garage. By the way I'm not racist I'm just real folks read the reviews all reviews are not lies. I have all the proof pictures, receipts and all keep a track record of everything and make sure you always pay your rent...